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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
May 3, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA CHAIRMAN CALLS ON PRESIDENT BUSH TO
SPEAK WITH MORAL CLARITY ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
"The time has come, Mr. President, for our government to end
all forms of complicity in Turkey's morally bankrupt campaign
of genocide denial." -- ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian
WASHINGTON, DC ~V Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
Chairman Ken Hachikian expressed disappointment today with
President Bush's April 24th statement, asking for a meeting to
discuss this matter and the range of issues of concern to the
Armenian American community.
While thanking President Bush for standing with Armenians in
"remembering the tragic events of April 24th," Hachikian expressed
concern that the President, again, retreated from his February,
2000 campaign pledge to properly commemorate the Armenian Genocide.
"Your refusal to honor this pledge, and the ongoing opposition of
your Administration to Armenian Genocide legislation before
Congress, in our view, represent failures of American moral
leadership, and reflect a flawed and shortsighted approach to our
nation's long-term interest in peace and stability in the Caucasus
and Middle East," explained Hachikian.
Commenting on the President's indirect reference to the Turkish
Armenian Reconciliation Commission, Hachikian noted that, "The only
sound basis for improved Armenian-Turkish relations remains
Turkey's open acknowledgement of its genocidal crime and full
acceptance of its responsibilities to the Armenian nation. In this
regard, we are reminded of how Germany came to terms with the
Holocaust and, more recently, of the comprehensive report prepared
by the Israeli government setting the material damage to the Jewish
people during the Holocaust at between $240 billion to $330
billion."
Hachikian concluded the May 3rd letter, urging President Bush to
"to speak with moral clarity on the Armenian Genocide, to support
Armenian Genocide legislation that will come before Congress, to
pressure the Turkish government to acknowledge the truth, and to
use the full influence of your office to work toward a just
resolution - including full reparations and restitution - of this
crime against the Armenian people."
The full text of the letter follows.
#####
ANCA Letter to President George W. Bush
May 3, 2005
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I am writing, on behalf of Armenian Americans throughout the United
States, to thank you for joining with our community in remembering
the tragic events of April 24th, but also to express our profound
disappointment with the content of your remarks on the day of this
solemn remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.
We remain deeply troubled by your retreat from your promise, made
in February 2000, to properly recognize the genocidal campaign
against the Armenian people. By not using the proper term -
genocide - your message failed to accurately communicate the moral,
historical, and legal meaning of the crime committed against the
Armenian people. Your refusal to honor this pledge, and the ongoing
opposition of your Administration to Armenian Genocide legislation
before Congress, in our view, represent failures of American moral
leadership, and reflect a flawed and shortsighted approach to our
nation's long-term interest in peace and stability in the Caucasus
and Middle East.
While we welcome your statement about looking forward to a
promising future for Armenia, we must point out that Armenia's
future should not have to be built under threat from Turkey - an
unrepentant perpetrator of genocide against the Armenian people.
Very simply, the Republic of Armenia cannot be secure as long as
Turkey continues to deny its crime against the Armenian nation.
We are troubled, as well, by your support for attempts, along the
lines of the widely discredited Turkish Armenian Reconciliation
Commission, that promote an artificial reconciliation, one with
neither truth nor justice. Sadly, your mention of an anonymously
authored report, which was not written by, but only facilitated
through, the International Center for Transitional Justice, lends
credence to those seeking to derail progress toward Genocide
recognition, while abetting those who want to help Turkey avoid the
modern-day consequences of this crime. The only sound basis for
improved Armenian-Turkish relations remains Turkey's open
acknowledgement of its genocidal crime and full acceptance of its
responsibilities to the Armenian nation. In this regard, we are
reminded of how Germany came to terms with the Holocaust and, more
recently, of the comprehensive report prepared by the Israeli
government setting the material damage to the Jewish people during
the Holocaust at between $240 billion to $330 billion.
The time has come, Mr. President, for our government to end all
forms of complicity in Turkey's morally bankrupt campaign of
genocide denial. As such, we respectfully call upon you to speak
with moral clarity on the Armenian Genocide, to support Armenian
Genocide legislation that will come before Congress, to pressure
the Turkish government to acknowledge the truth, and to use the
full influence of your office to work toward a just resolution -
including full reparations and restitution - of this crime against
the Armenian people. Given your emphasis on morality and speaking
the truth, how can you possibly do otherwise?
In closing, I would like to note that we continue to pay special
attention to your Administration's response to the historically
accurate description of the Armenian Genocide by the U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans. If history has taught
us anything, it is that those who speak the truth should be
encouraged, not silenced.
We would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss
this matter and address the full range of issues of concern to
Armenian Americans.
