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Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
REP. PALLONE WELCOMES AMB. EVANS' REMARKS
RECOGNIZING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
-- Delivers Powerful Speech on Floor of the U.S. House
WASHINGTON, DC Speaking on the floor of the U.S. House,
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) tonight
welcomed public statements made last week by U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia John Marshall Evans, in which he properly described Ottoman
Turkey's systematic massacres of the Armenians between 1915-1923 as
"genocide," reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA). The Ambassador yesterday issued a statement in which he
re-characterized his remarks as his personal views.
In a speech on the House floor, Rep. Pallone shared with his
colleagues that Ambassador Evans, who he noted had studied Russian
history at Yale and Columbia and Ottoman history at the Kennan
Institute, had repeatedly and openly discussed the Armenian
Genocide in his public statements during his recently concluded
tour of Armenian American communities. He noted that, "Breaking
with a pattern on the part of the State Department of using
alternative and evasive terminology for the Armenian Genocide,
Ambassador Evans pointed out that, and I quote, 'No American
official has ever denied it.'"
Congressman Pallone added: "Amb. Evans was merely recounting the
historical record, which has been attested to by over 120 Holocaust
and genocide scholars from around the world. In so doing, he was
merely giving a name - the accurate description of "genocide" - to
this very Administration's statements on the issue. President
Bush, on April 24th of each of the last four years, when
commemorating the Armenian Genocide, has used the textbook
definition of genocide - with words and phrases such as
'annihilation,' and 'forced exile and murder.' Before him,
President Reagan used the word 'genocide' in 1981 when describing
the annihilation of over 1.5 million Armenians. In the days of the
Genocide, our U.S. Ambassador, then Henry Morgenthau had the
courage to speak out against the atrocities, which he stated were a
planned and systematic effort to annihilate an entire race."
The New Jersey Congressman closed his remarks by stressing that he
wanted to his name and voice "to all those who, like Ambassador
Evans, know the truth and speak in plainly when discussing the
Armenian Genocide."
"Armenian Americans, throughout New Jersey and across the nation,
welcome Congressman Pallone's remarks in support of official U.S.
recognition of the Armenian Genocide and in defense of all those
who are working to bring an end to U.S. complicity in the denial of
this crime against all humanity," said Aram Hamparian, Executive
Director of the ANCA. "We value Congressman Pallone's tireless
determination, his years of hard work, and - in response to this
latest controversy - his clear and principled defense of U.S.
officials who will no longer be deterred from speaking the truth
about the crime of genocide."
Rep. Pallone's comments came a day after a statement released by
Amb. Evans, expressing concerns about a "misunderstanding"
regarding his comments made at a series of public Armenian American
community outreach events in Boston, New York, New Jersey, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, Fresno and Washington, DC. During his
presentations in these cities, the Ambassador spoke with a level of
candor on the Armenian Genocide that was specifically welcomed by
Armenian Americans. Specifically, during his public presentation
at the University of California, Berkeley, hosted by Armenian
Studies Program Executive Director, Prof. Stephan Astourian, Evans
announced, "I will today call it the Armenian Genocide." The
Ambassador, who has studied Russian History at Yale and Columbia
universities and Ottoman History at the Kennan Institute, argued
that, "we, the US government, owe you, our fellow citizens a more
frank and honest way of discussing this problem. Today, as someone
who's studied it... There's no doubt in my mind what happened."
In a statement posted on the Embassy's website (www.usa.am)
yesterday, Amb. Evans noted that his remarks regarding the Armenian
Genocide were his private views and did not reflect a change in
official U.S. government policy.
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888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
REP. PALLONE WELCOMES AMB. EVANS' REMARKS
RECOGNIZING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
-- Delivers Powerful Speech on Floor of the U.S. House
WASHINGTON, DC Speaking on the floor of the U.S. House,
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) tonight
welcomed public statements made last week by U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia John Marshall Evans, in which he properly described Ottoman
Turkey's systematic massacres of the Armenians between 1915-1923 as
"genocide," reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA). The Ambassador yesterday issued a statement in which he
re-characterized his remarks as his personal views.
In a speech on the House floor, Rep. Pallone shared with his
colleagues that Ambassador Evans, who he noted had studied Russian
history at Yale and Columbia and Ottoman history at the Kennan
Institute, had repeatedly and openly discussed the Armenian
Genocide in his public statements during his recently concluded
tour of Armenian American communities. He noted that, "Breaking
with a pattern on the part of the State Department of using
alternative and evasive terminology for the Armenian Genocide,
Ambassador Evans pointed out that, and I quote, 'No American
official has ever denied it.'"
Congressman Pallone added: "Amb. Evans was merely recounting the
historical record, which has been attested to by over 120 Holocaust
and genocide scholars from around the world. In so doing, he was
merely giving a name - the accurate description of "genocide" - to
this very Administration's statements on the issue. President
Bush, on April 24th of each of the last four years, when
commemorating the Armenian Genocide, has used the textbook
definition of genocide - with words and phrases such as
'annihilation,' and 'forced exile and murder.' Before him,
President Reagan used the word 'genocide' in 1981 when describing
the annihilation of over 1.5 million Armenians. In the days of the
Genocide, our U.S. Ambassador, then Henry Morgenthau had the
courage to speak out against the atrocities, which he stated were a
planned and systematic effort to annihilate an entire race."
The New Jersey Congressman closed his remarks by stressing that he
wanted to his name and voice "to all those who, like Ambassador
Evans, know the truth and speak in plainly when discussing the
Armenian Genocide."
"Armenian Americans, throughout New Jersey and across the nation,
welcome Congressman Pallone's remarks in support of official U.S.
recognition of the Armenian Genocide and in defense of all those
who are working to bring an end to U.S. complicity in the denial of
this crime against all humanity," said Aram Hamparian, Executive
Director of the ANCA. "We value Congressman Pallone's tireless
determination, his years of hard work, and - in response to this
latest controversy - his clear and principled defense of U.S.
officials who will no longer be deterred from speaking the truth
about the crime of genocide."
Rep. Pallone's comments came a day after a statement released by
Amb. Evans, expressing concerns about a "misunderstanding"
regarding his comments made at a series of public Armenian American
community outreach events in Boston, New York, New Jersey, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, Fresno and Washington, DC. During his
presentations in these cities, the Ambassador spoke with a level of
candor on the Armenian Genocide that was specifically welcomed by
Armenian Americans. Specifically, during his public presentation
at the University of California, Berkeley, hosted by Armenian
Studies Program Executive Director, Prof. Stephan Astourian, Evans
announced, "I will today call it the Armenian Genocide." The
Ambassador, who has studied Russian History at Yale and Columbia
universities and Ottoman History at the Kennan Institute, argued
that, "we, the US government, owe you, our fellow citizens a more
frank and honest way of discussing this problem. Today, as someone
who's studied it... There's no doubt in my mind what happened."
In a statement posted on the Embassy's website (www.usa.am)
yesterday, Amb. Evans noted that his remarks regarding the Armenian
Genocide were his private views and did not reflect a change in
official U.S. government policy.
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