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

US Fed News
April 25, 2009

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."For more information please contact:
Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress