ARMENIAN LOBBY TAKING ACTIVE STEPS TO GET GENOCIDE RECOGNIZED IN U.S.
Trend News Agency
Feb 4 2009
Azerbaijan
The Armenian National Committee of America called on ethnic-Armenian
U.S. citizens to send a letter to President Barack Obama and
senators urging them to recognize the "Armenian Genocide," Haber 7
reported. "We are optimistic about the recognition of the genocide
under the new administration," Illinois Senator and Co-Chair of the
Armenian-U.S. Friendship Group Mark Kirk said. In April 2008, the
Armenian lobby intensified its efforts to achieve the recognition of
the 1915 events. Armenia claims the Ottoman Empire committed genocide
against its people in 1915. Kirk said efforts must be strengthened to
get the genocide recognized and called on ethnic-Armenian U.S. citizens
to be more active. "We have more strength now under the new Congress
and government," the senator said, adding that the U.S. Department
of State and Defense Department are likely to impede the recognition
of the genocide. "We must begin to work now and submit the relevant
bill," he said. Kirk recalled the statements made about the genocide
during Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s election campaign, adding
that he wonders what she will say now that she holds this post.
Kirk expressed hope that the number of people supporting the Armenian
claims will increase and their voices will be heard under the new
president.