ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA URGES U.S. AFFIRMATION OF GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.05.2009 10:20 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) Western
Region Director Yeghig Keshishian, at the request of California
State Senator Joe Simitian (CA-11), spoke on the California State
Senate floor about the importance of U.S. affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide. Keshishian said that the Armenian Genocide is "a historical
fact that has been verified by historians, scholars, 43 U.S. states
and former U.S.
President Ronald Reagan," adding, "Instead of coming to terms with
this dark period in Turkey’s past, the present leadership under
President Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan, has chosen to employ highly
paid defense contractors and foreign lobbyists to silence discussion
of the genocide on American soil – not only in the halls of Congress
but also in academic circles."
California State Senators Elaine Alquist (CA-13), Lou Correa (CA-34),
Mark Leno (CA-3) and Carol Liu (CA-21), were also forthright in
their support of U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, taking
time after Keshishian’s remarks to commend the Assembly. "It’s
tremendously gratifying to know that the state of California
understands and acknowledges the legitimate concerns of a half million
Armenian-Americans here in the state," said Simitian. "As a member
of the California State Senate I have been privileged to raise these
issues, including the Armenian Genocide, and I will continue to do
so in the coming years," concluded Simitian.
Additionally, California Assembly Joint Resolution (AJR) 14,
a resolution designating April 24, 2009, as "California Day of
Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923", introduced by
California Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (CA-43) was also considered. In
his public remarks, Krekorian expressed a sense of urgency to pass
this resolution, calling upon the President and the U.S. Congress to
follow suit. He also spoke out in favor of the truth and "to recommit
ourselves to building a society free of bigotry and inhumanity." The
bill passed with unanimous bipartisan support, 73-0.
Following passage of the AJR 14, the members of the Armenian-American
community in attendance joined Senator Simitian, Assemblyman Krekorian,
and other dignitaries from the Armenian community, to hear from
Speaker of the California Assembly, Karen Bass, who commended the
Armenian-American community for their persistent efforts to draw
attention to a subject of importance to all of humanity.