Armenian National Committee of America
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Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
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Email anca@anca.org
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PRESS RELEASE
September 12, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

CONGRESSMAN MARKEY CALLS FOR PASSAGE OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

— Senior Legislator Commits to Work for its Timely
Adoption in Remarks to his House Colleagues

"It is long past time for the United States
to officially recognize the massacre of one
and a half million Armenians early in the
20th century for what it undeniably was:
genocide." — Rep. Edward Markey

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Edward Markey (D-MA), yesterday, in
remarks to his House colleagues, called for the adoption of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.106, noting that "it is long
past time" for the adoption of this human rights legislation,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

"We appreciate Congressman Markey’s leadership in speaking out in
favor of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, and look forward – both
in his home district and in Washington, DC – to supporting his
efforts to see this legislation brought to a vote at the first
opportunity," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

Commenting on the growing support for the Resolution, Markey noted
that, "This year, the resolution has already received 226
cosponsorships, a majority of the Members of the House. This
impressive number reflects the broad bipartisan support for an
official recognition of the Armenian Genocide." He added that,
"this resolution is not just intended as a remembrance of a dark
past, but as a way of animating future policies with a commitment
to prevent such things from ever happening again, as well as a step
towards building a better future for the Armenian people and for
all people."

Introduced on January 30th by lead author Rep. Adam Schiff and
spearheaded by Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Rep.
Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), the Armenian Genocide resolution calls
upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United
States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and
genocide documented in the United States record relating to the
Armenian Genocide. A similar resolution in the Senate (S.Res.106),
introduced by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen.
John Ensign (R-NV) currently has 31 cosponsors, including Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and presidential candidate
Hillary Clinton (D-NY).

The ANCA website – – provides an opportunity for
activists to send a free ANCA WebFax urging their legislators to
make public statements in support of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution.

The full text of the Markey statement is provided below.

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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
PAGE E1866
September 11, 2007

SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY
OF MASSACHUSETTS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Mr. MARKEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of passage of H.
Res. 106, the Affirmation of the United States Record on the
Armenian Genocide Resolution.

It is long past time for the United States to officially recognize
the massacre of one and a half million Armenians early in the 20th
century for what it undeniably was: genocide.

Year, after year, after year, I’ve been proud to cosponsor the
Armenian Genocide resolution. Last year, over 150 House members
cosponsored this important legislation to properly recognize the
Armenian Genocide. This year, the resolution has already received
226 cosponsorships, a majority of the Members of the House. This
impressive number reflects the broad bipartisan support for an
official recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Countries all around the world have adopted similar resolutions to
ensure that the atrocities committed against the Armenian people
are properly recognized as acts of Genocide. Canada, France,
Switzerland, Greece, and Poland all have passed resolutions
affirming the recognition of the Genocide. Properly recognizing the
Armenian Genocide here in America is essential to ensure that all
past genocides are never forgotten and all future atrocities are
never permitted.

The writer Milan Kundera once wrote that "The struggle of man
against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting."

There are those that would deny the Armenian Genocide, just as
there are those that deny the reality of the Nazi Holocaust. In
commemorating the Armenian Genocide as we will do with this
Resolution, we collectively engage in that struggle of memory
against forgetting. The dangers of forgetting are real – as Adolph
Hitler plotted the Holocaust, he was emboldened by the failure of
the international community to note the first genocide of the 20th
century, writing in 1939 "Who still talks nowadays of the
extermination of the Armenians?" But this resolution is not just
intended as a remembrance of a dark past, but as a way of animating
future policies with a commitment to prevent such things from ever
happening again, as well as a step towards building a better future
for the Armenian people and for all people.

I commend Representative Schiff for introducing this critical
resolution, and again commit myself to work for its timely
adoption.

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