Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email. [email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
December 15, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
SENATORS BOXER, LIEBERMAN; REP. SANCHEZ ADD
NEW SUPPORT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
WASHINGTON, DC -Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Joe Lieberman (D-
CT) and Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) became, this week, the
most recent additions to the growing bipartisan group of
legislators supporting the Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.316
and H.Res.252), reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
The new support for this human rights legislation comes in the wake
of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to
Washington, DC, last week, during which he repeatedly denied the
Armenian Genocide. Responding to a question from journalist
Charlie Rose, during an hour-long televised PBS interview on
December 8th, Erdogan stated, "I can say very clearly that we do
not accept genocide. This is completely a lie. I invite people to
prove it. Something like this is really not possible, and there is
no truth to it."
"We want to thank Senators Boxer and Lieberman and Representative
Sanchez for, once again standing up for principle, and against
Turkey’s denials," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the
ANCA. "We look forward, in the weeks ahead, to working with these
friends and our many others in both houses of Congress, to see this
genocide-prevention legislation adopted at the very first
opportunity."
Armenian Americans and human rights activists have been contacting
their legislators in support for the Congressional measures for a
month leading up to Prime Minister Erdogan’s Washington, DC visit
as part of the ANCA "Countdown to Erdogan" Campaign. In the 30
days leading up to the meeting between President Obama and Prime
Minister Erdogan, the ANCA organized a new action each day –
ranging from online advocacy, call-in days, social networking,
coalition building, community outreach, and fieldwork. The
campaign’s first week addressed the U.S. Senate, the second the
U.S. House, followed by the media during the third week, and then,
in the final seven days, a final push with the White House.
Thousands participated in the unique month-long activism campaign.
H.Res.252, introduced on March 17th of this year by lead sponsors
Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA), and Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-
IL), currently has over 135 cosponsors. With the support of
Senators Boxer and Lieberman, S.Res.316, spearheaded by Senators
Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and John Ensign (R-NV), will have 10
cosponsors. Both bills are identical to legislation in the 110th
Congress that was adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
and publicly endorsed by then-candidate for President Barack Obama,
current Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton. Since the introduction of the current resolution this
March, President Obama has broken his pledge to recognize the
Armenian Genocide, retreating markedly from repeated statements and
promises he made throughout his service in the Senate calling for
proper U.S. condemnation and commemoration of this crime against
humanity.