PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Ben Golombek (Greuel)
213-473-7002
October 24th, 2007
Julie Wong (Garcetti) 213-473-7013

COUNCILMEMBERS GREUEL, GARCETTI LEAD CITY OF LOS ANGELES IN SUPPORT OF
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

LOS ANGELES* Councilmembers Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti led the Los
Angeles City Council in a unanimous 13-0 vote today, which put the City
of Los Angeles on record in support of H.R. 106 – a resolution that
officially recognizes the 1915 genocide of Armenians as *Genocide*.

*We have an opportunity and an obligation to acknowledge the atrocities
that the Armenian people suffered as genocide, both to heal the wounds
of the survivors and the families of victims and to help prevent future
genocides from occurring.* said Councilwoman Wendy Greuel. *It is
simply the right thing to do.*

"Today we call on Congress to recognize the Armenian Genocide for what
it was – a violation of the human rights of millions of Armenians," said
Council President Eric Garcetti. "In order for the wounds of the past to
heal, we must recognize this horrific chapter of world history."

H.R. 106 * introduced by Adam Schiff (D * CA 29th) on January 30th –
passed with a vote of 27-21 in the United States House of
Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, October 10th,
2007 and is now being considered for a full House vote.

H.R. 106, calls upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of
the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning the issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and
genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian
Genocide.

The Armenian Genocide occurred from 1915 to 1923, during which Ottoman
Turkey killed 1.5 million men, women and children were killed and
expelled an additional 500,000 Armenians from their native land.

The resolution is co-sponsored by Congressman*s George Radanovich
(R-CA) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), co-chairmen of the Armenian Issues
Caucus of the US House of Representatives. The resolution is
non-binding and will not carry the weight of the law. Rather it will
simply place the House of Representatives on record as labeling the
Armenian Genocide as genocide.