AAA: DENIAL OF GENOCIDE IS THE FINAL STAGE IN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.10.2007 16:47 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Passage of H.Res.106 by the U.S. House of
Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee on October 10 has resonated
around the world. From Ireland to China, from India to South America,
throughout Europe, and most every town in the United States, a
worldwide public debate has begun," AAA Country Director for Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh, Arpi Vartanian told a PanARMENIAN.Net.
"To pick and choose which issues should be defended, based on whether
or not it is expedient at the moment, is a dangerous precedent. There
is never a wrong time for the truth. However, opponents of the bill
have highlighted Turkish threats of what could happen and what Turkey
would do, should this resolution be passed. What opponents fail
to stress is that Turkey’s track record, as a "strong ally" of the
United States, has not been so very strong and admirable. They also
fail to note that allies don’t threaten each other, and they fail to
condemn Turkey for doing just that to the United States. Furthermore,
only Turkey is responsible for whatever actions it may or may not
take. Finally, this resolution is about the U.S. affirming its record
with regard to the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman
Empire. The U.S. record is documented by thousands of documents,
including those sent by Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, representative of
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson to the Ottoman Empire; those documents
were acknowledged by the United States government. Turkey is denying
that the Ottoman Empire executed a plan of genocide against the
Armenian people, throwing whatever smokescreens it can so that the
real issues are obscured. The U.S. is a leader in the free and
democratic world, a beacon of upholding human rights, freedoms,
and moral standards.
It should not be afraid of reaffirming its own history, nor should
it be complicit in Turkey’s denial campaign. Denial of genocide, is,
after all, the final stage in genocide," she said.
"The Armenian Assembly, together with friends and activists across the
nation continue working with our supporters on Capitol Hill to ensure
that the facts are presented to lawmakers, decision and policy makers,
and the public. I also remain convinced that a bi-partisan majority
of the Members of the House of Representatives will not succumb to
threats and manipulation, will stand firm and proudly vote to uphold
the truth by passing H.Res.106," she said.
"Personally, as a proud American citizen, I am heartened by the
strong support of so many Members of the U.S. Congress. I offer my
sincere thanks to each of them for demanding that justice be served
and for upholding all the ideals on which America was founded,"
Ms. Vartanian concluded.
As reported earlier, 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 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."
October 10, with a vote 27 to 21 the U.S. House Committee on Foreign
Affairs adopted the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.106, which
was introduced by Representative Adam Schiff January 30, 2007.