CONGRESSMEN: WE MUST HAVE THE COURAGE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.10.2007 13:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich
(R-CA), lead sponsors of the Armenian Genocide Resolution; Frank
Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), co-chairmen of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues; and Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Ed
Royce (R-CA), senior members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
highlighted the importance of recognizing the murder of a million
and a half Armenians between 1915-1923 as Genocide, Sean Oblack,
Press Secretary for Congressman Adam Schiff, told PanARMENIAN.Net.

The six lawmakers, all Members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues, issued the following statement today:

"Today, Congress rightly honored the Dalai Lama with the Congressional
Gold Medal at a ceremony in the Capitol, despite the ardent objections
of the Chinese government. In this demonstration of moral virtue,
Congress today stood up for what is right and would not be intimidated
by threats from another nation. In awarding the Dalai Lama the highest
civilian honor Congress can bestow, Congress showed its commitment
to promoting peace around the world. We will not let another country
impede our efforts to speak out against inhumanity."

"As we take this principled moral stand in defiance of the Chinese
government, we must similarly be willing to speak out on the Armenian
Genocide. If we as a nation are to be a moral leader around the world
we must have the courage to recognize genocide whenever and wherever
it occurs."

The Armenian Genocide has been recognized by more than 20 nations
including Canada, Italy, Sweden, France, Argentina and Russia. This
resolution is consistent with the record of the U.S. House of
Representatives in speaking out against genocides – past and present.

The House has passed resolutions on the Holocaust and the genocides
in Cambodia, Darfur, Ukraine and Bosnia.