REP. ROYCE LEADS EFFORTS TO END TURKEY’S GAG RULE
Asbarez
Apr 14th, 2010
Assert US Leadership Role In Promoting Human Rights
ANCA-WR Government Relations Director Lerna Kayserian Shirinian,
ANCA-WR Chairwoman Aida Dimejian, Congressman Ed Royce, and ANCA
Activist Sylvie Tertzakian.
ORANGE, Calif.-Representatives of Armenian National Committee of
America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) and the Armenian National Committee
– Orange County (ANC OC) discussed Congressional affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide and a broad range of community concerns during a
meeting with Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) at his district office yesterday.
The meeting was led by ANCA-WR Chairwoman Aida Dimejian, ANCA-WR
Government Relations Director Lerna Shirinian and ANCA-WR activist
Sylvie Tertzakian.
"Congressman Royce’s support of the Armenian Genocide Resolution not
only reflects his respect and concern for his constituents, but it
is also a testament of his pursuit of justice," stated Tertzakian.
As a long time advocate for human rights and a member of the
Congressional Armenian Caucus, Rep. Royce has been a leading cosponsor
of Armenian Genocide legislation throughout his years in Congress.
Serving as senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs,
he has been committed to working with his colleagues in Congress to
continue building support for H. Res. 252 and ensuring a victory in
the full House.
Immediately following the passage of H. Res. 252 in the House Foreign
Affairs Committee, Congressman Royce issued a statement reinforcing
his support for the measure. "The United States has been a global
leader in promoting human rights around the world," he stated. "On the
issue of the Armenian Genocide, however, we lag behind. History is a
continuum. Yesterday impacts today, which impacts tomorrow. It’s much
harder to get tomorrow right if we get yesterday wrong. The world’s
strength to oppose killing today is made greater by accountability,
for actions present, but also past. It’s weakened by denial of
accountability of past acts. Not recognizing the Armenian Genocide,
as such, weakens us."
Rep. Royce has been a strong supporter of issues of concern to the
Armenian American community throughout his nine terms in Congress. He
has co-hosted the ANCA Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill
during his tenure, which annually draws hundreds of Armenian Americans
from across the country. The Congressman has persistently written the
President of the United States urging him to use the term "genocide"
when making his annual April 24th address and to help end the blockade
of Armenia by Turkey. For his efforts, the Orange County ANC awarded
Rep. Royce the prestigious "Freedom Award" in 2005.
"Congressman Royce has an unequivocal understanding of the issues
of concern to the Armenian American community," stated ANCA-WR
Chairwoman Aida Dimejian. "We thank him for his active support on
the Armenian Genocide Resolution. His support is exactly the kind of
moral leadership we need to bring America back to the right side on
this important human rights issue," she added.
Rep. Royce represents the 40th Congressional District of California,
covering cities throughout western and northern Orange County. In
1982, he was elected to the California State Senate where he began his
fight for victims’ rights and has continued this fight in the Halls of
Congress since his election in 1992. As a member of the Foreign Affairs
Committee, he is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Terrorism,
Nonproliferation and Trade, a member of the Subcommittee on Asia,
the Pacific, and the Global Environment and the Subcommittee on the
Middle East and South Asia. From 1998 to 2004, Rep. Royce chaired
the Africa Subcommittee. Hearings in 2004 included confronting war
crimes in Africa, reflecting on the Rwandan genocide, the current
genocide in Darfur, and peace prospects in Sudan, the Ivory Coast and
the Congo. Rep. Royce has led several Congressional delegations to
numerous African countries, including his most recent trip to observe
the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.