Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: info@aaainc.org
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
October 10, 2007
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: ckojoian@aaainc.org

FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AFFIRMS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE – MEASURE NOW HEADS
TO FULL HOUSE

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America today commended
Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee for voting 27 to 21 in
favor of a resolution that affirms the Armenian Genocide as fact. The
measure was approved despite heavy lobbying by the Turkish government,
which has refused to acknowledge the atrocities against the Armenian
people and had threatened the United States government with retribution
if the Congress approved the genocide resolution.

Hours before the Committee vote, President Bush in a video address,
publicly contradicted his earlier acknowledgement of the Armenian
Genocide and urged lawmakers to oppose the resolution. The President’s
last minute attempt to kill the legislation only backfired, and helped
pass the resolution.

"This is a historic day and a critically important step forward on this
issue," said Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly
of America. "I am grateful for the support of Members of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, who resisted efforts by the Administration to
pressure them into voting a certain way. It is long past time for the
U.S. government to acknowledge and affirm this horrible chapter of
history – the first genocide of the 20th century and a part of history
that we must never forget."

The resolution is non-binding, but represents the first official U.S.
recognition of genocide against the Armenian people – events that are
amply documented by historians and other nations but which the
government of Turkey has denied.

House leaders have not yet scheduled the resolution for a vote, though
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has said that he’d like to have a vote by the
full House before Thanksgiving. The Armenian Assembly will encourage the
House to consider this measure as quickly as possible. In addition, the
Assembly will work with Senate leaders to secure an affirmative vote in
that chamber on legislation supported by Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid (D-NV) that already has 32 co-sponsors.

Earlier this week, the Assembly called upon House leaders to reject
lobbying pressure by the government of Turkey to derail the resolution.
Some Turkish leaders implied that their government would cut back on
efforts to assist the United States in the global war against terrorism
if the Congress approved the genocide resolution. They also suggested –
against all evidence – that the U.S. economy would suffer if the House
approved the genocide measure.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

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NR#2007-119