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[Aratta-Kingdom]

Adoption of Armenian Genocide resolution in new U.S. Congress real


21.01.2009


/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A resolution on the Armenian Genocide recognition can be introduced in the U.S. Congress in the near future and the new administration will hardly block its adoption, an Armenian professor said.

“With Barack Obama coming to power, recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States has become quite possible. Nevertheless, the 44th U.S. President will refrain from using the term ‘genocide’ in his April 24 statement,” Ruben Safrastyan, director of the Institute of Oriental Studies at the RA Academy of Sciences, told a news conference in Yerevan today.

During his historical election campaign Obama numerously stated that “America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides.”

He also pledged to cement the U.S.-Armenian relations, which will contribute to development of democracy in Armenia.

[Aratta-Kingdom]

New Drive For Genocide Resolution Launched


Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email.anca@anca.org
Internet www.anca.org

PRESS RELEASE
February 12, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

NEW DRIVE FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION LAUNCHED

-- Adam Schiff joined by George Radanovich and Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone and Mark Kirk in Seeking Bipartisan
Support for Human Rights Measure

WASHINGTON, DC - A letter seeking U.S. House cosponsors for a
renewed drive to secure the adoption of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution was circulated today on Capitol Hill by the
legislation's lead authors, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) and
George Radanovich (R-CA), and Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank
Pallone (D-NJ), and Mark Kirk (R-IL), reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

"We join today with millions of Armenians throughout the United
States, in Armenia, and around the world in welcoming the launch of
this new drive toward U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide,"
said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "It's always
the right time to take a stand against genocide. Now - with
long-standing advocates of this noble and necessary cause in the
White House, leading the State Department, serving in the Cabinet,
heading up both Houses of Congress, and chairing key Congressional
committees - we are set to overcome the final barriers to full and
formal U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide."

In the letter, the four legislators invited their House colleagues
to join the resolution as original cosponsors, which will mean that
they will be listed as supporters starting from the day of its
introduction. During the recently concluded 110th Congress, an
identical measure secured the support of 212 cosponsors, was
adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee, but was eventually
blocked from a vote on the House floor by sustained attacks by
then-President George W. Bush and his Administration.

In urging early support for this human rights measure, the four
lead sponsors noted that, "By properly acknowledging the Armenian
Genocide, we reaffirm the willingness of the U.S. to speak plainly
about genocide, and renew our commitment to prevent other
occurrences of man's inhumanity to man."

The Armenian Genocide Resolution reaffirms the U.S. record on the
Armenian Genocide by ensuring that the foreign policy of the United
States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and
genocide documented in the United States record relating to the
Armenian Genocide.

Edited by Aratta-Kingdom, 12 February 2009 - 07:53 PM.

[Aratta-Kingdom]

Armenian Assembly of America hopes US to recognize the Armenian Genocide in 2009



Regnum
http://www.regnum.ru...sh/1120464.html


Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) expects newly elected President Obama to keep his pledges, including recognition of the Armenian Genocide, which was done during his election campaign. It was declared by Arpi Vartanyan, the Regional Director of AAA for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, during a press conference on February, 4, in Yerevan. She underlined, that US vice-president Joe Biden, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama always came forward for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

As reports a REGNUM correspondent, Vartanyan stressed that “The Assembly negotiates with the Congressmen, Obama’s administration members and groups dealing with Armenian issues for soonest recognition of the Armenian Genocide”.

Regional Director of AAA also underscored that Turkey also does not sit back and do nothing. "Turkey continues its Anti-Armenian policy. It is not occasional the visit of Turkish delegations to Washington with the purpose to dissuade the US administration, that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is not in their interests ", — said she. However, according to Vartanyan, Turkey softened its positions, the witness of which is 30000 signatures under a document, where Turkish society expresses regret for performed at the beginning of 20th century and begs pardon for the Armenian people. Vartanyan believes the exacerbation of Turkish-Israeli relations had certain impact on the issue of Armenian Genocide.

[Aratta-Kingdom]

Washington briefing : Congressional support sought for Genocide resolution as opposition readies



http://www.reporter....osition-readies


Washington, - In a message to fellow members of Congress, Reps. Adam Schiff (D.-Calif.), George Radanovich (R.-Calif.), Frank Pallone (D.-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R.-Ill.) are urging them "to re-affirm the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide by cosponsoring a bipartisan resolution" on the subject, according to a February 10 electronic letter made available to the Armenian Reporter.

The letter seeks co-sponsors for the resolution prior to its formal introduction and congressional consideration. In January 2007, when a similar resolution was introduced, it had 160 original co-sponsors.

That resolution gained the support of a majority of House members (more than 218) before the resolution's approval by the House Foreign Affairs Committee in October 2007. But the number of co-sponsors fell to about 200 after defections caused by lobbying by the Bush administration on behalf of the Turkish government.

The administration of President Barack Obama has not yet taken a formal position on the issue. While members of the Senate and throughout the presidential campaign, Mr. Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were supporters of affirmation.

Last week, two members of the Turkish parliament from the ruling party, Suat Kiniklioglu and Cuneyt Yuskel, were in the United States to lobby against the resolution. According to the Jamestown Foundation's translation, the two, having met U.S. officials and Jewish-American leaders, told Zaman newspaper that the "pro-Israel lobby will stay neutral if a genocide resolution is brought to the Congress; in case a resolution passed, Turkey should not hold Israel responsible as such a policy would make the Congress upset; and in order to prevent such genocide resolution, Turkey should open its Armenian border."

Mr. Kiniklioglu also told Azeri Press Agency (APA) on February 9, "if Mrs. Clinton opposes a draft resolution, the Armenian lobby will face with more difficulties to bring a new resolution to the Congress. I can say that Hillary Clinton has a key to this issue."

Meanwhile, Turkish foreign minister Ali Babacan reportedly raised the issue with Vice President Biden when they met during the Munich Security Conference last weekend.