WASHINGTON–U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Howard Berman (D-Calif.), a leading Congressional supporter of human rights and a longstanding friend of the Armenian American community, has scheduled a vote of his panel on the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.252, for Thursday, March 4, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
“We want to thank Chairman Berman for his vision and strength in taking this bold step to send the clear message to Turkey that the United States Congress will not be complicit in their immoral efforts to deny truth and justice for the Armenian Genocide,” said Ken Hachikian, chairman of the ANCA, following his meeting yesterday in Washington, DC with the senior California legislator.
“We look forward to working with the Chairman and all our friends on the Committee from both parties to facilitate passage of this critical piece of human rights legislation by both this panel and the full House of Representatives. Our grassroots activists are mobilized to help achieve the success of this effort.”
Hachikian also consulted yesterday with several other Representatives, most notably, Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolution author Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), and senior House Foreign Affairs Committee Members Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), and Ed Royce (R-Calif.).
The House Foreign Affairs Committee adopted legislation similar to H.Res.252, on a bipartisan basis, in 2000, 2005, and 2007. These past measures, despite their broad-based support, did not reach the House floor for an up or down vote, largely due to strident opposition from the Clinton and Bush administrations fearful of Ankara’s threats of retaliation. President Obama, during his campaign for office, pledged to recognize the Armenian Genocide and specifically voiced his strong support for this exact legislation; his Vice President, Joe Biden, and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, both cosponsored this measure. Since taking office, the Obama Administration has yet to make any comments, either favorably or unfavorably, on the Armenian Genocide Resolution currently before Congress.
Scheduled Vote Culminates Year-Long Grassroots Campaign
Chairman Berman’s announcement to hold a vote on H.Res.252 comes in the wake of a year-long mobilization of ANCA and Armenian American grassroots activists in support of the measure. These efforts have ranged from local phone banks staffed by ANCA, Armenian Youth Federation, and community volunteers to Washington DC advocacy days – including an ongoing Capitol Hill effort this week focusing on Committee Members and their colleagues from California, New York, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Efforts to recognize the Armenian Genocide have been welcomed by a broad range of coalition partners from the Greek, Jewish, Christian and genocide-prevention constituencies. Earlier this week, the ANC of Massachusetts teamed up with Greater Boston area Jewish American groups, Investors Against Genocide and ARAMAC – Massachusetts in launching an online petition – hosted on www.change.org – calling for Presidential and Congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
H.Res.252, introduced in March of 2009 by lead sponsors Adam Schiff and George Radanovich (R-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co- chairs Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), currently has over 135 cosponsors. A parallel Senate measure, spearheaded by Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.), has 13 cosponsors.
For more information regarding the Armenian Genocide Resolution, please review the following links:
The text of the Armenian Genocide Resolution
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:hr252ih.txt.pdf
The current list of cosponsors of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252)
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HE00252:@@@P
ANCA Talking Points on H the Armenian Genocide Resolution http://www.anca.org/assets/pdf/misc/hres252_talkingpoints.pdf
Is Jan Schakowsky a victim of Turkish blackmailing? I see her name is not on the list, although I understand she promised to support it; and I read an article that a question was raised in the Kirkorian investigation into Turkish blackmailing?
I am just wondering because Hastert, Gephardt have supporters in Chicago and worked for the Turkish lobby; Hastert I understand still is.
Also, Northwestern U. has a student exchange program with Turkey; it used to be we studied in France, Germany, Italy. I say this to NU: who would want to go to Turkey to learn their version of history which is what they are teaching, and we know it is denial. The NU history dept. as well as the U. has gone down in quality; they don’t have the high ranking they used to have; maybe they should note this. One student I met said the seculars in Turkey are really afraid of the islamists.
Who would go to Turkey to study genocide denial and be harassed for wearing short skirts or drinking wine?
Who established it and why is there an exchange program with Turkey?
