U.S. SENATORS MENENDEZ AND ENSIGN INTRODUCE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.10.2009 01:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
welcomed the introduction today of the Armenian Genocide Resolution
in the U.S. Senate by Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and John Ensign (R-NV).

The measure is similar to legislation in the U.S. House, H.Res.252,
introduced earlier this year by Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA),
George Radanovich (R-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs
Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL). This measure already has
over 130 cosponsors.

As Communications Director of ANCA Elizabeth S. Chouldjian told
PanARMENIAN.Net, in introducing the measure, Sen. Menendez noted,
"Only when history’s darkest hours are acknowledged and understood
can we truly learn from them and build a peaceful future upon those
lessons. One and a half million Armenians experienced Hell on Earth,
and to sweep their plight under the rug is to insult their memories and
their descendants. It is long past time that our nation help set the
historical record straight and provide a foundation of understanding
that helps prevent future atrocities."

Senator Ensign explained, "It inconceivable that after so many years
the international community has yet to affirm that the deportation,
expropriation, abduction, torture, massacre and starvation of the
Armenian people was genocide. By joining together and affirming that
genocide was committed on the Armenian people, we send a strong message
to the international community that we will not turn a blind eye to
the crimes of the past simply because they are in the past."

"On behalf of all Armenian Americans, we thank Senators Menendez and
Ensign for their tireless leadership in moving America toward a full
and proper commemoration and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide,"
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "This legislation,
in seeking to end U.S. silence in the face of Turkey’s denial of
this crime, not only honors the past, but also, very powerfully,
helps make Armenia and all the world safer from future genocides."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress