Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
October 25, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION SPONSORS ANNOUNCE
REVISED TIMETABLE FOR HOUSE CONSIDERATION OF H.RES.106
— Schiff, Pallone, Sherman and Eshoo Send Letter to
Speaker Pelosi Citing Continued Efforts to Pass
Resolution "Later this Year or in 2008"
WASHINGTON, DC – The four leading Democratic sponsors of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106) have called on Speaker
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to adopt a revised schedule for the
consideration of this human rights legislation by the House of
Representatives, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).
In a letter sent today to Speaker Pelosi, lead author Adam Schiff
(D-CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-
NJ), and Representatives Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
stressed that, in asking for this delay, "we believe that a large
majority of our colleagues want to support a resolution recognizing
the genocide on the House floor and that they will do so, provided
the timing is more favorable." The letter goes on to note that
they will continue to work with Speaker Pelosi’s staff and the
House Foreign Affairs Committee staff to bring up the resolution
"sometime later this year or in 2008."
"Trying to advance American interests by compromising our values is
a fast-track to failure in foreign policy," said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. "By enabling Turkey’s genocide denial,
America undermines its own ability to be a positive influence in
the Middle East and around the world."
In a letter circulated today to every member of the House,
Hamparian noted that, "In the days since the House Foreign Affairs
Committee approved the Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res.106),
the initial cautious response by many Members of Congress to
Turkey’s threats has already begun to give way to a more lasting
impression of disappointment, even anger, that an ally is so
brazenly threatening the security of our troops." He added that,
"we are confident that, as the confusion over these threats lifts,
an even stronger bipartisan majority will stand up against Turkey’s
intimidation and vote to adopt this human rights resolution on its
merits."
The letter also noted that Armenian Americans remain deeply
appreciative of the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, chief
authors Adam Schiff and George Radanovich (R-CA), Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), and leading
advocates Brad Sherman, Ed Royce (R-CA), Anna Eshoo, and Thaddeus
McCotter (R-MI), all of whom are working with their colleagues on a
bipartisan basis to put America on the right side of this human
rights issue.
The full text of the ANCA letter is provided below.
#####
TEXT OF ANCA LETTER TO MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 25, 2007
Dear Representative:
I am writing to share our thoughts about how the ongoing
consideration by the House of H.Res.106, the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, has brought greater clarity to this human rights issue.
In the days and weeks since the Foreign Affairs Committee approved
H.Res.106, we have seen that the initial response of caution to
Turkey’s wave of threats has already begun to give way to a more
lasting impression — one of disappointment, even anger, that an
ally is so brazenly threatening the security of our troops. As the
confusion over these threats lifts, we are confident that an even
stronger bipartisan majority will stand up against Turkey’s
intimidation and vote to adopt this human rights resolution on its
merits.
Looking back on the contentious events of the past two weeks, three
issues stand out:
1) Turkey has revealed itself to be an increasingly unreliable ally
Turkey displayed a truly remarkable willingness to disrupt U.S.
military operations.
Sadly, Ankara’s new readiness to place our strategic priorities at
risk was only encouraged by its success, once again, in forcing the
Administration’s capitulation. As a result of our appeasement in
responding to their blackmail, we can expect to see Turkey’s
leaders continue to employ similar threats in connection with the
full range of issues on our bilateral agenda, among them Iraq, the
Kurds, Israel, Syria, Cyprus, and Iran. Their behavior is
particularly abhorrent in light of the challenges that we face
today in Iraq.
This disturbing episode serves as a much needed wake-up call for
our State Department and Pentagon to make preparations to limit our
future reliance upon Turkey by exploring alternate ways to supply
and support our regional operations.
2) The real danger is compromising American moral leadership
The true danger to U.S. interests and American troops comes not
>From Turkey’s threats, but rather from the long-term damage to our
international standing when we publicly retreat from our core
values under unwarranted pressure from a foreign government.
We cannot advance our interests by compromising our values.
Agreeing to a Turkish government-imposed "gag-rule" on the Armenian
Genocide sets a dangerous precedent, emboldening other nations to
use similar threats against America. Such a response diminishes
our moral standing, making it more difficult to move international
public opinion toward greater acceptance of our values and
increased cooperation with our nation’s foreign policy priorities.
Rest assured that Turkey will concoct another "threat" to our
security whenever an Armenian Genocide resolution is considered.
We would expect no less from a country where one literally faces
prosecution for even speaking about the Armenian Genocide.
3) The facts of the Armenian Genocide are not in dispute
The debate over the Armenian Genocide Resolution, particularly
during the nearly three hours of consideration of this measure by
the Foreign Affairs Committee, was characterized by a common
acceptance of the Armenian Genocide. Even those who spoke most
ardently against the measure – based on a fear of Turkey’s reaction
– never denied this crime.
While we remain, of course, deeply troubled by the opposition to
this measure – in the view that it is always the right time for
America to stand up against genocide – we do, however, take a
measure of satisfaction from this progress within Congress toward a
proper and accurate understanding of the history of the Armenian
Genocide.
Moving forward, we are hopeful that these considerations will help
inform the ongoing discussion of H.Res.106 as we continue our
efforts to secure its adoption by the 110th Congress. Armenian
Americans remain deeply appreciative of the leadership of Speaker
Nancy Pelosi, lead authors Adam Schiff and George Radanovich,
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, and
leading advocates Brad Sherman, Ed Royce, Anna Eshoo, and Thaddeus
McCotter, all of whom are working with their colleagues to put
America on the right side of this human rights issue.
Thank you for your consideration of our concerns. We would, of
course, be pleased to meet with you to discuss this matter in
greater detail.
Sincerely,
[signed]
Aram S. Hamparian
Executive Director