NUMBER OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION COSPONSORS STEADILY GROWING

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.09.2007 13:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In a sign of the growing momentum toward the adoption
of Congressional legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide,
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and newly elected Representative Laura
Richardson (D-CA), this week, added their names as cosponsors of this
human rights legislation, reported the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA).

"Armenians in Washington, California and around the nation are
encouraged to see Senator Murray and Representative Richardson –
both first-time supporters of federal legislation commemorating
the Armenian Genocide – join the growing Congressional majority in
support of the recognition of this crime against humanity," said
Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "We look forward for
Members of Congress – at long last – to have the opportunity to steer
America back to the right side of this fundamental issue of justice
and basic human rights."

The House version of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.106, was
introduced on January 30th by lead author Rep. Adam Schiff, along with
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).

With Rep. Richardson’s support, the legislation now has 226 cosponsors.

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 now has 32 cosponsors, including Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton
(D-NY). Both resolutions call 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.

The Armenian Genocide has been officially recognized, through
legislation or proclamation, by 40 U.S.

states. It is also supported by the Genocide Intervention Network,
National Council of Churches, American Values, Jewish groups including
the Zionist Organization of America and Americans for Peace Now, as
well as by a diverse coalition that includes organizations representing
the Ukrainian, Greek, Filipino, Polish, Hungarian, Arab, Bulgarian,
Latvian, Romanian, Lithuanian, Slovakian, and other communities.