SENATORS BOXER, LIEBERMAN; REP. SANCHEZ ADD NEW SUPPORT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
ArmInfo.
2009-12-16 22:16:00
ArmInfo. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Joe Lieberman (D- CT) and
Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) became, this week, the most recent
additions to the growing bipartisan group of legislators supporting
the Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.316 and H.Res.252), reported
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The new support for this human rights legislation comes in the wake
of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Washington,
DC, last week, during which he repeatedly denied the Armenian Genocide.
Responding to a question from journalist Charlie Rose, during an
hour-long televised PBS interview on December 8th, Erdogan stated,
"I can say very clearly that we do not accept genocide. This is
completely a lie. I invite people to prove it. Something like this
is really not possible, and there is no truth to it."
"We want to thank Senators Boxer and Lieberman and Representative
Sanchez for, once again standing up for principle, and against
Turkey’s denials," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the
ANCA. "We look forward, in the weeks ahead, to working with these
friends and our many others in both houses of Congress, to see this
genocide-prevention legislation adopted at the very first opportunity."
Armenian Americans and human rights activists have been contacting
their legislators in support for the Congressional measures for a
month leading up to Prime Minister Erdogan’s Washington, DC visit
as part of the ANCA "Countdown to Erdogan" Campaign. In the 30 days
leading up to the meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister
Erdogan, the ANCA organized a new action each day – ranging from
online advocacy, call-in days, social networking, coalition building,
community outreach, and fieldwork. The campaign’s first week addressed
the U.S. Senate, the second the U.S. House, followed by the media
during the third week, and then, in the final seven days, a final push
with the White House. Thousands participated in the unique month-long
activism campaign.
H.Res.252, introduced on March 17th of this year by lead sponsors
Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA), and Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-
IL), currently has over 135 cosponsors. With the support of Senators
Boxer and Lieberman, S.Res.316, spearheaded by Senators Bob Menendez
(D-NJ) and John Ensign (R-NV), will have 10 cosponsors. Both bills
are identical to legislation in the 110th Congress that was adopted
by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and publicly endorsed by
then-candidate for President Barack Obama, current Vice President Joe
Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Since the introduction
of the current resolution this March, President Obama has broken his
pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide, retreating markedly from
repeated statements and promises he made throughout his service in
the Senate calling for proper U.S. condemnation and commemoration of
this crime against humanity.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
