OF CONGRESS CALL FOR OBAMA TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Washington, March 18, 2015 (AFP) – With the approach of the centenary
commemorations of the Armenian Genocide, more than 40 US lawmakers
Wednesday filed a resolution calling on Barack Obama to recognize
the genocide, a term that he never used as president.
The text, tabled in the House of Representatives by Democrats and
Republicans, called Obama to help improve relations between Armenia
and Turkey on the basis of “full recognition of the facts and ongoing
consequences of Armenian genocide “.
US President when he was campaigning for the White House in 2008,
pledged to recognize the genocide, but as president he never uttered
the word, especially in the press releases issued every year around
April 24 . In 2014, he spoke of “one of the worst atrocities of the
twentieth century” and called for a “full recognition, frank and just
the facts.”
Congress recognized the genocide with the adoption of resolutions by
the House in 1975 and 1984. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan issued
a proclamation also cited the Armenian genocide. Turkey has always
refused to admit any planned disposal, evoking the death of about
500,000 Armenians (against 1.5 million according to Armenia), who
had sided with his enemy side Russia in fighting or cause of famines.
Twenty-one countries recognize the genocide, according to the Armenian
National Institute, which includes the United States in its list.
“During this important anniversary, and while there are still survivors
among us, the Congress and the president have the opportunity and
the obligation to send a strong message that we will never forget
the dead, and we call this crime against humanity that is genocide,
“said Democratic Representative Adam Schiff, one of the signatories,
who had already filed a similar text in 2007.
At this stage, the Speaker of the House, Republican John Boehner,
has not indicated whether the text would be submitted to a vote.
Thursday, March 19, 2015, Ara © armenews.com