Legislation calling on the U.S. President to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, two weeks before President Obama’s April 5th trip to Turkey and roughly a month before the White House’s annual April 24th commemoration of this crime against humanity, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) told PanARMENIAN.Net.
“Armenians in the U.S. and around the world thank Adam Schiff, George Radanovich, Frank Pallone and Mark Kirk for leading Congressional efforts toward U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.
“The election of Barack Obama, who has spoken repeatedly, forcefully, and with great clarity about the need for American recognition of the Armenian Genocide, marked a truly welcome break from the flawed policies of the past on this score. We look, in the coming days and weeks, for the President to honor his pledge, to fully support this legislation, and to raise the discourse in
Washington, DC on the Armenian Genocide from level of Turkey’s threats and denials up to the level of the core moral and humanitarian values of the America people.”
“There is going to be heavy focus on encouraging President Obama to make a strong statement of recognition on April 24, because it will be important in setting the tone of the discussions on the Armenian Genocide Resolution in Congress,” Rep. Schiff told The Armenian Weekly Editor Khatchig Mouradian earlier today. “The Turkish lobby will be spending millions like they did in past years. They will also argue that the recognition of the genocide will cut off reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey, and that this is not the right time. The truth is, after 94 years, if this is not the right time, I don’t know when that right time can be.”
