ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATED IN CAPITOL HILL’S HISTORIC CANNON CAUCUS ROOM
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.04.2009 00:35 GMT+04:00
Dozens of Democratic and Republican Members of Congress joined
Wednesday evening with over five hundred Armenian Americans from
across the United States in Capitol Hill’s historic Cannon Caucus Room
in a solemn remembrance devoted to U.S. recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Majority Leader
Steny Hoyer (D-MD), in their remarks to the standing-room only
audience, both spoke forcefully of their personal commitment to proper
U.S. condemnation and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
"It is long past the time for the United States to formally recognize
the Armenian Genocide," noted Speaker Pelosi in her remarks. She
went on to spotlight the importance of grassroots efforts against
Turkey’s multi-million dollar campaign of genocide denial. "How far
we can go with the resolution [H.Res.252] this year depends on the
outreach that each and everyone of us in this room can do to win on
the floor of the House. We can do any amount of inside maneuvering
in the Congress and Washington, but what is important is the outside
mobilization to bring to bear the voices of people across America."
The Congressional Armenian Genocide observance was organized by the
Congressional Armenian Caucus, with Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) and Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) serving as Masters of
Ceremony. Opening prayers were offered by his Eminence Oshagan
Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Eastern
United States as well as Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Eastern United States.
Joining Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer in offering remarks at
the Armenian Genocide commemoration were Armenian Genocide Resolution
lead sponsors Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. George Radanovich
(R-CA), House Members of Armenian descent Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and
Jackie Speier (D-CA), as well as Reps. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI),
Jim McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV)
and Tim Walz (D-MN).
The evening included powerful remarks about the consequences of
genocide by guest speaker Dr. Henry Theriault of Worcester State
University. Also offering remarks were Armenian Ambasador Tatul
Markarian and Permanent Representative of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic
to the U.S. Robert Avetisyan.