Examiner.com
April 18 2009

Colorado legislature to read Armenian genocide resolution next Friday
April 17, 4:31 PM ·

The Colorado state legislature will pause to recognize the Armenian
genocide on Friday, April 24. It will be the eighth consecutive year
both houses will read a joint resolution originally passed in
2006. The ceremony begins at 8:45 a.m.

April 24 is commemorated as the beginning of the Armenian genocide in
1915. Around the world, ceremonies and events are held to honor the
event. In Colorado this year, the reading of the joint resolution will
be preceded by lectures and events earlier in the week. Some state
representatives and senators are also expected to join Armenians in
Colorado and their supporters for an Armenian genocide commemoration
ceremony at noon Sunday, April 26, at the Armenian Genocide Memorial
Plaque in the northeast corner of the state capitol grounds.

The legislative joint resolution reads in part: "This year marks the
94th anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century, the
Armenian Genocide, when 1.5 million men, women, and children of
Armenian descent were victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the
Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923."

The 800-word resolution continues with a thorough history of the
genocide, its aftermath and the American response. It quotes former
U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr.

"I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no
such horrible episode as this," he said at the time. "The great
massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when
compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915."

Each year, the state also sends a copy of the resolution to the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and the president. President
Obama will receive the resolution less than a month after visiting
Turkey. Addressing the Turkish parliament and in a Turkish press
conference, Obama obliquely referred to the Armenian genocide, but he
disappointed Armenians in the United States by not using the word
genocide or urging the Turkish government to do the same.

On the campaign trail in 2008, Obama promised "As president, I will
recognize the Armenian genocide."

This month, Obama’s home state of Hawaii became the 42nd state in the
nation to join Colorado in recognizing the Armenian genocide. The
European Parliament, the World Council of Churches and dozens of
nations also recognize the Armenian genocide.

Other events in Colorado during the week leading up to the April 24
reading of the Armenian genocide joint resolution include:

¢ A lecture by Baylor University scholar Artyom Tonoyan at 1:30
p.m. Sunday, April 19, at Sturm Hall on the University of Denver
campus, 2000 E. Asbury Ave. The lecture by the Armenian native is
named "From Velvet Gloves to an Iron Fist: The Rise of Turkish
Nationalism and the Armenian Genocide." A reception will follow, and
books and DVDs will be sold.

¢ A panel discussion on "Breaking the Cycle of Genocide" at 6:30
p.m. Thursday, April 23, at Sturm Hall on the University of Denver
campus, 2000 E. Asbury Ave. Panelists include Native American
Professor Glenn Morris, Darfur anti-genocide activist Pastor Heidi
McGinness, speaker and author Barbara Coloroso, and Fran Sterling,
director of the Rocky Mountain region for Facing History and
Ourselves. Simon Maghakyan, co-chair of the Armenian Genocide
Commemoration Committee, will moderate the discussion.

Both events are free and open to the public.

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