PanARMENIAN.Net
Assembly: Obama’s visit to Turkey unique occasion to raise Genocide issue
12.03.2009 19:40 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S. president, Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to
Turkey is a unique occasion to raise the issue of the Armenian
Genocide in the Ottoman Empire and its denial by Turkey, said Brian
Ardouny, Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly of Armenia. As
PanARMENIAN.Net was reported at AAA, the Assembley welcomes the
Congressmen’s initiative, of Adam Schiff, Frank Pallone, George
Rodanovich, and Mark Kirk who reminded Barack Obama again about his
pre-election promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Washington, DC – On March 10, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), joined
by Representative George Radanovich (R-CA) and the Co-Chairs of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Representatives Frank
Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), sent a letter to President
Barack Obama thanking him for his strong record in support of Genocide
affirmation and urging him to remain steadfast in his commitment. The
letter comes after a recent announcement that President Obama plans to
visit Turkey next month, reported the Armenian Assembly of America.
"During your upcoming trip to Turkey," the letter reads, "and in
discussions with your advisors over how to commemorate the events of
1915-1923, you will doubtless be counseled by some to continue the
practice of avoiding the truth in favor of short-term political
expediency. We do not minimize Ankara’s threats of adverse action when
you recognize the genocide, or when Congress takes action to formally
recognize the genocide, but we believe that our alliance is strong
enough to withstand the truth."
The letter also recalls President Obama’s record on the issue and how
he has "demonstrated time and again [his] understanding of the
importance to Armenian-Americans of formal American recognition of the
crime that was committed against their parents, grandparents and
great-grandparents." Adding that "their pain is not unlike that of
American Jews, who live each day with the memory of the
Holocaust… Whether it is today’s Sudanese government or yesterday’s
Ottoman Empire, the perpetrators of genocide, as well as the victims,
must know that the United States will not shrink from confronting the
truth."
"President Obama’s upcoming trip to Turkey presents a unique
opportunity to address the consequences of genocide and its
denial. We, therefore, applaud the initiative of Representatives
Schiff, Radanovich, Pallone and Kirk," stated Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny.
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.