Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email. anca@anca.org
Internet

PRESS RELEASE

March 11, 2010
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA WELCOMES SWEDISH PARLIAMENT’S ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING
ARMENIAN, ASSYRIAN/SYRIAC/CHALDEAN AND PONTIC GREEK GENOCIDES

WASHINGTON, DC – Over strident opposition from the Turkish
Government, the Swedish Parliament, today, adopted a resolution
recognizing the murder and annihilation of the Armenian,
Assyrian/Syriac/Chaldean and Pontic Greek populations by the
Ottoman Turkish Government as "genocide," reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA.)

"Twice in just one week, we have seen legislative bodies – the
House Foreign Affairs Committee in the United States and the full
Parliament in Sweden – take a strong stand against Turkey’s threats
against an honest affirmation of the Armenian Genocide," said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We congratulate the Swedish
Parliamentarians – particularly those who defied party politics and
foreign intimidation – to send a clear message that genocide must
be condemned whenever and wherever it occurs."

The Swedish Parliament adopted the resolution, Motion 2008/09:U332,
by a vote of 131 to 130, overcoming an earlier Foreign Affairs
Committee decision voting down the measure. In addition to
recognizing the Armenian, Assyrian/Syriac/Chaldean and Pontic Greek
genocides, the motion also calls on Swedish authorities to work
with the United Nations, European Union and Turkey to secure
international affirmation of this crime against humanity.

The decision comes just one week after the U.S. House Foreign
Affairs Committee voted to adopt the Armenian Genocide Resolution
(H.Res.252), by a vote of 23-22 – despite last minute opposition
from the Obama Administration and over intense lobbying by the
Turkish Government. A similar measure has been introduced in the
U.S. Senate, S.Res.316.

The ANCA is continuing its "End Turkey’s Gag Rule" campaign, urging
elected officials in the U.S. and around the world to reject
Turkey’s attempts to silence international affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide. For more information, visit

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