States News Service
April 24, 2009 Friday

RADANOVICH EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT IN OBAMA’S REFUSAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

WASHINGTON

The following information was released by the office of California
Rep. George P. Radanovich:

Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today released the
following statement after President Barack Obama refused to properly
characterize the systematic destruction of 1.5 million Armenians in
1915 as "genocide."

"I am outraged that after establishing an unequivocal record of
understanding for the history of the Armenian Genocide, the President
chose, for political reasons, to abandon his commitment to the
Armenian people.

"I am truly saddened and disappointed that the President continued our
government’s denial of the truth and refused to acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide – and in so doing fully abandoned another of his
campaign promises.

"Like the President, I am very pleased with the recent announcement of
a roadmap towards normalization of relations between Armenia and
Turkey. This will be beneficial to both countries and is something I
hope to see progress expeditiously. However, it has absolutely nothing
to do with the fact that genocide was perpetrated on the Armenian
people 94 years ago. For the President to refer to it in his Armenian
Remembrance Day statement and implicitly use this modern day
occurrence as an excuse to go back on the promises he made as a
candidate about appropriately acknowledging the past is dishonest and
disrespectful to Armenians around the world.

"The truth is not political and should not be used for political
purposes. If we are to have any of hope of affecting genocide and
other atrocities occurring today, we must show the conviction to
acknowledge those in the past. Otherwise, those perpetrating genocide
will be given strength from our unwillingness to embrace the truth.

"While the President’s statement is unfortunate, it does not affect my
commitment to seeing the House pass H. Res 252 and recognize the
Genocide. If anything, the President’s statement only further
highlights the need for Congress to demonstrate the strength that the
President’s statement lacks – and tell the world that the truth will
not be silenced."