SENATOR OBAMA PLEDGES CONTINUED EFFORTS TO PRESS TURKEY TO ACKNOWLEDGE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
April 30 2008
YEREVAN, 30.04.08. DE FACTO. Democratic Presidential Candidate
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) pledged to continue his efforts to press
Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, in a strongly worded
statement submitted on April 28 to the Congressional Record marking
the 93rd Anniversary of this crime against humanity, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The statement by the Senator, who has been endorsed in the Democratic
primaries by the ANCA, was one of 30 remarks by Senators and
Representatives including those by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
(D-NV), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden (D-DE),
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and DCCC Chairman Chris Van
Hollen (D-MD). Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) offered remarks at the
April 23rd Armenian Genocide observance on Capitol Hill.
"Armenian Americans value Senator Obama’s consistent and principled
leadership in pressuring Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide
and to end its shameful campaign to deny this crime against humanity,"
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "He remains clearly the
best positioned to bring about real change, real action, and real
hope for an end to the cycle of genocide."
In a statement issued to the Armenian American community on January
19, 2008, Sen. Obama noted, "America deserves a leader who speaks
truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to
all genocides. I intend to be that President."