ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:
Contact: Danielle Saroyan
Telephone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
OVER 100 MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS URGE PRESIDENT TRUMP TO AFFIRM THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Armenian Assembly of
America Welcomes Members' Initiative
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a bipartisan letter signed by 102 Members was sent to President
Donald Trump urging him to affirm the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian
Assembly of America (Assembly). Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
Co-Chairs Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), David Trott (R-MI), Jackie
Speier (D-CA), and David Valadao (R-CA), along with Vice-Chairs Adam Schiff
(D-CA) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), spearheaded the letter asking the White House
to honor the United States' historic leadership in defending human rights and affirm
the Armenian Genocide.
The letter to President Trump states: “In
the spirit of honoring the victims and redoubling our commitment to prevent
genocide, we ask you to appropriately mark April 24th as a day of American
remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.”
The Members of Congress point out the remarkable
record in American history in helping save the survivors of this crime, and how
U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire Henry Morgenthau helped to chronicle the
Genocide in 1915. The letter also references the United States’ historical
account on affirming the Armenian Genocide. “In leading an honest and accurate
American remembrance of this known case of genocide, you will stand with
President Reagan, who recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1981, and the
Eisenhower Administration, which did the same in a 1951 submission to the
International Court of Justice. The House of Representatives has also
commemorated the Armenian Genocide, through H.J.Res.148 in 1975 and H.J.Res.247
in 1984.”
This past Wednesday, Members of the
Armenian Caucus hosted an Armenian Genocide Commemoration on the 103rd
anniversary of the 1915 Genocide in Ottoman Turkey. Photos are available on the Armenian Assembly of America's Facebook Page.
“On behalf of the Armenian Assembly, I
want to thank the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues for their continued
commitment to unequivocally affirm the Armenian Genocide," Assembly
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny said.
Earlier this month, the Armenian
National Institute (ANI) launched a new 24-panel digital exhibit displaying the
role of the YMCA and American relief work during the first republic of Armenia
(1918-1920). The exhibit focuses on John Elder and James O. Arroll who arrived
in Yerevan, Armenia in January 1918 to open a YMCA center.
“At the height of the
conflict in the Caucasus when other relief workers chose to evacuate, John
Elder refused to leave fearing that tens of thousands more Armenians would die
of starvation if the relief programs were discontinued. He is credited in
providing relief for 15,000 Armenian orphans. Such selfless heroism must be
recognized,” ANI Director Dr. Rouben Adalian stated.
Established
in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
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NR# 2018-014
Available here: http://bit.ly/2HDDeMg
Photo
Caption: Armenian Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, Assembly Board
Member and Armenian Honorary Consul Oscar Tatosian, Assembly Board Member Annie
Totah, Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Armenian Caucus
Co-Chair Rep. David Trott (R-MI), St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church Reverend
Father Hovsep Karapetyan, Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Grigor Hovhannissian,
and Diocesan Legate of the Armenian Church of America Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian at the 103rd Armenian Genocide Commemoration on Capitol Hill this week
JPEG image