Genocide Resolution Is Introduced In The U.s. Senate

[Takoush]

the armenian reporter March 17, 2007

 

Genocide resolution is introduced in the U.S. Senate

 

by: Emil Sanamyan

 

WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of 23 U.S. senators on March 14 formally introduced a resolution honoring the victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide. The group is led by Senators Richard Durbin (D.-Ill.) and John Ensign (R.-Nev.).

 

Sen. Durbin, who as assistant majority leader holds the Senate's second highest position, said, "the Armenian Genocide was the Twentieth Century's first Genocide -- a crime against humanity that included murder, deportation, torture, and slave labor. It is long past time that the United States speak with clarity on this reality."

 

"We must honor those who died in the Armenian Genocide by recognizing their suffering and by dedicating ourselves to preventing tragedies in the future," Sen. Durbin added.

 

Sen. Ensign told the Armenian National Committee of America, "We are a nation that embraces freedom and justice, and we have a responsibility to uphold these values in order to not repeat the mistakes of the past. This important resolution officially recognizes history and the truth of the crime of genocide perpetuated against the Armenians."

 

With Senators Durbin and Ensign, the current supporters of the resolution include Senators Wayne Allard (R.-Colo.). Barbara Boxer (D.-Calif.), Sherrod Brown (D.-Ohio), Norm Coleman (R.-Minn.), Chris Dodd (D.-Conn.), Elizabeth Dole (R.-N.C.), Russ Feingold (D.-Wis.), Dianne Feinstein (D.-Calif.), Ted Kennedy (D.-Mass.), John Kerry (D.-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D.-Minn.), Frank Lautenberg (D.-N.J.), Joe Lieberman (I.-Conn.), Robert Menendez (D.-N.J.), Barbara Mikulski (D.-Md.), Jack Reed (D.-R.I.), Chuck Schumer (D.-N.Y.), Olympia Snowe (R.-Maine), Debbie Stabenow (D.-Mich.), John Sununu (R.-N.H.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D.-R.I.).

 

The resolution calls on the president to issue an annual message to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, and to ensure that U.S. foreign policy "reflects appropriate understanding" concerning human rights and ethnic cleansing relating to the Armenian Genocide.

 

The Senate resolution's text is nearly identical to the one introduced in the House of Representatives last month. H. Res. 106 has since been endorsed by 183 Congressmen, but is yet to receive consideration after its referral to the Foreign Affairs Committee chaired by Rep. Tom Lantos (D.-Calif.).

 

The Senate version is likely to be first considered by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chaired by Sen. Joe Biden (D.-Del.) or its Subcommittee on Europe chaired by Sen. Barack Obama (D.-Ill.).

 

Senators Durbin and Ensign introduced a similar measure in November of 2005, during the previous, 109th Congress. Although that resolution was eventually backed by 35 senators, the Foreign Relations Committee chair at the time, Sen. Richard Lugar (R.-Ind.), never brought it up for consideration.

 

Sen. Durbin is the chair of the Human Rights and law Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Ensign is the ranking member in the Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee. *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Takoush]

Let's see if this one will finally pass after some 92 years.

 

This country is supposed to be a democratic nation that supposedly embraces freedom and justice. Well then what are you waiting for people? And for when? It is way about time!

 

 

[dianjan]

Let's see if this one will finally pass after some 92 years.

 

This country is supposed to be a democratic nation that supposedly embraces freedom and justice. Well then what are you waiting for people? And for when? It is way about time!

 

I hope it'll pass, but I'm not counting on it.

USA's ties with Turkey, will not let it pass the resolution unfortunately.