PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Assembly of America
March 3, 2010
Contact: Press Department
Email: info@aaainc.org
Phone: (202) 393-3434
BREAKING NEWS: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION APPROVED
Washington, DC – By a vote of 23 to 22 the U.S. House Foreign Affairs
Committee approved H.Res. 252, the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
The committee passed the motion despite a well-funded lobbying effort
by the Turkish government supported by major defense corporations
doing business with Turkey. Parliamentarians from Turkey and Turkey’s
ambassador to the U.S. personally weighed in on the committee and the
Obama Administration.
Major media reported that the Obama White House, which had remained
silent on the issue until the day of the hearing, asked Congress to
hold off on the resolution. If confirmed, the request would have been
a breach of the president’s campaign promise.
Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) opened the hearings in the
presence of three survivors, two nonagenarians and one centenarian.
As many Members spoke in favor of the resolution and the need to speak
the truth to genocide to prevent crimes against humanity, others
raised questions about the timing of the resolution.
Chairman Berman responded, "I have been in Congress 27 years and it
has never been the right time" to take up this resolution. The House
committee had approved similar measures in 2000 and 2007 and a
commemorative resolution was debated on the floor of the Senate in
1990.
Members rejected arguments by opponents linking passage of the
resolution to the recently negotiated protocols between Turkey and
Armenia, and stressed the resolution is about the U.S. record.
Reflecting bi-partisan support for the measure, Democratic
Representatives Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Jim Costa (D-CA), Donald Payne
(D-NJ), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Keith Ellison
(D-MN), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Diane Watson (D-CA) and Republican
Representatives Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Ed
Royce (R-CA), and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) spoke in favor of the
resolution.
The debate raised questions about the Turkish government’s credibility
whose claim for reconciliation is contradicted by its persistent
opposition to affirming the U.S. record and which wages an
international campaign of denial, despite widespread international
recognition.
"The truth prevailed today, and the cause of genocide affirmation and
prevention has been furthered. The United States record on the
Armenian Genocide is clear, voluminous, and unambiguous, a matter
recognized by President Ronald Reagan and by President Obama in a
number of campaign statements. We commend the leadership of Chairman
Howard Berman and all those who supported the bill’s passage, which
was introduced by Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), George
Radanovich (R-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL),"
stated Armenian Assembly of America Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
"I also want to acknowledge Representatives Brad Sherman, Anna Eshoo
(D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), and Ed Royce for the pivotal role they
played throughout this process," added Ardouny. "The pan-Armenian
community letter sent a message to Congress that Armenian-Americans
speak with one voice when they call on their legislators to affirm the
historic U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide and to honor the memory
of the American diplomats and humanitarians that came to the rescue of
the survivors."
The resolution was supported by a broad range of Armenian-American
community organizations including: the Armenian Assembly of America,
Armenian Bar Association, Armenian Catholic Eparchy in the USA,
Armenian Council of America, Armenian Evangelical Union of North
America, Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian International
Women’s Association, Armenian Missionary Association of America,
Armenian National Committee of America, Armenian Relief Society,
Armenian Rights Council of America, Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America – East, Diocese of the Armenian Church of America – West,
Knights of Vartan, Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
– East, Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America – West,
and the World Armenian Congress.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
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