Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: info@aaainc.org
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PRESS RELEASE
December 1, 2008
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: mzachariades@aaainc.org
Phone: (202) 393-3434
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY WELCOMES SELECTION OF HILLARY CLINTON AS SECRETARY OF STATE
Washington, DC – President-elect Barack Obama selected Senator Hillary
Rodham Clinton (D-NY) to serve as the U.S. Secretary of State, reported
the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
"During her tenure in the U.S. Senate, Senator Clinton has consistently
supported affirmation of the Armenian Genocide," stated Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny. "Never before have we had such an alignment
whereby the incoming President Vice-President and Secretary of State have
a clear and demonstrated record of support for affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide, as well as genocide prevention," continued Ardouny.
First elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, Senator Clinton consistently
supported efforts to reaffirm the historical truth of the Armenian
Genocide. In addition to co-sponsoring resolutions affirming the
Armenian Genocide, Senator Clinton also repeatedly urged President
George W. Bush to reaffirm the Armenian Genocide in his annual April
24th statements. In 2006, for example, Clinton signed a letter to
President Bush stating: "The memory of the Armenian Genocide underscores
our responsibility to speak forcefully about our respect for fundamental
human rights and opposition to mass slaughters. It is in the best
interests of our nation and the entire global community to remember the
past and learn from these crimes against humanity to ensure that they
are never repeated. We respectfully request that you refer to the mass
slaughter of Armenians as genocide in your commemorative statement."
Senator Clinton also supports expanding and improving U.S.-Armenia
relations and "a fair and democratic resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh
conflict."
Throughout the 2008 presidential election, President-elect Obama
repeatedly pledged to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide and with
the nomination of Hillary Clinton, President-elect Obama has an ally in
Genocide affirmation and prevention. In making the announcement today,
President-elect Obama said, "The time has come for a new beginning, a new
dawn of American leadership to overcome the challenges of the 21st
century."
During the campaign trail, Senator Clinton stated: "I believe the
horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians
constitute a clear case of genocide. 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."
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
To read the Assembly release about President-elect Obama, please follow
the link below:
To read the Assembly press release in regard to the letter sent to
President Bush in 2006, please follow the link below:
/2006/04-20-06__2006-037_Over_200_House_and_Senate _Members_Urge_President_Bush_to_Acknowledge_the_Ge nocide.pdf
To read the Assembly release in regard to Vice President-elect Biden,
please follow the link below:
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