Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
January 24, 2007
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]
SENATOR CLINTON CALLS FOR PASSAGE OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
Pledges to Recognize Genocide if Elected
Washington, DC – Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), a cosponsor of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution (S. Res. 106), today urged Congress to
adopt this critical human rights legislation, saying if elected
president, she would speak candidly about the events of 1915.
Clinton is the second presidential candidate, following Senator Barack
Obama (D-IL), to issue a statement on the Armenian Genocide in the past
week. She is currently the only presidential candidate to cosponsor the
resolution.
Clinton said she has twice written to President Bush urging him to
properly characterize the crimes as genocide in his annual commemorative
statement.
"Our common morality and our nation’s credibility as a voice for human
rights challenge us to ensure that the Armenian Genocide be recognized
and remembered by the Congress and the President of the United States,"
Clinton stated.
"If the mass atrocities of the 20th Century have taught us anything it
is that we must honestly look the facts of history in the face in order
to learn their lessons, and ensure they will not happen again," she
continued. "It is not just about the past, but about our future."
Turning to the atrocities in Darfur, Clinton said that the U.S. "must
close the gap between words and deeds" to prevent such modern-day
crimes, adding, "As President, I will work to build and enhance U.S. and
international capacity to act early and effectively to prevent mass
atrocities."
Clinton also pledged to improve U.S.-Armenia relations and address the
issues facing the two nations including, increasing trade, fostering
closer economic ties, fighting terrorism, strengthening democratic
institutions, pursuing military partnership and deepening Armenia’s
cooperation with NATO. If elected, she would expand assistance programs
to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, and increase cooperation on regional
concerns, such as a fair and democratic resolution of the Karabakh
conflict.
"The Assembly thanks Senator Clinton for her longstanding support of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution and for calling on Congress to adopt
legislation properly recognizing the first genocide of the 20th
century," said Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "It is in the best
interest of this country, and the entire global community, to remember
the terrible lessons of 1915 and ensure they are never repeated."
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
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