PR 07 231

October 18, 2007

PRESS RELEASE
Office of Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez
Contact: Beth Willon
Tel: (916) 319-2408
(916) 524-6537 (cell)

Assemblymember Paul Krekorian
Office of Assemblymember Paul Krekorian
Contact: Adrin Nazarian
620 N. Brand Blvd. # 403
Glendale, CA 91203
Phone: (818) 240-6330
Fax: (818) 240-4632
(818) 240-6330

Speaker Núñez and Assemblymember Krekorian Urge

Congress to Support Armenian Genocide Resolution

SACRAMENTO- Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblymember
Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) today sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi urging Congress to support a bill that would recognize the
Armenian genocide. A copy of the letter is included below and attached.

"Dear Madam Speaker:

"We understand that the House vote on the resolution recognizing the
1915 slaughter of Armenians as genocide may be in doubt pending a
reassessment of support for the measure to be conducted by Rep. Adam
Schiff, one of the bill’s lead sponsors.

"It is our strong hope that the members of the California delegation, in
fact all members of Congress, will resist the strong outside pressure
not to vote on the resolution and will stand up in support of the truth.

"As you know, California is home to a large and dynamic Armenian
community, whose calls for recognition and remembrance have been
powerful and persuasive. These calls have not been limited to this
community that has been most impacted, however. Americans of all
backgrounds who care about truth and justice and the prevention of
future atrocities have likewise demanded recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.

"The California Legislature is on record via Assembly Joint Resolution
15 (Krekorian) commemorating and condemning this genocide, and also, it
should be noted, acknowledging those Turks who risked their lives to
protect Armenians from harm.

"Clearly the relationship between Turkey and the United States is a
vital one. Just as clearly, our nation’s relationships need not and
should not rest on a rotted framework of revisionist history.

"Congressman Schiff and his co-sponsors were right to bring this bill
forward. You have been right in letting it advance. We sincerely hope
these good efforts will be rewarded in the ultimate passage of this
important and long overdue step toward justice.

"Sincerely,

"Fabian Núñez Paul Krekorian
"Speaker of the Assembly Member of the Assembly"

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