ANCA CALLS ON US PRESIDENT TO HONOR HIS PLEDGE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Yerkir
08.04.2010 14:40
Yerevan

Yerevan (Yerkir) – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
has again asked US President Barack Obama to honor his campaign
promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

The one-page letter, signed by ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian and sent in
the days leading up to President Obama’s second April 24th in office,
asks, simply, that President Obama keep his commitment and "stand for
a policy that is truthful, just, and worthy of the American people."

Hachikian also addressed two points of special concern that have
further compounded the anger and outrage felt by Armenian American
voters over the President’s broken promise; his pressure on Armenia
to accept the one-sided, pro-Ankara Protocols; his support for
Turkey’s "historical commission" denial tactic; and his attacks
on the Armenian Genocide Resolution.

"As citizens, we simply call upon you, as our President, to honor
your own commitments. We ask only that you keep faith with your own
understanding of the Armenian Genocide and the modern-day consequences
of this still unresolved crime against humanity. We expect simply
that you stand for a policy that is truthful, just, and worthy of
the American people," the letter reads. "I would also respectfully
ask you to consider, as you prepare your remarks, that April 24th
represents a profoundly solemn remembrance for our community and for
all who care about the painful legacy of this horrific crime.

We look to the White House to mark this day sincerely and not, as
has too often been the case, to view it as an opportunity to present
a policy statement on the region. An explanation of U.S. priorities
regarding Armenia-Turkey relations or other current foreign policy
issues, while certainly entirely appropriate in other settings,
clearly does not belong in a Presidential April 24th statement, just
as a statement of U.S. policy on the Israel-Arab peace process would
not be appropriate in Presidential remarks devoted to remembering
the Holocaust."