Armenian Assembly of America
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Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
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PRESS RELEASE
April 29, 2008
Contact: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
SPEAKER PELOSI RENEWS CALL FOR GENOCIDE AFFIRMATION DURING CAPITOL HILL
COMMEMORATION
Armenian Assembly of America Takes Part in Observance Events in U.S.,
Armenia
Washington, DC – In commemoration of the 93rd Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) reaffirmed her
commitment to this critical human rights issue.
"It is long past time for the President and Congress to formally
recognize the Armenian Genocide," Pelosi told the crowd gathered at an
observance event on Capitol Hill. "If we ignore history we are destined
to repeat the mistakes of the past.
"On this anniversary we must remember the victims and survivors of the
Armenian Genocide," she continued. "We must provide the leadership to
ensure that his human tragedy is not repeated."
Pelosi began her remarks by first acknowledging survivors of the
genocide who were present, as well as Archbishop Vicken Aykazian,
President of the National Council of Churches in the USA and legate of
the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) in Washington.
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Frank Pallone, Jr.
(D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) spearheaded the April 23 observance
event, held in conjunction with the Assembly, ARMENPAC and other
Armenian organizations.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), in his remarks, discussed the
importance of recognizing the transgressions of the past in order to
prevent future crimes.
"Denial is the child of repetition," Hoyer said. "If one does not
remember that which happened, and recognize it for what it was — a
genocide, then the risk of it being repeated is far greater."
Echoing Hoyer, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) said that the United
States makes an enormous mistake as a country, when it denies the
existence of genocide. As a cosponsor of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (S. Res. 106), Menendez promised to vote for the resolution
when it is brought to the Senate floor, saying "nothing will deter me
when that opportunity comes up."
Delivering the keynote address was Dr. Gregory Stanton, President of the
International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), a global,
interdisciplinary, non-partisan organization that seeks to further
research and teach about the nature, causes, and consequences of
genocide, and advance policy studies on prevention of genocide.
While discussing the history and the House Resolution recognizing the
Armenian Genocide, Stanton said that the United States, once again,
"surrendered to the 90-year campaign of denial by the government of
Turkey."
Stanton added that "the State Department and the White House have
continued the cowardly policies of every Secretary of State since
Lansing, who have considered it more important to placate the Turkish
Government, than to be truthful about history."
"Denial is actually the continuation of genocide," and according to
Stanton, Turkey has three favorite methods to continue genocide denial,
and they are:
1) Blame the victims by claiming the killings were in self-defense
against people who were disloyal to the Ottoman Empire;
2) Claim that Muslim Turks suffered many deaths; and
3) Claim that the deaths were inadvertent due to lack of food and water,
not due to intentional destruction.
Stanton explained that these claims are proven false and problematic by
the eyewitnesses [here tonight], and by American counselor officers,
missionaries and "most tellingly perhaps, in the archives of the old
allies – Germany, Austria and Hungary."
"This was not simply a by-product of deportation, this was mass murder
intended by starvation."
The attendees or speakers also included Michelle Bachman (R-MN); Gus
Bilirakis (R-FL); Jim Costa (D-CA); David Dreier (R-CA); Anna Eshoo
(D-CA); Carolyn Maloney (D-NY); Jim McGovern (D-MA); George Radanovich
(R-CA); Steven Rothman (D-NJ); Ed Royce (R-CA); Adam Schiff (D-CA); Brad
Sherman (D-CA); Jackie Speier (D-CA); Chris Van Hollen (D-MD); Joe
Wilson (R-SC); and Frank Wolf (R-VA).
Tatoul Markarian, Armenian Ambassador to the U.S., and Vardan
Barshegian, Representative of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, also
addressed the crowd.
"We appreciate Speaker Pelosi’s commitment and leadership to ensure the
unequivocal affirmation of the Armenian Genocide," said Assembly Board
of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. "In the face of Turkey’s ongoing
denial campaign, the Armenian-American community will not rest until the
United States reaffirms the incontestable fact of the Armenian
Genocide," added Hovnanian.
The Assembly also participated in commemorative events across the
country, from New York and California, to Boston and Texas, as well as
Armenia.
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.
###
NR#2008-044
Editor’s Note: Statements can be found on the Assembly Website at:
Photographs can be viewed at the following links:
ges/PR_-_2008/May_-_June/Pelosi.jpg
Caption: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), with Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny, right, Associate Grassroots Director Taniel Koushakjian,
far left, and Congressional Relations Associate Bianka Dodov.
_-_2008/May_-_June/Menendez.jpg
Caption: L to R: Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Associate Grassroots
Director Taniel Koushakjian, and Congressional Relations Associate
Bianka Dodov.
_-_2008/May_-_June/Hoyer.jpg
Caption: L to R: Associate Grassroots Director Taniel Koushakjian,
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
(D-MD) and Congressional Relations Associate Bianka Dodov.
_-_2008/May_-_June/93rd_Anniversary.jpg
Caption: L to R: Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, President of the National
Council of Churches in the USA and legate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), Dr. Gregory Stanton, President of the
International Association of Genocide Scholars, Armenian National
Institute Director Rouben Adalian, and Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny.
ainc/images/PR_-_2008/May_-_June/Sherman.jpg
Caption: Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) flanked by Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny, left, and Associate Grassroots Director Taniel
Koushakjian.
in/aaainc/images/PR_-_2008/May_-_June/Rothman.jpg
Caption: Congressman Steven Rothman (D-NJ) with Congressional Relations
Associate Bianka Dodov.
_-_2008/May_-_June/Bilirakis.jpg
Caption: Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Congressional Relations
Associate Bianka Dodov and Director of Communications Michael
Zachariades.
min/aaainc/images/PR_-_2008/May_-_June/Costa.jpg
Caption: Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA), center, with Associate Grassroots
Director Taniel Koushakjian and Congressional Relations Associate Bianka
Dodov.
_-_2008/May_-_June/Radanovich.jpg
Caption: Congressman George Radanovich (R-CA), center, Associate
Grassroots Director Taniel Koushakjian and Congressional Relations
Associate Bianka Dodov.
ges/PR_-_2008/May_-_June/VanHollen.jpg
Caption: Democratic Congressional Campaign Chairman Congressman Chris
Van Hollen (D-MD) flanked by Executive Director Bryan Ardouny and
Director of Communications Michael Zachariades.
nc/images/PR_-_2008/May_-_June/Wilso
n.jpg
Captio n: Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) with Associate Grassroots
Director Taniel Koushakjian.