AZG Armenian Daily #172, 21/09/2007
Genocide Recognition
NUMBER OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION COSPONSORS STEADILY GROWING
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 UnitedStates 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.