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Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
January 4, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
IOWA CAUCUS WINNERS HAVE BOTH
RECOGNIZED THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
WASHINGTON, DC - The winners of yesterday's Iowa caucuses, U.S.
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and former Arkansas governor Mike
Huckabee (R), are both on record as having recognized the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
Senator Barack Obama
Senator Obama has spoken forcefully about the moral imperative of
U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, specifically calling
upon the Bush Administration, in letters and public statements, to
end its "wrong and untenable" policy on this issue. During his
three years in the Senate, however, he has yet to join with his
legislative colleagues in cosponsoring the Armenian Genocide
Resolution. Senator Obama also voted in the Foreign Relations
Committee to approve the highly controversial and ultimately
unsuccessful nomination of Dick Hoagland to serve as U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, despite bipartisan Congressional opposition
and widespread outrage among Armenian Americans over the nominee's
denial of the Armenian Genocide.
Selected statements by Senator Obama are provided below:
Letter to secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (July 28, 2006):
"The occurrence of the Armenian genocide in 1915 is not an
'allegation,' a 'personal opinion,' or a 'point of view."
Supported by an overwhelming amount of historical evidence, it is a
widely documented fact."
Press statement on the Hoagland nomination (September 7, 2006):
"The Bush Administration's policy concerning the Armenian genocide
is wrong and is untenable. That the invocation of a historical
fact by a State Department employee could constitute an act of
insubordination is deeply troubling and is a clear sign that it is
time to revisit the Administration's guidance on this issue. I
have written to Secretary Rice urging that such a review occur so
our diplomats will not be placed in a similar position in the
future."
Discussion with Illinois constituents (April 12, 2007):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apR_0df-p54
". . . for those of you that aren't aware - there was a genocide
that did take place against the Armenian people. It is one of
these situations where we have seen a constant denial on the part
of the Turkish government and others that this occurred. It has
become a sore spot diplomatically."
Letter to constituents regarding the Armenian Genocide (June 2,
2007):
"I share your view that the United States must recognize the events
of 1915 to 1923, carried out by the Ottoman Empire, as genocide. As
you know, this resulted in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000
Armenians, of whom 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed.
We must recognize this tragic reality. The Bush Administration's
refusal to do so is inexcusable, and I will continue to speak out
in an effort to move the Administration to change its position."
Governor Mike Huckabee
As Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee issued a proclamation
recognizing April 24, 2001 as a Day of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide. The declaration memorialized the "the death of at least
1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks and the forced
deportation of countless others." The official statement also noted
that, "the Armenian people have not received reparations for their
losses" and that the present Turkish government engages in a
campaign of "denial of the Armenian Genocide."
The Arkansas chief executive subsequently issued a proclamation
also marking April 24 as a "Day of Remembrance of the Turkish and
Armenian Tragedy." The local Armenian community's objections to
the Governor's use of this euphemistic phrasing to obscure the
genocidal intent of Ottoman Turkey toward its Armenian subjects was
covered by the Arkansas News Bureau, which quoted ANC-Arkansas
spokesperson Leo Stepanian as saying: "It was not a tragedy. It
was a genocide." For the full text of this article, visit:
http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2007/10 /14/WashingtonDCBureau/3
43662.html
State of Arkansas, Executive Department - Proclamation (March 27,
2001):
WHEREAS, the death of at least 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman
Turks and the forced deportation of countless others, is remembered
on April 24th as Armenian Martyrs Day; and
WHEREAS, eighty-six years ago, Armenians were forced to witness the
slaughter of their relatives and the loss of their ancestral
homeland; and
WHEREAS, the denial of the Armenian Genocide by the present-day
Turkish Government continues to antagonize the Armenian people
concerning their own rightful place in history; and
WHEREAS, the Armenian people have not received reparations for
their losses; and
WHEREAS, Armenians have valiantly pursued the improvement and self-
determination of their homelands; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding such atrocities in the past people of
Armenian descent have been strong, productive, contributing
citizens in the many communities in which they reside in the State
of Arkansas; and
WHEREAS, on April 24, 2001, Armenian families from across Arkansas
will gather to honor the 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred
under the Ottoman Turkish Government between 1915 and 1923;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mike Huckabee, acting under the authority vested
in me as Governor of the State of Arkansas, do hereby proclaim
April 24, 2001, as
A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
in the State of Arkansas.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the
Great Seal of the State of Arkansas to be affixed this 27th day of
March, in the year of our Lord 2001.