It’s interesting to see how terrified some people are of the truth from ever coming forth, as evidenced by their belittling another nation and its people! Case in point is the post (which is typical) by genocide denial. Note how this person addresses NorthWestern University and their student exchange program! Dashnaks have become most spoiled and arrogant lately! Well, if they continue, they’ll need to be brought back down a few pegs.
As for the call for a House vote, well, let’s see what happens by that time. The truth has a way of working in all kinds of manner, and the best thing is, even when it’s starring you in the face, many never see it coming until the time is right. Then even the most ignorant get a wake-up call! So, the only message that I can provide to you all is don’t count your chickens before they hatch…nothing is ever a done deal! We too have our grassroots campaigns underway to make sure that the TRUTH gets through!
The TRUTH in bold letters is: turks, turkey massacred 2-3 million Armenians. The rest of what you are writing is all “nothings.”
You committed the wholesale massacre of Armenians, the Genocide. kemal ataturks destroying of Ottoman archives was and is a well known fact to world historians. And no matter how much lies you build on the previous lies, how many loser historians you put on your payroll, you still will go nowhere. turkey’s having a mighty army will never silence the truth and justice seekers.
So, you can lie until your brains fall out, but the Genocide committed by your people and government will in the end recognized by your terrorist government too.
Ferhat
As somone who lost most of his familiy tree to Armenian butchers in Eastern Turkey around 1916, I whole-heartedly support the passage of this resolution.
No resolution of a political body oceans away, a century after the said events is in a position to pass judgement on thse events. Sooner this meaningless act is exposed and done with, the better it is.
Facts are facts, they do not depend on politics or parties or lobbies. They are there for all to see. Only myths need so much protection and artifical insemination.
I would like to see an end to this annual charade which casts a shadow on current and fruitful relations between Turkey and various nations. The emotional reaction of the Turkish establishment is what feeds the genocide merchants and gives them reason for being. Let them find another silly crusade to give meaning to their national identity. Maybe this time they can channel it to more productive ends.
In the shadow of Northwestern University is a small Armenian church; most of the people came from Turkey, only a few members are who they call the “Soviets.” They are in fact proud to call themselves Americans. But they are so sad. Most of the older members are survivors or children of survivors of the genocide; they are the ones most affected and suffering mental illness(trauma?) from the atrocities. One book I read talks about the long lines in deportation where the men were losing their minds and the women were committing suicide. In fact, my Armenian relatives who were survivors that got to the USA were suffering from mental problems and one woman committed suicide because of the terrible atrocities she was witness to (plus losing two children). Murat, the long line continues on in the USA and other countries in the world where survivors and their children live now. You ought to meet these Armenian survivors, who were indeed innocent victims of crimes committed against them. Although their numbers are dwindling, as are the Jewish and other survivors of the Holocaust, we should keep their memory alive and make sure people don’t forget the darkest days, because there is always the danger that this memory will fade. Evil can raise its face again.
The worst crime against humanity is genocide. If you are interested in criminal justice which I think means justice for the victims of crime; genocide is the worst crime and you would want justice for the victims. Yet Turkey keeps saying the genocide is a lie and muslims don’t commit genocide.
This resolution affirms the crime of genocide committed against the Armenian people. Surely, the Armenian people are entitled to justice or closure. Yet while Turkey is putting forth initiatives which seek reconciliation; a psychiatrist in Hurriyet says if the “democracy initiative” is only for the purpose of setting up oil and gas pipelines and not for truth and reconciliation, a true reconciliation with the Armenians might need the help of psychiatrists. In other words, there is a lot of healing to be done here for true reconciliation, and it takes professional help.
So, I don’t think Turkey is seeking true reconciliation yet, only the passage of oil and gas through its country.
I think, one, it is better to concentrate on the biggest crime against humanity (genocide); and second any truth and reconciliation means exacctly that, “truth” and “reconciliation.”
