Armenian Assembly of America
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PRESS RELEASE
December 9, 2008
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA RECALLS EXTRAORDINARY CAMPAIGN OF SENATOR
PROXMIRE FOR U.S. RATIFICATION ON THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE
CONVENTION
Assembly Urges Renewed Effort to Combat Genocide Denial
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) recalls the
extraordinary campaign of Senator William Proxmire (D-WI) in securing
U.S. ratification of the United Nations Convention on Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Convention) on the 60th anniversary
of its adoption in the United Nations.
The Assembly was part of the coalition of organizations headed by the
American Bar Association advocating for U.S. adoption of the U.N.
Genocide Convention. From the time of its founding in 1972, the Assembly
supported Senator Proxmire’s unremitting campaign to persuade the Senate
to approve implementing legislation enabling the U.S. adoption of the
Convention. The Assembly had the honor then of giving testimony in
committee and in writing, as part of the commitment of the
Armenian-American community to doing its share in creating greater
awareness of the danger of genocide.
Starting in 1967, Senator Proxmire launched a campaign urging the U.S.
to ratify the Convention and is known for giving 3,211 speeches about
genocide on the Senate floor. In 1988, the U.S. became the 98th nation
to ratify the Convention. Signatory States "confirm that genocide,
whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under
international law which they undertake to prevent and to punish."
Today the Assembly, as an ardent proponent of genocide prevention,
affirmation and education, welcomes prevention efforts and continues its
work with various organizations, such as the Save Darfur Coalition, to
raise awareness and urge intervention.
While much has been achieved over the last 60 years, there is still much
more to be done. CNN’s "Scream Bloody Murder," which aired the first
week of December, highlighted many of the issues faced today, from the
horrors in Darfur to the continued denial of the Armenian Genocide. The
failure to prevent genocide in Darfur and the constant denial of the
Armenian Genocide underscores the need for even greater action.
The Assembly has therefore renewed its calls to combat genocide denial,
especially as it pertains to Turkey’s multi-million dollar campaign to
silence the truth and the proud record of U.S. humanitarian intervention
to save the survivors of the first genocide of the 20th Century.
Moreover, yesterday, the Genocide Prevention Task Force (GPTF) issued a
report on genocide prevention; however it failed to address Turkey’s
ongoing genocidal denial. The Assembly remains deeply troubled by the
lack of impartiality of GPTF Co-Chairs, former Secretary of State
Madeline Albright and Secretary of Defense William Cohen, due to their
ties to Turkey. Cohen’s firm, the Cohen Group not only provides
financial contributions to the American Turkish Council, but also serves
on its Advisory Board. Meanwhile, just days ago Co-Chair Albright
proclaimed: "I consider myself a Turkophile of major proportions."
"The time is long overdue for unequivocal affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "Only by
squarely combating and defeating denial can we hope to prevent future
genocides. President-elect Barack Obama has been a consistent advocate
on the issue of combating genocide, including reaffirmation of the
Armenian Genocide."
"The goal of genocide prevention can only be realized through a complete
understanding of past genocides and the lessons derived therein," added
Ardouny. "We would not be discussing the Convention today if it was not
for Raphael Lemkin, whose tireless efforts made the Convention a reality
from which all of humanity has benefited."
Lemkin, who was of Polish-Jewish descent escaped the Holocaust and
dedicated himself to the prevention and punishment of this crime against
humanity. Lemkin specifically referenced the Armenian and Jewish
experience as prototypes of genocide. This was reinforced in 1951 by the
United States in its filling before the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) concerning the United Nations Genocide Convention, which squarely
acknowledged the Armenian Genocide as a crime.
The document reads in part:
The Genocide Convention resulted from the inhuman and barbarous
practices which prevailed in certain countries prior to and during World
War II, when entire religious, racial and national minority groups were
threatened with and subjected to deliberate extermination. The practice
of genocide has occurred throughout human history. The Roman persecution
of the Christians, the Turkish massacres of Armenians, the extermination
of millions of Jews and Poles by the Nazis are outstanding examples of
the crime of genocide.
The 1951 statement is consistent with the legislative history of the
U.S. ratification of the Genocide Convention, President Reagan’s 1981
Proclamation 4838 ("Like the genocide of the Armenians before it, and
the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it – and like too many
other such persecutions of too many other peoples – the lessons of the
Holocaust must never be forgotten."), the 2003 International Center for
Transitional Justice endorsed by President Bush, which concluded that
"the Events [of 1915], viewed collectively, can thus be said to include
all of the elements of the crime of genocide as defined in the
Convention, and legal scholars as well as historians, politicians,
journalists and other people would be justified in continuing to so
describe them," the 1993 court decision in Krikorian v. Department of
State (where the D.C. Federal Court of Appeals confirmed that U.S.
policy recognizes the Armenian Genocide) and the 42 U.S. States that
have affirmed the Armenian Genocide.
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.
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NR#2008-090
Editor’s Note:
Link to United Nations Genocide Convention
oci.htm
Link to ANI
Li nk to AAA – Obama press release
Li nk to 1951 statement
tion.388/current_category.6/affi
rmation_detail.ht ml
Link to Reagan’s 1981 proclamation
rmation.63/current_category.4/affir
mation_detail. html
Link to ICTJ/TARC, via ANI’s website
on.244/current_category.5/affi
rmation_detail.html
Link to Krikorian v State Department
ation.241/current_category.76/aff
irmation_detail. html
Link to U.S. reaffirmation – 42 states via ANI
ory.11/affirmation_list.ht
ml
Link to AAA Genocide and Rule of Law Testimony
Link to AAA Divestment Testimony
Link to AAA Action Alert – Scream Bloody Murder
tid=12278316