Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

AAA: Rep Radanovich Pledges to Support Genocide Reaffirmation Effort

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • AAA: Rep Radanovich Pledges to Support Genocide Reaffirmation Effort

    Armenian Assembly of America
    122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
    Washington, DC 20001
    Phone: 202-393-3434
    Fax: 202-638-4904
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: www.armenianassembly.org

    PRESS RELEASE
    March 17, 2005
    CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
    Email: [email protected]

    CONGRESSMAN RADANOVICH PLEDGES TO SUPPORT GENOCIDE REAFFIRMATION EFFORTS

    Washington, DC - The Armenian Assembly's campaign for reaffirmation of
    the Armenian Genocide gained strength today as Representative George
    Radanovich (R-CA), a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
    Issues, vowed to sponsor and support initiatives leading to
    U.S. recognition of the attempted annihilation of the Armenian people.

    In a speech before Congress today, Radanovich thanked current and
    former U.S. Ambassadors to Armenia John Evans and Harry Gilmore for
    publicly using the term to characterize this crime against humanity.

    "I thank the Ambassadors for their statements and pledge to continue
    my ongoing efforts to sponsor initiatives that would build on the
    U.S. record towards an inevitable, full and irrevocable
    U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide," Radanovich said.

    Evans, who has studied Russian and Ottoman History at Yale and
    Columbia Universities, as well as the Kennan Institute, publicly
    affirmed the Armenian Genocide during meetings with major
    Armenian-American communities last month. During those exchanges,
    Evans declared, "the Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the
    twentieth century."

    Gilmore, who has also studied the subject extensively, recently told
    Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) that, "There is no doubt
    that the Armenian events were genocide."

    The former diplomat told the news agency that the United Nations
    Genocide Convention, which was adopted following World War II, "sets
    up a standard and the massacres and deportations of the Ottoman
    Armenians meet that standard fully."

    On the heels of these and other pubic declarations, the Armenian
    Assembly launched a national campaign to urge President Bush to
    properly recognize the Armenian Genocide in his statement of
    remembrance next month. To that end, the Assembly mobilized its
    nationwide network of activists to join this effort, and those of
    Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg
    (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), who are rallying Members of
    Congress to urge the President to formally recognize the Genocide.


    The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
    nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
    of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
    organization.

    ###

    NR#2005-028


    A photograph of Congressman Radanovich is available at the following
    link:

    http://www.radanovich.house.gov/photos/CGRphoto.jpg


    Editor's Note: Attached is the full text of Congressman Radanovich
    comments as delivered today on the floor of the House of
    Representatives.

    Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Harry Gilmore, the first American
    Ambassador to Armenia, who is the latest U.S. official to publicly
    acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and to call for international
    recognition.

    In an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the retired
    diplomat recently said, "There is no doubt that the Armenian events
    were genocide."

    Gilmore's comments followed those of current U.S. Ambassador to
    Armenia, John Evans, who recently evoked the Armenian Genocide during
    his first stateside visit to Armenian communities across the country.
    During a series of public exchanges with Armenians late last month,
    Evans stated, "the Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the
    twentieth century."

    As a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and
    an ardent supporter of Fresno's Armenian-American community, I thank
    the Ambassadors for their statements and pledge to continue my ongoing
    efforts to sponsor initiatives that would build on the U.S. record
    towards an inevitable, full and irrevocable U.S. affirmation of the
    Armenian Genocide.


    -30-
Working...
X