Sincerely yours,
[signed]
Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman
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
May 3, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA CHAIRMAN CALLS ON PRESIDENT BUSH TO
SPEAK WITH MORAL CLARITY ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
"The time has come, Mr. President, for our government to end
all forms of complicity in Turkey's morally bankrupt campaign
of genocide denial." -- ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian
WASHINGTON, DC ~V Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
Chairman Ken Hachikian expressed disappointment today with
President Bush's April 24th statement, asking for a meeting to
discuss this matter and the range of issues of concern to the
Armenian American community.
While thanking President Bush for standing with Armenians in
"remembering the tragic events of April 24th," Hachikian expressed
concern that the President, again, retreated from his February,
2000 campaign pledge to properly commemorate the Armenian Genocide.
"Your refusal to honor this pledge, and the ongoing opposition of
your Administration to Armenian Genocide legislation before
Congress, in our view, represent failures of American moral
leadership, and reflect a flawed and shortsighted approach to our
nation's long-term interest in peace and stability in the Caucasus
and Middle East," explained Hachikian.
Commenting on the President's indirect reference to the Turkish
Armenian Reconciliation Commission, Hachikian noted that, "The only
sound basis for improved Armenian-Turkish relations remains
Turkey's open acknowledgement of its genocidal crime and full
acceptance of its responsibilities to the Armenian nation. In this
regard, we are reminded of how Germany came to terms with the
Holocaust and, more recently, of the comprehensive report prepared
by the Israeli government setting the material damage to the Jewish
people during the Holocaust at between $240 billion to $330
billion."
Hachikian concluded the May 3rd letter, urging President Bush to
"to speak with moral clarity on the Armenian Genocide, to support
Armenian Genocide legislation that will come before Congress, to
pressure the Turkish government to acknowledge the truth, and to
use the full influence of your office to work toward a just
resolution - including full reparations and restitution - of this
crime against the Armenian people."
The full text of the letter follows.
#####
ANCA Letter to President George W. Bush
May 3, 2005
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I am writing, on behalf of Armenian Americans throughout the United
States, to thank you for joining with our community in remembering
the tragic events of April 24th, but also to express our profound
disappointment with the content of your remarks on the day of this
solemn remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.
We remain deeply troubled by your retreat from your promise, made
in February 2000, to properly recognize the genocidal campaign
against the Armenian people. By not using the proper term -
genocide - your message failed to accurately communicate the moral,
historical, and legal meaning of the crime committed against the
Armenian people. Your refusal to honor this pledge, and the ongoing
opposition of your Administration to Armenian Genocide legislation
before Congress, in our view, represent failures of American moral
leadership, and reflect a flawed and shortsighted approach to our
nation's long-term interest in peace and stability in the Caucasus
and Middle East.
While we welcome your statement about looking forward to a
promising future for Armenia, we must point out that Armenia's
future should not have to be built under threat from Turkey - an
unrepentant perpetrator of genocide against the Armenian people.
Very simply, the Republic of Armenia cannot be secure as long as
Turkey continues to deny its crime against the Armenian nation.
We are troubled, as well, by your support for attempts, along the
lines of the widely discredited Turkish Armenian Reconciliation
Commission, that promote an artificial reconciliation, one with
neither truth nor justice. Sadly, your mention of an anonymously
authored report, which was not written by, but only facilitated
through, the International Center for Transitional Justice, lends
credence to those seeking to derail progress toward Genocide
recognition, while abetting those who want to help Turkey avoid the
modern-day consequences of this crime. The only sound basis for
improved Armenian-Turkish relations remains Turkey's open
acknowledgement of its genocidal crime and full acceptance of its
responsibilities to the Armenian nation. In this regard, we are
reminded of how Germany came to terms with the Holocaust and, more
recently, of the comprehensive report prepared by the Israeli
government setting the material damage to the Jewish people during
the Holocaust at between $240 billion to $330 billion.
The time has come, Mr. President, for our government to end all
forms of complicity in Turkey's morally bankrupt campaign of
genocide denial. As such, we respectfully call upon you to speak
with moral clarity on the Armenian Genocide, to support Armenian
Genocide legislation that will come before Congress, to pressure
the Turkish government to acknowledge the truth, and to use the
full influence of your office to work toward a just resolution -
including full reparations and restitution - of this crime against
the Armenian people. Given your emphasis on morality and speaking
the truth, how can you possibly do otherwise?
In closing, I would like to note that we continue to pay special
attention to your Administration's response to the historically
accurate description of the Armenian Genocide by the U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans. If history has taught
us anything, it is that those who speak the truth should be
encouraged, not silenced.
We would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss
this matter and address the full range of issues of concern to
Armenian Americans.
Sincerely yours,
[signed]
Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman