Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
December 8, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ARMENIAN AMERICANS CRITICIZE HYPOCRISY OF GENOCIDE PREVENTION TASK
FORCE CO-CHAIRS
— Secretaries Albright and Cohen’s Opposition to Armenian Genocide
Affirmation Undermines Credibility of Key Report
— ANCA Confronts Cohen and Albright at Press Conference Announcing
Genocide Prevention Blueprint
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
today questioned the credibility of former Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright and former Secretary of Defense William Cohen to
issue a genocide prevention report, given their longstanding
opposition to Armenian Genocide legislation. The report, unveiled
earlier today at the National Press Club by the Genocide Prevention
Task Force, co-chaired by Albright and Cohen, is designed to
encourage U.S. leadership in ending the cycle of genocide.
"Albright and Cohen offered some worthwhile solutions today but,
sadly, as two of the main architects of U.S. denial of the Armenian
Genocide, remain very much part of the problem the Task Force set
out to address," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
"Secretaries Albright and Cohen both have long track records, both
as government officials and private citizens, of working to block
American recognition of the Armenian Genocide."
Last year, both Secretaries Cohen and Albright sent letters to
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opposing Congressional legislation
(H.Res.106 / S.Res.106) aimed to end U.S. complicity in Armenian
Genocide denial through proper U.S. reaffirmation of that crime
against humanity. Secretary Cohen’s firm, the Cohen Group, is a
strategic partner with DLA / Piper, a registered foreign agent
representing the Government of Turkey, paid $1.8 million a year to,
among other things, lobby against Armenian Genocide legislation.
The Cohen Group is also a member of the American Turkish Council,
which has been outspoken in its opposition to Armenian Genocide
legislation.
Secretary Cohen and Albright’s letters may be found on the ANCA
website at:
ohen_106.pdf
"The messengers undermine the message here. Their words are on the
mark, but Albright and Cohen’s political opposition to ending U.S.
complicity in Genocide denial speaks far louder," added Hamparian.
A pointed question by Hamparian asking Secretaries Cohen and
Albright to comment on what they learned about the dangers of
genocide denial and whether this will cause them to stop seeking to
block U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide was largely evaded
by the co-chairs. Hamparian’s question and the Secretaries’
answers can be viewed online at:
ses.php?prid=1632
H.Res.106, introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) with lead
supporters George Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Brad
Sherman (D-CA) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA), currently has over 200
cosponsors.
On October 10, 2007, the House Foreign Affairs Committee adopted
the resolution, which calls on U.S. foreign policy to properly
reflect the genocide of over 1.5 million Armenian men, women and
children from 1915-1923 in Ottoman Turkey. A similar measure in the
Senate, led by Deputy Majority Leader Richard Durbin (D-IL) and
John Ensign (R-NV), has 33 cosponsors.