U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

ARMENPRESS
Oct 11 2007

WASHINGTON, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS: With a vote of 27 to 21, the
influential panel of the U.S. House of Representatives took a major
step October 10 toward ending U.S. complicity in Turkey’s denial
of the Armenian Genocide, adopting H.Res.106, the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, despite an intense campaign of threats and intimidation by
the Turkish government and its lobbyists in Washington, DC, reported
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The Committee decision opens the way for full house consideration of
the measure.

"The Foreign Affairs Committee’s adoption today of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution represents a meaningful step toward reclaiming our
right – as Americans – to speak openly and honestly about the first
genocide of the 20th Century, free from the gag-rule that Turkey has,
for far too long, sought to impose on our nation’s elected officials,"
said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.

"As Americans, we must always remain free to speak openly about
human rights and should never outsource our nation’s foreign policy –
or our morality – to another nation."

"We want to thank Chairman Lantos, who scheduled this measure for
consideration by the Foreign Affairs Committee and voted for its
passage, Adam Schiff and George Radanovich, the lead authors of this
legislation, Brad Sherman and Ed Royce, who spearheaded the panel’s
adoption of the legislation, Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone
and Joe Knollenberg, who generated the broad-based bipartisan support
for H.Res.106 and Armenian American Congresswoman Anna Eshoo – all
of who have worked tirelessly as the resolution moves toward passage
by the full House of Representatives."

Introduced on January 30th by Rep. Adam Schiff along with
Representative 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. The
resolution is cosponsored by 226 Members of Congress from 39 states.

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

Over the past nine months, Armenian Americans and human rights
advocates have joined with Members of Congress in educating their
colleagues about the Armenian Genocide and the importance of proper
recognition of this crime against humanity. The ANCA has mounted
several national grassroots initiatives including the highly successful
"Click for Justice" and "Call for Justice" campaigns as well as the
"End the Cycle of Genocide" Advocacy Days, cosponsored with the
Genocide Intervention Network.