Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
December 7, 2007
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CALLS ON THE ‘GENOCIDE PREVENTION TASK FORCE’
CO-CHAIRS TO ENSURE THE LESSONS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ARE NOT
FORGOTTEN
Washington, DC – In a letter to the Co-Chairs of the newly-created
Genocide Prevention Task Force, the Armenian Assembly of America
questioned how the goals of prevention can be achieved without proper
recognition of previous genocides – specifically, the Armenian
Genocide.
While the Assembly is encouraged by the establishment of such a task
force, it is troubled by the fact that its Co-Chairs, Madeleine
Albright and William Cohen, have failed to properly recognize the
tragic events of 1915. The Assembly is all the more concerned that
Albright and Cohen sent letters to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA),
opposing passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H. Res. 106.
"Until the Co-Chairs are willing to affirm the Armenian Genocide, thus
drawing upon the lessons of the past to confront future crimes, we
doubt that the objectives of the Task Force will be adequately
achieved," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
The Assembly letters to Albright and Cohen also emphasized the
importance of recognition by pointing out that, "the lessons of the
Armenian Genocide teach us about the dangers of denial and the
consequences of failing to unequivocally affirm the truth in the face
of such denial."
The Task Force was formed by the United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum, the American Academy of Diplomacy, and the United States
Institute of Peace, in order to develop recommendations on how the
U.S. Government can prevent genocide.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt membership organization.
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NR#2007-140
Editors Note: The Armenian Assembly letter to the Genocide Prevention
Task Force Co-Chairs can be viewed on the Assembly’s Web Site at the
following link:
ges/PRESS_RELEASES_2007/PDFs_for_releases/AAA_Lett er_to_GPTF_Co-Chair_Albright.pdf