COLORADO ARMENIANS CONTINUE ADVOCACY TO SECURE US REAFFIRMATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.12.2009 13:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Last month, the Eastern Colorado News (ECN) touted
the advocacy efforts of the Colorado Armenian American community in
its continued efforts to raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide
reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

As part of the Assembly’s nationwide effort to secure passage of H.

Res. 252, the Armenian-American community has proactively reached
out to its elected representatives in Congress to urge support for
this important human rights legislation.

In Colorado, the ECN also highlighted the "quiet" lobbying against
the Armenian Genocide resolution by five military contractors as
reported by the Associated Press (AP). The AP article revealed that BAE
Systems, Inc., Goodrich Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., Raytheon Co.,
United Technologies Corp., and energy producer Chevron Corp. "spent
$14 million to lobby Congress in the first quarter of this year,"
including against the genocide resolution.

The ECN article picks up where the AP story left off, and pointed
out the contributions these companies make to Members of Congress,
stating that Raytheon was one of the "highest contributors" to a
Congressman in Colorado who supported the resolution last Congress,
and has yet to cosponsor H.Res. 252 this Congress.

Congressman Adam Schiff, who has spearheaded H.Res. 252, along with
his colleagues Congressmen George Radanovich, Frank Pallone, and Mark
Kirk told the AP that businesses that lobby against the resolution
are not being "good corporate citizens."

"In the face of continued denial of the Armenian Genocide, we commend
the efforts of the community from around the country and especially
appreciate the dedicated work of our State Chairs and network of
activists," stated Grassroots Director Taniel Koushakjian.

"Armenia-Turkey relations may have entered a new phase, but that does
not mean U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide should be held
hostage to this process. We strongly urge all Members of Congress
to support this bipartisan bill and would welcome the support of the
entire Colorado delegation," added Koushakjian.

H.Res. 252 is currently pending before the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs and mirrors the Senate version of the bill, of which Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid cosponsored last month.