Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email: anca@anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
October 3, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
(202) 775-1918
SEN. MENENDEZ EXPRESSES "REAL CONCERNS" ABOUT TURKEY-ARMENIA
PROTOCOL PROVISIONS
— Describes Historical Commission as "frankly absurd" and an
"insult to the Armenian people"
— Watch the Video:
New York City, NY – Senate Foreign Relations Committee member and
outspoken advocate of international affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) called provisions in the Turkey
Armenia protocols which would create a historical commission
"frankly absurd." The New Jersey legislator went on to state that
"I do not think that Armenia should be pressured into anything that
is not in their national interests or in the long-term national
interests of the United States."
Expanding on his concerns of the Protocol’s historical commission
provision, Sen. Menendez called such an action "an insult to the
Armenian people. It is an insult to the memory of the victims. It
is an insult to the top scholars who have clearly spoken on this
issue and issued their unequivocal conclusions."
Sen. Menendez went on to restate the importance of international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. "The Armenian Genocide is an
irrefutable fact of history," explained the Senator. "It is time
that Turkey recognizes it and accepts it. It is time that the
world acknowledges this fact of history and moves on towards a
viable peace that honors the true history of the Armenian people."
Senator Menendez offered his remarks during the Armenian Cultural
Association of America (ACAA) banquet in support of the efforts of
the Armenian National Committee of America Eastern United States.
For his decades of outspoken leadership and advocacy for Armenian
American concerns and, most recently, his efforts to ensure a U.S.
foreign policy which properly recognizes the Armenian Genocide,
Sen. Menendez was awarded the 2009 Freedom Award. Previous Freedom
Award recipients were former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans
and Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power.
More information about the ACAA banquet and other 2009 community
honorees will follow.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress