Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
April 18, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON AND SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
HARRY REID COSPONSOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
— Thirty Senators have Announced
Support for Anti-Genocide Legislation
— Watch Senator Obama Discuss the Resolution on YouTube
WASHINGTON, DC – In a move welcomed today by the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA), two of the nation’s most prominent
Senators – Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and leading 2008
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY) – agreed to cosponsor
S.Res.106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
"We’re very gratified that two prominent national leaders – Hillary
Clinton and Harry Reid – agreed today to join with a growing number
of their Senate colleagues in supporting the passage of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "As the growth in cosponsors demonstrates, this anti-
genocide measure clearly enjoys the support of a broad, bipartisan
majority in both houses of Congress."
The Senate resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide was
introduced last month by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-
IL) and Senator John Ensign (R-NV). The measure is a companion to
U.S. House resolution, H.Res.106, introduced by Representatives
Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI), and Foreign Affairs Committee members Brad Sherman (D-CA)
and Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI). With the addition this week of Tim
Bishop (D-NY), Bruce Braley (D-IA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Mazie
Hirono (D-HI), Duncan Hunter (R-CA), David Reichart (R-WA), John
Salazar (D-CO), and Tom Tancredo (R-CO), the House measure
currently has over 190 cosponsors.
Joining Senators Durbin and Ensign as cosponsors of the Armenian
Genocide resolution are Wayne Allard (R-CO), Barbara Boxer (D-CA),
Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Hillary Clinton (D-NY),
Norm Coleman (R-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Christopher Dodd (D-CT),
Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Russell Feingold (D-WI), Dianne Feinstein
(D-CA), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), John Kerry (D-
MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Carl Levin (D-
MI), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Robert
Menendez (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), Harry Reid (D-NV), Ken Salazar
(D-CO), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Debbie
Stabenow (D-MI), John Sununu (R-NH), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
In a powerful speech today on the Senate floor, Senator Bararba
Boxer, a long-standing and energetic champion of Armenian Genocide
recognition, stressed that she is "proud to be an original co-
sponsor of Senator Richard Durbin’s Senate Resolution 106. The
California legislator, speaking to her Senate colleagues, argued
forcefully that, "We must recognize the genocide because it’s the
right thing to do. We must recognize the Armenian Genocide to help
shed light on the darkness and move toward a more humane world."
Last week, during remarks at a Washington, DC breakfast for
Illinois constituents, Senator Barak Obama, fielded a question from
ANCA Eastern U.S. Executive Director Karine Birazian about his
support for the Armenian Genocide Resolution. In his response, he
explained to the audience the basic facts about the Genocide and
promised to give careful consideration to cosponsoring the measure.
Senator Obama serves on the Foreign Relations Committee and is
among the top contenders for the 2008 Democratic Presidential
nomination. His remarks can be viewed on YouTube:
T he increase in Senate and House support for the Armenian Genocide
resolutions follows an intensive two-day Capitol Hill advocacy
program in March, organized by the ANCA and the Genocide
Intervention Network, dedicated to ending the cycle of genocide.
Over 100 anti-genocide advocates from across the United States
participated in the grassroots campaign, reaching out to all 535
Senate and House offices. The Washington, DC component of the
program was followed by local activist meetings in Congressional
districts across the U.S. during the recently-concluded two-week
April district work period.
Armenian American grassroots efforts are being opposed by
successive waves of Turkish parliamentary delegations who are
seeking to convince Representatives and Senators to reject Armenian
Genocide recognition by threatening a break in U.S.-Turkey
relations. This week’s six-member Turkish lobby team included
former Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Sukru Elekdag, and former
Ambassador to Germany Onur Oymen.
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