Pan Armenian News
GEORGE BUSH ONCE AGAIN FAILED TO CHARACTERIZE GENOCIDE AS GENOCIDE
25.04.2005 02:33
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 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, the Armenian National Committee of America reported
(ANCA). The statement says, `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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress