Armenian Parliamentary Leader Urges U.S. Counterpart to Pass Genocide Bill
menian-parliament-leader-urges-us-counterpart-to-p ass-genocide-bill/
March 23, 2009
YEREVAN – In a letter March 19 to Howard Berman, the chairman of the
U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Armen Rustamian, the chairman
of the Armenian National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Foreign
Affairs, expressed his strong support for U.S. affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide, stressing that U.S. recognition would be the
greatest contributor to the normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations.
`I have the pleasure to write you upon the introduction of legislation
recognizing the Armenian Genocide, and to share with you and your
colleagues our complete support for the adoption of this measure
affirming the commitment of the United States to the cause of genocide
prevention,’ Rustamian’s letter said.
On March 17, U.S. legislators introduced a resolution (H.Res.252)
calling on the U.S. president to properly recognize the genocide. The
resolution, submitted by representatives Adam Schiff (D-Calif.),
George Radanovich (R-Calif.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), and Mark Kirk
(R-Ill.), came five weeks ahead of April 24, when President Obama is
expected to issue an annual statement commemorating the genocide.
Turkey has repeatedly tried to dissuade U.S. lawmakers from
reaffirming the official U.S. record on the genocide, arguing that the
recognition is one sought only by the Armenian-American community and
not the Armenian state, which is currently working toward normalizing
relations with Turkey.
`The Armenian people in our homeland, in the United States, and around
the world remain grateful for the hard work that you and your
colleagues, including, of course, Congressmen Adam Schiff and George
Radanovich, have devoted over the course of many years to secure
U.S. recognition and official commemoration of this crime,’ said
Rustamian in his letter.
Turkey’s leaders also warn that any official recognition of its crime
against the Armenian people, whether in a resolution or in an April 24
statement, will torpedo current negotiations to normalize relations
between the two countries.
But the lack of an official recognition of the Armenian Genocide by
the United States has actually served to make Turkey’s position in
normalization talks more uncompromising, according to Rustamian. `I am
confident that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United
States not only would not hamper, but on the contrary will contribute
to the prospects of a thorough dialogue between Turkey and Armenia,’
the letter read.
`A clear and principled stance by the U.S. can only assist in
developing awareness that the recognition of the genocide is not at
all a demonstration of anti-Turkish sentiments, but a necessity
emanating from the need to condemn this crime against humanity.’
`Any durable improvement of Armenia-Turkey relations must rest upon a
foundation of shared respect for truth and justice,’ he said, noting
also that the recognition would bring historical justice, improve the
overall situation in the region, and prevent similar crimes in the
future.
Rustamian further noted that `a clear and principled stance by the
U.S. can only assist in developing awareness that the recognition of
the genocide is not at all a demonstration of anti-Turkish sentiments,
but a necessity emanating from the need to condemn this crime against
humanity.’ Below is the letter in its entirety.
Dear Chairman Berman:
I have the pleasure to write you upon the introduction of legislation
recognizing the Armenian Genocide, and to share with you and your
colleagues our complete support for the adoption of this measure
affirming the commitment of the United States to the cause of genocide
prevention. Armenia aspires for the universal recognition and
condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, and sees it both as a
restoration of an historical justice and as a way to improve the
overall situation in the region, while also preventing similar crimes
in the future.
The Armenian people in our homeland, in the United States and around
the world, remain grateful for the hard work that you and your
colleagues, including, of course, Congressmen Adam Schiff and George
Radanovich, have devoted over the course of many years to secure U.S.
recognition and official commemoration of this crime. I am confident
that the proponents of this process and I are also rightly convinced
that the lack of official recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the
United States has thus far, in fact, served to make Turkey’s position
in the issue of resolving the Armenian-Turkish relations more
uncompromising. We value these efforts and are, this year,
particularly encouraged by the clear statements of President Barack
Obama and senior members of his Administration in this regard during
the elections.
Please know that I remain available to share with your Congressional
colleagues, either in writing or in person, the principled stand of
the Republic of Armenia in support of universal recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. I am confident that the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide by the United States not only would not hamper, but on the
contrary will contribute to the prospects of a thorough dialogue
between Turkey and Armenia. A clear and principled stance by the
U.S. can only assist in developing awareness that the recognition of
the genocide is not at all a demonstration of anti-Turkish sentiments,
but a necessity emanating from the need to condemn this crime against
humanity. Furthermore, any durable improvement of Armenia-Turkey
relations must rest upon a foundation of shared respect for truth and
justice.
Thank you for your friendship with the people and government of the
Republic of Armenia and for all your support and assistance over the
years.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
