ARMENIANS ARE MOBILIZING CONGRESS TO GET RECOGNITION
Hurriyet
Feb 5 2009
Turkey
WASHINGTON – The largest U.S. Armenian group has asked Armenians
throughout the United States to urge lawmakers in the House of
Representatives to support an upcoming resolution for the country
to recognize the Armenians’ claims of "genocide", a strong sign that
the legislation is due to be introduced soon.
"With the Obama-Biden administration and new Congress now in place,
we have the best opportunity in years to end Turkey’s gag rule on
American recognition of the Armenian genocide," The Armenian National
Committee of America, or ANCA, said in a statement released yesterday
for U.S. Armenians.
The ANCA’s Web site included a template letter Armenians could send
to lawmakers. In the letter, lawmakers are encouraged to become early
co-sponsors of the "genocide resolution," likely to be introduced
to the House soon by pro-Armenian representatives Adam Schiff, a
Democrat from California, and George Radanovich, a Republican also
from California. Nearly half of the 1.5-million-strong U.S. Armenian
community lives in California. The ANCA also reiterated a call for
U.S. Armenians to send messages to President Obama to urge him to
keep a pledge made during the election campaign last year to recognize
the claims of genocide if elected.
"We are, of course, looking forward to President Obama honoring his
pledge to recognize the Armenian genocide and are turning to you to
help build support for proper congressional recognition of this crime
against humanity," the ANCA told U.S. Armenians.
Mark Kirk, an Illinois Republican and co-chairman of the Armenian
Caucus in the House, said the U.S. Defense and State Departments
would always oppose the resolution, citing strategic aspects of
the relationship with Turkey. "I think we are the strongest at the
beginning of a Congress, at the beginning of a presidency… So it’s
best if we move now," Kirk said.
With Obama as president, Armenians hope this time they will win formal
U.S. recognition for the claims of "genocide".