GIRO MANOYAN: TURKISH ORGANIZATIONS OF US MAY PREVENT CONGRESS FROM ADOPTING GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
armradio.am
28.08.2009 14:13
US Federal Appeals Court’s decision prohibiting descendants of Armenian
Genocide victims to sue foreign companies for unpaid claims has no
legal bases, Hay Dat Central Office Director Giro Manoyan told a news
conference in Yerevan.
"In 2000, California State adopted a law enabling descendants
of Genocide victims to sue American and other foreign insurance
companies for unpaid claims. Following such decision, descendents
of the aggrieved filed suit against several insurance companies such
as New-York Life (US), AHA (France) and 3 German companies," Hay Dat
Bureau Director noted.
Those who filed claims against New York Life and AHA received financial
compensation, whereas German companies appealed against the decision,
claiming that California State’s law contradicted US Constitution.
"Court decision says that California state’s law does not conform to US
Constitution as it contains the words ‘descendents of Armenian Genocide
victims’, whereas United States has not officially recognized the
fact. The court also ruled the decision unconstitutional considering
that it contained statements on US domestic policy which is within
the competence of US Congress and President," Manoyan stated, adding
that no law in America disallows separate states to recognize Armenian
G enocide.
"If American court’s decision remains unchanged, Turkish organizations
in US can use it as a tool to prevent Congress from adopting Genocide
Resolution and prohibit official Washington to recognize the fact,"
Manoyan said. On August 20, US Federal Appeals court ruled that
Armenian Americans descended from Genocide victims cannot sue foreign
insurance companies for unpaid claims because the US Government does
not legally recognize that an Armenian genocide occurred.