IOWA CAUCUS WINNERS HAVE BOTH RECOGNIZED THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
armradio.am
07.01.2008 12:17
The winners of Iowa caucuses, US Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and
former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (R), are both on record
as having recognized the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
Senator Obama has spoken forcefully about the moral imperative of US
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, specifically calling upon the
Bush Administration, in letters and public statements, to end its
"wrong and untenable" policy on this issue. During his three years
in the Senate, however, he has yet to join with his legislative
colleagues in cosponsoring the Armenian Genocide Resolution. Senator
Obama also voted in the Foreign Relations Committee to approve the
highly controversial and ultimately unsuccessful nomination of Dick
Hoagland to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, despite bipartisan
Congressional opposition and widespread outrage among Armenian
Americans over the nominee’s denial of the Armenian Genocide.
Selected statements by Senator Obama are provided below:
Letter to secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (July 28, 2006):
"The occurrence of the Armenian genocide in 1915 is not an
‘allegation,’ a ‘personal opinion,’ or a ‘point of view." Supported
by an overwhelming amount of historical evidence, it is a widely
documented fact."
Press statement on the Hoagland nomination (September 7, 2006):
"The Bush Administration’s policy concerning the Armenian genocide is
wrong and is untenable. That the invocation of a historical fact by a
State Department employee could constitute an act of insubordination
is deeply troubling and is a clear sign that it is time to revisit the
Administration’s guidance on this issue. I have written to Secretary
Rice urging that such a review occur so our diplomats will not be
placed in a similar position in the future."