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AAA: Assembly Responds to President Bush's April 24 Genocide Statemt

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  • AAA: Assembly Responds to President Bush's April 24 Genocide Statemt

    Armenian Assembly of America
    1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
    Washington, DC 20036
    Phone: 202-393-3434
    Fax: 202-638-4904
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: www.aaainc.org

    PRESS RELEASE
    April 24, 2008
    Contact: Michael Zachariades
    Email: [email protected]


    THE ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA RESPONDS TO PRESIDENT BUSH'S APRIL 24
    ARMENIAN GENOCIDE STATEMENT

    Washington, DC - In 2000, then presidential candidate Governor George W.
    Bush stated that if elected President, he would properly recognize the
    Armenian Genocide. In his pledge, Bush stated that "the Armenians were
    subjected to a genocidal campaign that defies comprehension and commands
    all decent people to remember and acknowledge the facts and lessons of
    an awful crime in a century of bloody crimes against humanity."

    Eight years later, his 2008 Presidential statement again provides a
    dictionary definition of genocide, but the resistance in using the term
    genocide not only fails to complete George W. Bush's promise, but more
    importantly fails to promote the professed goal of preventing genocide.
    This year's statement actually represents a subtle step back from prior
    April 24 statements.

    April 24 is a day of mourning and rededication for Armenians, their
    friends and for all people concerned with eliminating the scourge of
    genocide. This is what April 24 signifies.

    In his final April 24 statement, President Bush missed the mark, which
    may account for the ongoing nature and escalation of threats of genocide
    around the world. Today's statement backtracks from his prior indirect
    acknowledgements of the Armenian Genocide. For example, in 2005 and
    2006, Bush recognized the Armenian Genocide indirectly by his reference
    to the findings of the International Center for Transitional Justice
    (ICTJ).

    In the face of Turkish demands again this year, President Bush omitted
    the findings by the ICTJ. This year's statement also continues to ignore
    President Reagan's 1981 proclamation that affirms the Armenian Genocide,
    which still stands as U.S. recognition and was confirmed by the U.S.
    Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. These two missteps by
    this Administration discount the United States' proud and dignified
    record during the time of the Armenian Genocide, as well as most
    Americans and a majority of States today.

    In addition, Turkish pressure was brought to bear on House Resolution
    106, which called on the President to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
    Turkey's ongoing denial has also created an atmosphere of intolerance,
    which led to the tragic assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist
    Hrant Dink, by a Turkish nationalist. Turkey's long term interests would
    be better served by coming to grips with its genocidal past, rather than
    fining and jailing those who speak the truth about the Armenian
    Genocide. Hrant Dink was recently inducted into the Journalists Memorial
    in the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The event was attended by his widow,
    Rakel Dink, along with representatives of the Armenian Assembly.

    Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of
    Greater Boston Nancy K. Kaufman said in a recent commemoration speech on
    April 18, that "as a way of not letting the Armenian Genocide be
    forgotten, I would like to bear witness - to testify, if you will - to
    that history," adding that "it is particularly important for us, as
    Jews, to speak out in support of your community's efforts to fight
    denial."
    Ironically, this year's statement comes against the backdrop of rapid
    progress and development since May 2007, of the Armenian Genocide Museum
    of America. The museum is located steps away from the White House and
    will stand as a permanent memorial and testament for all who lost their
    lives in the Armenian Genocide. It will also serve as a learning center
    to prevent future genocides.

    While Bush's statement also notes the Nagorno Karabakh peace process, it
    does not address the failure to achieve a just peace, nor does it
    address the ongoing military escalation by Azerbaijan against the
    Armenians there, who also faced a campaign of ethnic cleansing. This
    too stands as a stark reminder that the lessons of the Armenian Genocide
    cannot be forgotten.

    No one questions President Bush's sincerity in mourning the tremendous
    loss Armenians and the world suffered as a result of the Armenian
    Genocide, and his use of the dictionary definition is better than
    ignoring it; nevertheless, it is profoundly disappointing that he failed
    to keep his word, of which the consequences are real.

    As Armenia's President Serge Sarkisian stated today, there is no room
    for denial of the Armenian Genocide and that Armenian Statehood is of
    exceptional importance. No Armenian or person of goodwill should
    disagree with these fundamental principles. Unfortunately, today's
    White House statement fell short.

    Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly 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#2008-045

    Editor's Note: President Bush's 2008 statement is reproduced below and
    this, as well as his prior statements, can be found on the Armenian
    National Institute's Website (www.armenian-genocide.org)


    THE WHITE HOUSE
    Office of the Press Secretary
    ________________________________________ ___________________
    For Immediate Release April 24, 2008
    STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

    Armenian Remembrance Day

    On this day of remembrance, we honor the memory of the victims of one of
    the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, the mass killings and forced
    exile of as many as 1.5 million Armenians at the end of the Ottoman
    Empire. I join the Armenian community in America and around the world in
    commemorating this tragedy and mourning the loss of so many innocent
    lives.
    As we reflect on this epic human tragedy, we must resolve to redouble
    our efforts to promote peace, tolerance, and respect for the dignity of
    human life. The Armenian people's unalterable determination to triumph
    over tragedy and flourish is a testament to their strength of character
    and spirit. We are grateful for the many contributions Americans of
    Armenian heritage have made to our Nation.
    We welcome the efforts by individuals in Armenia and Turkey to foster
    reconciliation and peace, and support joint efforts for an open
    examination of the past in search of a shared understanding of these
    tragic events. We look forward to the realization of a fully normalized
    Armenia-Turkey relationship.
    The United States is committed to a strong relationship with Armenia
    based on shared values. We call on the Government of Armenia to take
    decisive steps to promote democracy, and will continue our support for
    Armenia to this end. We remain committed to serving as an honest broker
    in pursuit of a lasting and peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
    conflict.
    On this solemn day of remembrance, Laura and I express our deepest
    condolences to Armenian people around the world.
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