CONGRESSWOMAN LAURA RICHARDSON COSPONSORS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.06.2009 01:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US Congresswoman Laura Richardson (CA-37) has
cosponsored the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H. Res. 252). The
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reports, that bill
currently has over 125 cosponsors in the United States House of
Representatives.

"I am proud to co-sponsor H. Res. 252, the "Affirmation of the United
States Record on the Armenian Genocide Resolution," Rep. Richardson
told the ANCA. "April 24 marked the 94th anniversary of one of the
darkest and saddest chapters in human history, the mass deportations
and massacre of 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during the
years 1915-1923. The systematic killing of innocent Armenian civilians
by the Turks was an unprecedented act of cruelty and barbarism and is,
with the exception of the Holocaust, perhaps the ultimate example
of man’s inhumanity to man. There is only one word that adequately
describes this kind of evil and that word is ‘genocide.’ And we dare
not be afraid to speak its name."

Richardson continued to note that "The International Association
of Genocide Scholars and nearly all credible agree that Armenians
were the victims of the first genocide of the 20th century. But
for more than 90 years Turkey has refused to acknowledge this crime
against humanity. And to their credit, Armenian-Americans have worked
tirelessly to ensure that the world never forgets what happened during
his dark moment in world history. Passage of the H.R. 252 will ensure
that the Armenian Genocide will never be forgotten by the Congress,
and thus the people, of the United States. I will continue to work
with my colleagues to pass this important and long overdue resolution
and will not rest until it does."

Congresswoman Laura Richardson replaced former Congresswoman Juanita
Millender-McDonald, a strong supporter of issues of concern to
Armenian Americans until her passing on April 22, 2007. Richardson
prevailed in a Special Election that took place August 21, 2007 and
won re-election in 2008.

"I am very proud that the Armenian American community’s longtime
friend and ally – Rep. Richardson – has again cosponsored the
Armenian Genocide resolution," said Armenian community activist Armand
Aghakhanian, who met with Richardson last week.

"Increased Congressional support for this vital human rights measure
not only honors the memory of the innocent men, women, and children
killed during the Genocide, but demonstrates American will to end
the cycle of genocide."