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
August 23, 2008
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
OBAMA TAPS SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS CHAIRMAN BIDEN AS HIS
VICE-PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE
Biden Has a Long and Consistent Record of Support on Armenian-American
Issues
Washington, DC – With the selection of the Chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Joseph Biden, Jr. (D-DE), as his
Vice-Presidential running-mate, Presumptive Democratic Presidential
Nominee Senator Barack Obama has chosen a person with a long record of
support on Armenian-American issues, reported the Armenian Assembly of
America (Assembly).
Senator Joe Biden, now in his sixth term, has championed the cause of
freedom and human rights throughout his career. In 1987, Senator Biden
wrote to Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian with
respect to his support for S.J.Res. 43, declaring April 24th as the
National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Armenian
Genocide. In the letter, Senator Biden agreed with Chairman
Hovnanian’s view "that we must not allow a revisionist rewriting of
the history of the terrible atrocities committed against the Armenian
people."
In 1989, as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Biden supported
S.J.Res. 212, which also affirmed the Armenian Genocide. During the
Committee hearing, Biden was sharply critical of revisionist scholars
supporting Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide. Biden also told
the Armenian community that "it is particularly regrettable that the
Turkish government has chosen to make an issue of this resolution and
make an unprecedented lobbying campaign against it in
Congress. Nonetheless, we cannot cave into the pressure of an
important ally and rewrite history by denying the occurrence of the
genocide."
"Chairman Biden has consistently demonstrated his leadership on
foreign policy issues, including as it pertains to acknowledging the
historical truth of the Armenian Genocide, as well as U.S. policy and
funding in the South Caucasus," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny.
Speaking about the right to self-determination during the early stages
of the Soviet Union’s disintegration, in 1990, Senator Biden said that
"We [United States] must place the right of self-determination at its
center. Nagorno Karabakh only reminds us of the need, and the
responsibility, of the United States to let it be known to the whole
world that we condemn the suppression of free speech and expression
everywhere, condemn the use of force to silence those who seek
freedom, and recognize the right of all peoples to decide for
themselves the form of government under which they choose to live."
Senator Biden also voted in support of Senator John Kerry’s (D-MA)
"Conditions on Assistance to Azerbaijan" amendment to the Freedom
Support Act in 1992, which became known as Section 907. Following the
devastating earthquake in Armenia in 1988, as well as Azerbaijan’s
ongoing assault against Armenians, in 1993, Biden joined in signing a
letter to then Secretary of State Warren Christopher calling for a
"stronger U.S. response to the crisis in the Republic of Armenia," as
"the people of Armenia are experiencing winter without fuel or
adequate supplies of food as a result of the continued economic
blockade imposed by neighboring Azerbaijan and the sabotage of a
natural gas pipeline through Georgia."
Throughout the 1990s, Biden defended Section 907 of the Freedom
Support Act, which was adopted in response to Azerbaijan’s hostile
actions and blockade against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. In a
critical vote in 1999, when opponents, including oil companies tried
to repeal Section 907 to curry favor with Azerbaijan, Senator Biden
stood by his principles and voted to maintain this important provision
of law.
In the 110th Congress, Chairman Biden continues to play a critical
leadership role, from his introduction of legislation honoring the
legacy of slain journalist Hrant Dink and calling upon Turkey to
repeal Article 301 of its penal code, which punishes discussion of the
Armenian Genocide, to his cosponsorship of S.Res. 106, which affirms
the Armenian Genocide, as well as taking the Administration to task
for its flawed policy with respect to the ability of Ambassadors to
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
The Assembly recently praised the efforts of Senator Biden along with
his Senate Foreign Relations Committee colleagues for ensuring that
U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide remained at the forefront
during the nomination of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch to serve as the
next U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.
Senator Obama is also on record with respect to Armenian issues having
stated "I have stood with the Armenian American community in calling
for Turkey’s acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide." Obama has also
stated that he strongly supports passage of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106).
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
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
###
NR#2008-062
Photo Caption: Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny and Chairman
Joseph Biden at Senate Foreign Relations Committee business meeting on
June 24, 2008.