[signed]
Mike Huckabee, Governor
[signed]
Sharon Priest, Secretary of State
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
January 4, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
IOWA CAUCUS WINNERS HAVE BOTH
RECOGNIZED THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
WASHINGTON, DC - The winners of yesterday's Iowa caucuses, U.S.
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and former Arkansas governor Mike
Huckabee (R), are both on record as having recognized the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
Senator Barack Obama
Senator Obama has spoken forcefully about the moral imperative of
U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, specifically calling
upon the Bush Administration, in letters and public statements, to
end its "wrong and untenable" policy on this issue. During his
three years in the Senate, however, he has yet to join with his
legislative colleagues in cosponsoring the Armenian Genocide
Resolution. Senator Obama also voted in the Foreign Relations
Committee to approve the highly controversial and ultimately
unsuccessful nomination of Dick Hoagland to serve as U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, despite bipartisan Congressional opposition
and widespread outrage among Armenian Americans over the nominee's
denial of the Armenian Genocide.
Selected statements by Senator Obama are provided below:
Letter to secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (July 28, 2006):
"The occurrence of the Armenian genocide in 1915 is not an
'allegation,' a 'personal opinion,' or a 'point of view."
Supported by an overwhelming amount of historical evidence, it is a
widely documented fact."
Press statement on the Hoagland nomination (September 7, 2006):
"The Bush Administration's policy concerning the Armenian genocide
is wrong and is untenable. That the invocation of a historical
fact by a State Department employee could constitute an act of
insubordination is deeply troubling and is a clear sign that it is
time to revisit the Administration's guidance on this issue. I
have written to Secretary Rice urging that such a review occur so
our diplomats will not be placed in a similar position in the
future."
Discussion with Illinois constituents (April 12, 2007):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apR_0df-p54
". . . for those of you that aren't aware - there was a genocide
that did take place against the Armenian people. It is one of
these situations where we have seen a constant denial on the part
of the Turkish government and others that this occurred. It has
become a sore spot diplomatically."
Letter to constituents regarding the Armenian Genocide (June 2,
2007):
"I share your view that the United States must recognize the events
of 1915 to 1923, carried out by the Ottoman Empire, as genocide. As
you know, this resulted in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000
Armenians, of whom 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed.
We must recognize this tragic reality. The Bush Administration's
refusal to do so is inexcusable, and I will continue to speak out
in an effort to move the Administration to change its position."
Governor Mike Huckabee
As Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee issued a proclamation
recognizing April 24, 2001 as a Day of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide. The declaration memorialized the "the death of at least
1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks and the forced
deportation of countless others." The official statement also noted
that, "the Armenian people have not received reparations for their
losses" and that the present Turkish government engages in a
campaign of "denial of the Armenian Genocide."
The Arkansas chief executive subsequently issued a proclamation
also marking April 24 as a "Day of Remembrance of the Turkish and
Armenian Tragedy." The local Armenian community's objections to
the Governor's use of this euphemistic phrasing to obscure the
genocidal intent of Ottoman Turkey toward its Armenian subjects was
covered by the Arkansas News Bureau, which quoted ANC-Arkansas
spokesperson Leo Stepanian as saying: "It was not a tragedy. It
was a genocide." For the full text of this article, visit:
http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2007/10 /14/WashingtonDCBureau/3
43662.html
State of Arkansas, Executive Department - Proclamation (March 27,
2001):
WHEREAS, the death of at least 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman
Turks and the forced deportation of countless others, is remembered
on April 24th as Armenian Martyrs Day; and
WHEREAS, eighty-six years ago, Armenians were forced to witness the
slaughter of their relatives and the loss of their ancestral
homeland; and
WHEREAS, the denial of the Armenian Genocide by the present-day
Turkish Government continues to antagonize the Armenian people
concerning their own rightful place in history; and
WHEREAS, the Armenian people have not received reparations for
their losses; and
WHEREAS, Armenians have valiantly pursued the improvement and self-
determination of their homelands; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding such atrocities in the past people of
Armenian descent have been strong, productive, contributing
citizens in the many communities in which they reside in the State
of Arkansas; and
WHEREAS, on April 24, 2001, Armenian families from across Arkansas
will gather to honor the 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred
under the Ottoman Turkish Government between 1915 and 1923;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mike Huckabee, acting under the authority vested
in me as Governor of the State of Arkansas, do hereby proclaim
April 24, 2001, as
A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
in the State of Arkansas.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the
Great Seal of the State of Arkansas to be affixed this 27th day of
March, in the year of our Lord 2001.
[signed]
Mike Huckabee, Governor
[signed]
Sharon Priest, Secretary of State