Burbank Leader , CA
June 15 2005
Schiff introduces genocide bill
Bill to make U.S. government recognize Armenian genocide has
bipartisan support from 50 congressmen.
By Robert Chacon, The Leader
GLENDALE — Rep. Adam Schiff introduced a resolution to Congress
on Tuesday, with bipartisan support from more than 50 congressmen,
that would require the government to recognize the Armenian genocide.
“I hope this year we can make the recognition happen,” Schiff said.
“It has been 90 years. If not now, when?”
For two years, Schiff has fought for U.S. recognition of the genocide,
in which more than 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman
Empire beginning in 1916. The resolution would also require the
U.S. president to acknowledge the genocide each year on the date of
its anniversary.
The bill was cosponsored by representatives George Radanovich
(R-Mariposa), Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.).
Introducing the new resolution is the second step Schiff has taken in
as many weeks, and underlines his efforts during the past two years
regarding the issue.
Last week, Schiff announced that a forthcoming bill requiring the
government to acknowledge the genocide was guaranteed a hearing
by House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde,
increasing the its chances at becoming law.
He is still working on the language to that bill, which he will
introduce to the House of Representatives in the near future,
Schiff said.
His efforts are being praised by local Armenian activists.
“Being the 90th anniversary, you have to realize that as an
Armenian-American, this is something that has been carried on from
generation to generation,” said Armond Agakhani, president of the
Armenian-American Chamber of Commerce based in Glendale. “Most of
the world recognizes the genocide, but it’s been kind of a struggle
to get our own government to recognize it.”
Tuesday’s introduction received substantial bipartisan support,
a positive indication, said Armen Carapetian, government relations
director for the Armenian National Committee of America Western
Region. More than 50 members of Congress, democrats and republicans,
joined to support the resolution, including Rep. David Dreier.
“This is one of the strongest showings that this sort of resolution
has received,” Carapetian said.
Support for the resolution will increase as it makes its way through
congress, Schiff said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress