WASHINGTON, D.C. —Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) and Representative Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) this week became the most recent additions to the growing bipartisan group of legislators supporting the Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.316 and H.Res.252), reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The new support for this human rights legislation comes in the wake of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Washington, D.C. last week, during which he repeatedly denied the Armenian Genocide. Responding to a question from journalist Charlie Rose, during an hour-long televised PBS interview on Dec. 8, Erdogan stated, “I can say very clearly that we do not accept genocide. This is completely a lie. I invite people to prove it. Something like this is really not possible, and there is no truth to it.”
“We want to thank Senators Boxer and Lieberman and Representative Sanchez for once again standing up for principle and against Turkey’s denials,” said Aram Hamparian, the executive director of the ANCA. “We look forward, in the weeks ahead, to working with these friends and our many others in both houses of Congress, to see this genocide-prevention legislation adopted at the very first opportunity.”
Armenian Americans and human rights activists have been contacting their legislators in support of the congressional measures for a month leading up to Erdogan’s Washington visit as part of the ANCA “Countdown to Erdogan” Campaign. In the 30 days leading up to the meeting between Obama and Erdogan, the ANCA organized a new action each day—ranging from online advocacy, call-in days, social networking, coalition building, community outreach, and fieldwork. The campaign’s first week addressed the U.S. Senate, the second week addressed the U.S. House, followed by the media during the third week, and then, in the final seven days, a final push with the White House. Thousands participated in the unique month-long activism campaign.
H.Res.252, introduced on March 17 by lead sponsors Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and George Radanovich (R-Calif.), and Congressional Armenian Caucus co-chairs Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R- Ill.), currently has over 135 co-sponsors. With the support of Senators Boxer and Lieberman, S.Res.316, spearheaded by Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.), will have 10 co-sponsors. Both bills are identical to legislation in the 110th Congress that was adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and publicly endorsed by then-candidate for president Barack Obama, as well as current Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Since the introduction of the current resolution this March, Obama has broken his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide, retreating markedly from repeated statements and promises he made throughout his service in the Senate calling for proper U.S. condemnation and commemoration of this crime against humanity.
All I could say is that ANCA is trying hard and working dilligently for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the U.S.
More pressure should be put on Pres. Obama & the State Dept. on the recognition of this long overdue Armenian Genocide otherwise petitions should be organized to all Armenian people in the USA to be sent to the President & the State Dept. The Turk will never change unless the world countries put pressure on them. The ”Deeds of the Turks” that goes back to BC to show all the atrocities they have committed down thru the centuries, not counting the millions that have been forcibly converted to the Moslem Religion. Also Jews are also responsible for the non passage of the Armenian Genocide whom are under the payroll of the Turkish Government. Armenians must change their course of action otherwise we are not heading in the right direction. S. T. Dulgarian