With all the countries in the world seeking weapons of mass destruction and problems like Darfur today, we should try to punish those who attempt or commit genocide, and try to solve conflicts and reduce weapons.
If you or your family are a victim of a terrible crime, esp. genocide, it makes sense to speak out against genocide or educate people about it. It takes more than a resolution, of course, it entitles many more things.
Murat, just like Justin, can manufacture phony stories about 3 years old poor Armenian orphans butchering turks.
Uhum, yeah right…grossly manufactured tear jerking phony story, but I’ll give you credit for making it ridiculously funny, childish, simplistic and fake.
You committed the Genocide…period.
You’re continueing the Genocide against Armenia and Armenians by destroying their cultural relics.
You keep adding murdered Armenians to the 2-3 million butchered Armenians. Latest addition..Hrant Dink.
You can buy the whole US state dept. Pay handsome sums of money to level D historians, you can increase your military arsenal 1000 folds, you can be the master of the Caucasus, you can anihilate Kurds and Armenians once and for all…but the fact that You cmmitted the Armenian Genocide stays firm and solid for generations to come.
Don’t abuse kindness and respect granted to you by Armenians. Don’t show your true turkic colors.
Ferhat
Hy, robert the turk, you do have a grass roots – and these shall be the true citizens of the Turkish society… seeking to overturn your misdirected, lying, deceitful leaderships Turkey has suffered all the years following the Ottomans… today in the vile Ottoman mentality. Sadly, you have been prepared to be educated with history books that lie to you – ‘created’ history books to reflect the distortions to suit your leaderships – with the lies to your generations – as these even lie to themselves – thus your leaders believe their own lies. Bullying to the world – denying the
Turkish Genocide of the Armenian nation – not by any wars – just by ‘bravely’ eliminating an unarmed people – slaughtering, raping,kidnapping, burning churches with women/children forced inside, rivers running red with their blood, and worse – bastinados – the viles form of tortures – before their deaths…. All this by the warrior hordes from the Asian mountains who came to take over lands for
themselves – but in all these generations since have not become civilized enought to join the civlized nations of the world… Genocides, of many peoples, is their mode of gaining lands, eliminating the
people!
You sadly, cannot believe these horrors – for you are told these are lies. Sadly, you have evidently not any of all the Archives, data and books, the International Genocide organizations to which the world has access… Sadly, then, and only then, shall you shall know truths – know what the Turkish nation is most recognized by all the civilized nations – GENOCIDES. Manooshag
I signed the petition on change.org. There is a section about genocide. The material under this topic says the reason Turkey still denies the Armenian genocide, in spite of the evidence and its acceptance by the world, is that Turkey is adhering to a racial ideology (uber-mensch) of racial superiority. I might also add, this is the same sickness that Ahmadinejad suffers from, in denying the Holocaust, in spite of the evidence and world acceptance of the fact.
(Also, calling Gaza a genocide is trivializing genocide).
My family was in Turkey in the 1920’s – 1930’s and studied at Robert College with the missionaries who were eye witnesses to the Armenian genocide. I have books written by them and other people and I will donate them to the Armenian Genocide Museum in Washington, D.C. However, what Turkey and Iran need now are new leaders who are not racist ideologues.
The petition is up to 3,500 signatures today, hoping to achieve 10,000. At least it may educate people about genocide and its prevention.
To “Robert”:
As for turkish grassroot campaigning, I think Victor Hugo said it best, ” Wherever the turkish hoof trods, no grass grows” he wrote this before the turks massacred 50,000 bulgarians in 1876, 7,000 Armenians in Istanbul August 26-28 1896, the 200,000 Armenians in 1894-1896, the 20,000 Armenians in Adana in 1909 and the 1,500,000 Armenians murdered from 1915 to 1923 in georgia, armenia, turkey, syria, azerbaijan, iraq and iran. So called turkey will pay for its crimes in full.
The racist and hateful comments above point at the root cause of all the current and historic problems Armenians have.