Armenian National Committee of America
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PRESS RELEASE
April 24, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
PRESIDENT BUSH AGAIN FAILS TO HONOR HIS
PROMISE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
WASHINGTON, DC – Ignoring calls from a record two hundred and ten
U.S. legislators, President Bush failed, once again, to honor his
pledge to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide as a
“genocide” in his annual April 24th remarks, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
In a statement issued today, on April 24th, the annual day of
remembrance for the Armenian Genocide, the President again resorted
to the use of evasive and euphemistic terminology to obscure the
reality of Turkey’s genocide against the Armenian people between
1915-1923. In retreating from his promise, the President ignored
the counsel of the one hundred and seventy-eight Representatives
and thirty-two Senators who had written letters urging him to
properly characterize the Armenian Genocide.
“While we appreciate the President’s willingness to join with
Armenians around the world by issuing a statement on this occasion,
we remain deeply troubled by his continued use of evasive and
euphemistic terminology to obscure the moral, historical, and legal
meaning of Turkey’s genocide against the Armenian people,” said
Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “This statement,
sadly, once again, represents a form of complicity in the Turkish
government’s shameful campaign to deny a crime against humanity.”
The ANCA has also expressed concern that the Administration’s
refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide reflects a broader
unwillingness to confront genocide – as evidenced by the White
House’s failure to take decisive steps to bring an end to the
genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. The ANCA is working with a
broad coalition of organizations to pressure the Administration to
respond in a timely and meaningful way to the worsening crisis in
Darfur. “If we are to end the cycle of genocide, we must, as a
nation, generate the resolve to forcefully intervene to stop
genocide when it takes place, to unequivocally reject its denial,
to hold the guilty accountable, and to secure for the victims the
justice they deserve,” added Hamparian.
In February of 2000, then presidential candidate George W. Bush,
campaigning for votes among Armenian voters in the Michigan
Republican primary, pledged to properly characterize the genocidal
campaign against the Armenian people. In his statements as
President, he has consistently avoided any clear reference to the
Armenian Genocide, and his Administration has consistently opposed
legislation marking this crime against humanity.
The text of the President’s remarks is provided below.
#####
The White House
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 24, 2005
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
On Armenian Remembrance Day, we remember the forced exile and
mass killings of as many as 1.5 million Armenians during the last
days of the Ottoman Empire. This terrible event is what many
Armenian people have come to call the “Great Calamity.” I join my
fellow Americans and Armenian people around the world in
expressing my deepest condolences for this horrible loss of life.
Today, as we commemorate the 90th anniversary of this human
tragedy and reflect on the suffering of the Armenian people, we
also look toward a promising future for an independent Armenian
state.
The United States is grateful for Armenia’s contributions to the
war on terror and to efforts to build a democratic and peaceful
Iraq. We remain committed to supporting the historic reforms
Armenia has pursued for over a decade. We call on the Government of
Armenia to advance democratic freedoms that will further advance
the aspirations of the Armenian people. We remain committed to a
lasting and peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
We also seek a deeper partnership with Armenia that includes
security cooperation and is rooted in the shared values of
democratic and market economic freedoms.
I applaud individuals in Armenia and Turkey who have sought to
examine the historical events of the early 20th century with
honesty and sensitivity. The recent analysis by the International
Center for Transitional Justice did not provide the final word, yet
marked a significant step toward reconciliation and restoration of
the spirit of tolerance and cultural richness that has connected
the people of the Caucasus and Anatolia for centuries. We look to a
future of freedom, peace, and prosperity in Armenia and Turkey and
hope that Prime Minister Erdogan’s recent proposal for a joint
Turkish-Armenian commission can help advance these processes.
Millions of Americans proudly trace their ancestry to Armenia.
Their faith, traditions, and patriotism enrich the cultural,
political, and economic life of the United States. I appreciate all
individuals who work to promote peace, tolerance, and
reconciliation. On this solemn day of remembrance, I send my best
wishes and expressions of solidarity to Armenian people around the
world.