U.S.-BASED ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS URGE OBAMA TO VISIT ARMENIA
March 20, 2015 – 18:51 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – Sixteen Armenian organizations in the United
States addressed a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama, Horizon
Weekly reports.
The letter reads:
“We are writing to encourage you to participate in Armenian Genocide
Centennial remembrance ceremonies, both in Armenia and here in the
United States.
We would be honored by your participation, in Yerevan, in the April
22 and 23 global forum, “Against the Crime of Genocide,” as well as
the solemn April 24 ceremony at Armenia’s Tsitsernakaberd Armenian
Genocide Memorial.
Here in the United States, we urge you to take part in the May 7
special service at the National Cathedral organized by the Conference
of Catholic Bishops and the National Council of Churches of Christ.
As you know, your predecessor, President Woodrow Wilson, alerted by
Ambassador Henry Morgenthau’s urgent cables warning of a “campaign
of race extermination” against the Armenian people, authorized an
American Military Mission to Armenia, led by Major General James
Harbord, who submitted his report to Congress.
The report read in part: “mutilation, violation, torture and death have
left their haunting memories in a hundred beautiful Armenian valleys,
and the traveler in that region is seldom free from the evidence of
this most colossal crime of all the ages.”
With an outcry of support for the suffering of the Armenian people and
with widespread coverage in major newspapers, including the New York
Times and Washington Post, Congress chartered the Near East Relief,
which raised over $116 million to help aid survivors of the Armenian
Genocide, including 132,000 orphans.
Mr. President, the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide presents
a unique opportunity for the United States to honor our nation’s
proud role in protesting this crime against humanity and in bringing
relief to its survivors. Your unequivocal affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide will send a powerful message regarding America’s principled
stand against all genocides – past, present, and future.
In addition, your visit to Armenia can have a tremendous impact
on peace and stability in the South Caucasus region. As leaders
of organizations and faith-based groups representing our nation’s
citizens of Armenian heritage, we thank you for your consideration
of our request and look forward to hearing from you on this matter
of profound meaning for our community and all humanity.”