States News Service
April 24, 2010 Saturday
ROYCE CALLS FOR RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
WASHINGTON
The following information was released by the office of California
Rep. Ed Royce:
Today, Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA) expressed his disappointment that
President Obama failed to recognize the 1915 massacre of Armenians as
genocide.
"As a Senator, Barrack Obama had a strong record on the Armenian
Genocide. As President, however, he’s fallen flat once again. I’m
disappointed that the President has missed yet another opportunity to
set the record straight," said Royce.
Royce also took the occasion to call on the House of Representatives
to take up H.Res.252, a resolution that would put Congress on record
as recognizing the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide.
"It is far past time for the United States Congress to officially
recognize the Armenian Genocide. The U.S. has long been a global
leader in promoting human rights around the world. On the issue of the
Armenian Genocide, however, we lag behind. The French, Swiss, Swedish,
Germans, and even the Russian governments recognize the Armenian
Genocide properly. As a global leader in human rights, it is
imperative for the U.S. to stand on principle and recognize the
annihilation of the Armenians and move the bill," said Royce.
As a State Senator, with the help of Governor George Deukmejian, Royce
authored the first resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide, which
passed the California Legislature. In Congress, Royce, along with
George Radanovich and Jim Rogan, was able to pass the first Armenian
Genocide resolution through the Foreign Affairs Committee.
But, regardless of these successes, the impact of the Government of
Turkey’s protests has had the same effect. Each year the genocide
resolution has passed through the Foreign Affairs Committee, Turkish
pressure has prevented it from coming to the House floor for a vote.
Rep. Royce is a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He is
an active member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.