SCHIFF URGES OBAMA TO PROPERLY RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 23, 2010 – 11:54 AMT 06:54 GMT

In a forcefully worded letter, Armenian Genocide Resolution lead
sponsor, Congressman Adam Schiff, urged U.S. President Barack Obama
to stand by his record as a Senator and his pledges as a Presidential
candidate to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

"We join with Armenian Americans from across the country in thanking
Congressman Schiff for his leadership in calling upon President Obama
to keep his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide," said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

"As we approach April 24th, in the wake of the collapse of the
Protocols process, it’s clear that President Obama faces a stark
choice: He can honor his commitments and his conscience by properly
recognizing the Armenian Genocide, or he can remain an accomplice to
the Turkish government’s campaign to deny this crime against humanity,"
added Hamparian.

Noting that President Obama did not properly recognize the Armenian
Genocide in his 2009 April 24th statement because of "possible
reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey," Rep. Schiff pointed out
that "this misapprehended the nature of reconciliation, which can
never find a sound basis in the denial of genocide, or silence when
confronted by denial."

He went on to argue that "Linking the process of the protocols to
the Armenian Genocide resolution actually encourages Turkey to not
ratify them, since the Turks know that prolonging the process serves
to provide opponents of the resolution with a continuing excuse to
delay recognition of the Armenian Genocide."