ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CALLS ON THE ‘GENOCIDE PREVENTION TASK FORCE’ CO-CHAIRS TO ENSURE THE LESSONS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

armradio.am
10.12.2007 10:44

In a letter to the Co-Chairs of the newly-created Genocide Prevention
Task Force, the Armenian Assembly of America questioned how the goals
of prevention can be achieved without proper recognition of previous
genocides – specifically, the Armenian Genocide.

While the Assembly is encouraged by the establishment of such a task
force, it is troubled by the fact that its Co-Chairs, Madeleine
Albright and William Cohen, have failed to properly recognize the
tragic events of 1915.

The Assembly is all the more concerned that Albright and Cohen sent
letters to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), opposing passage of
the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H. Res. 106.

"Until the Co-Chairs are willing to affirm the Armenian Genocide,
thus drawing upon the lessons of the past to confront future crimes,
we doubt that the objectives of the Task Force will be adequately
achieved," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.

The Assembly letters to Albright and Cohen also emphasized the
importance of recognition by pointing out that, "the lessons of
the Armenian Genocide teach us about the dangers of denial and the
consequences of failing to unequivocally affirm the truth in the face
of such denial."

The Task Force was formed by the United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum, the American Academy of Diplomacy, and the United States
Institute of Peace, in order to develop recommendations on how the
US Government can prevent genocide.