ANCA CHALLENGES OBAMA ADMINISTRATION’S ATTACK ON GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Tert.am
14:06 ~U 09.03.10

Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chair Ken Hachikian
gave voice to the profound moral outrage of Armenian-American voters
over the decision last week by President Obama, who had earlier this
year abandoned his own pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide, to
launch a White House drive to block proper Congressional commemoration
of the Armenian Genocide, reads an ANCA press release.

In a letter sent today to the White House, Hachikian noted: "Mr.

President, in attempting to enforce Ankara’s gag rule on US recognition
of the Armenian Genocide – both within your Administration and now
in Congress – you have, very sadly, signaled to all the world that
our silence on genocide can be bought in exchange for perceived
geopolitical advantage or compromised under threat from a foreign
power. Your policy is now fully complicit in Turkey’s campaign of
Genocide denial."

Hachikian’s letter, in part, reads:

"Your Administration’s efforts to undermine the adoption of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution, coming, as they do, in the wake of
both your broken pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide and
your abandoned promise to "strongly support" the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, represent a stark departure from the commitments you made
to the American people during your campaign for office.

"Rather than honouring your words, you are, today, using the full
force of your Administration to attempt to block members of Congress
from doing exactly that which you yourself promised, namely properly
commemorating this crime against humanity.

"As you recall, as US Senator, you sharply criticized President Bush’s
policy of non-recognition and opposition to Congressional commemoration
as ‘inexcusable.’ In fact, while in Congress you were joined by
then-Senators Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton in formally calling on
President Bush to properly mark this crime against humanity, noting
that full US recognition of the Armenian Genocide serves ‘the best
interest of our nation and the entire global community.’

"I would like to take this opportunity, once again, to encourage you
to honour your as-yet unfulfilled pledge to remain actively engaged
with Armenian-American leaders.

"As it stands now, more than a year into your Administration, despite
the considerable personal attention you have devoted to Armenian
issues and your multiple discussions with Turkey’s leaders about
the Armenian Genocide, you have not even once met with the American
citizens descended from the survivors of this crime.

"As a first step toward addressing this imbalance, I would respectfully
recommend that you call a meeting, at your first opportunity, with
our broad-based community leadership."