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
February 12, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
NEW DRIVE FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION LAUNCHED
— Adam Schiff joined by George Radanovich and Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone and Mark Kirk in Seeking Bipartisan
Support for Human Rights Measure
WASHINGTON, DC – A letter seeking U.S. House cosponsors for a
renewed drive to secure the adoption of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution was circulated today on Capitol Hill by the
legislation’s lead authors, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) and
George Radanovich (R-CA), and Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank
Pallone (D-NJ), and Mark Kirk (R-IL), reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
"We join today with millions of Armenians throughout the United
States, in Armenia, and around the world in welcoming the launch of
this new drive toward U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide,"
said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "It’s always
the right time to take a stand against genocide. Now – with
long-standing advocates of this noble and necessary cause in the
White House, leading the State Department, serving in the Cabinet,
heading up both Houses of Congress, and chairing key Congressional
committees – we are set to overcome the final barriers to full and
formal U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide."
In the letter, the four legislators invited their House colleagues
to join the resolution as original cosponsors, which will mean that
they will be listed as supporters starting from the day of its
introduction. During the recently concluded 110th Congress, an
identical measure secured the support of 212 cosponsors, was
adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee, but was eventually
blocked from a vote on the House floor by sustained attacks by
then-President George W. Bush and his Administration.
In urging early support for this human rights measure, the four
lead sponsors noted that, "By properly acknowledging the Armenian
Genocide, we reaffirm the willingness of the U.S. to speak plainly
about genocide, and renew our commitment to prevent other
occurrences of man’s inhumanity to man."
The Armenian Genocide Resolution reaffirms the U.S. record on the
Armenian Genocide by ensuring that the foreign policy of the United
States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and
genocide documented in the United States record relating to the
Armenian Genocide.
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