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PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee
San Francisco - Bay Area
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: (415) 387-3433
Fax: (415) 751-0617
www.ancsf.org
www.teachgenocide.org
REP . BERMAN REITERATES SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN ISSUES
http://www.ancsf.org/pressreleases/2008/072 02008.htm
Tiburon, CA, July 20, 2008 - Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), Chairman of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee, told an audience at a fundraiser for
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) that the United States should press Turkey for
accountability regarding the Armenian Genocide. Berman said he wanted
the U.S. to have good relationship with Turkey, but that the U.S. should
lead Turkey in recognizing the history of the Armenian Genocide. "It's
part of what friends do," Berman said.
In an earlier discussion with Bay Area ANC representatives, Berman said,
"I'm from a background where you don't brush things under the rug. You
deal with them and move on."
Berman, who recently met with Armenia's Foreign Minister, said the U.S.
also should do more to help end the Turkish blockade of Armenia, which
cuts off a major avenue for manufactured goods to reach Armenia through
Turkey. The result is not good for the U.S., he said. "We're pushing a
friend into the hands of Russia and Iran."
Berman is a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and a
co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide Resolution. As Chair of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, he recently held a hearing questioning
administration officials about U.S. policies towards the Caucasus
region, including Turkey's blockade of Armenia.
Rep. Woolsey and Rep. Berman spoke about their work on the House Foreign
Affairs Committee, seeking to broaden U.S. assistance programs to
Africa, as well as improve US policy towards Iraq, Iran, and the rest of
the Middle East.
"Our committee will have an effective, balanced, progressive, coherent
approach," Berman said, who said he believed the U.S. cannot be
effective around the world when its policies produce world-wide hatred
and violate international law.
This month, President Bush signed into law a measure by Rep. Berman
eliminating a government-imposed stigma against association with the
African National Congress of South Africa. As a result, the United
States will remove from its databases any notation characterizing the
ANC and its leaders -- including Nobel Laureate and former South African
President Nelson Mandela -- as terrorists.
Berman has also recently introduced legislation devoting more high-level
attention and funding to the plight of Iraqi refugees, as well as a bill
calling on the government `to strengthen its leadership role' in
response to the genocide in Darfur and urging the departments of State
and Homeland Security to facilitate the resettlement in the U.S. of
Darfuri refugees.
Berman was a member of the California State Assembly from 1973 to 1982,
when he was elected to Congress representing parts of the San Fernando
Valley in the Los Angeles area.
######
Picture Captions:
- (left to right) Bay Area ANC member Ara Makasdjian, Rep. Howard
Berman, Rep. Lynn Woolsey, and Bay Area ANC Chairperson, Roxanne Makasdjian
- Rep. Howard Berman
Armenian National Committee
San Francisco - Bay Area
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: (415) 387-3433
Fax: (415) 751-0617
www.ancsf.org
www.teachgenocide.org
REP . BERMAN REITERATES SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN ISSUES
http://www.ancsf.org/pressreleases/2008/072 02008.htm
Tiburon, CA, July 20, 2008 - Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), Chairman of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee, told an audience at a fundraiser for
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) that the United States should press Turkey for
accountability regarding the Armenian Genocide. Berman said he wanted
the U.S. to have good relationship with Turkey, but that the U.S. should
lead Turkey in recognizing the history of the Armenian Genocide. "It's
part of what friends do," Berman said.
In an earlier discussion with Bay Area ANC representatives, Berman said,
"I'm from a background where you don't brush things under the rug. You
deal with them and move on."
Berman, who recently met with Armenia's Foreign Minister, said the U.S.
also should do more to help end the Turkish blockade of Armenia, which
cuts off a major avenue for manufactured goods to reach Armenia through
Turkey. The result is not good for the U.S., he said. "We're pushing a
friend into the hands of Russia and Iran."
Berman is a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and a
co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide Resolution. As Chair of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, he recently held a hearing questioning
administration officials about U.S. policies towards the Caucasus
region, including Turkey's blockade of Armenia.
Rep. Woolsey and Rep. Berman spoke about their work on the House Foreign
Affairs Committee, seeking to broaden U.S. assistance programs to
Africa, as well as improve US policy towards Iraq, Iran, and the rest of
the Middle East.
"Our committee will have an effective, balanced, progressive, coherent
approach," Berman said, who said he believed the U.S. cannot be
effective around the world when its policies produce world-wide hatred
and violate international law.
This month, President Bush signed into law a measure by Rep. Berman
eliminating a government-imposed stigma against association with the
African National Congress of South Africa. As a result, the United
States will remove from its databases any notation characterizing the
ANC and its leaders -- including Nobel Laureate and former South African
President Nelson Mandela -- as terrorists.
Berman has also recently introduced legislation devoting more high-level
attention and funding to the plight of Iraqi refugees, as well as a bill
calling on the government `to strengthen its leadership role' in
response to the genocide in Darfur and urging the departments of State
and Homeland Security to facilitate the resettlement in the U.S. of
Darfuri refugees.
Berman was a member of the California State Assembly from 1973 to 1982,
when he was elected to Congress representing parts of the San Fernando
Valley in the Los Angeles area.
######
Picture Captions:
- (left to right) Bay Area ANC member Ara Makasdjian, Rep. Howard
Berman, Rep. Lynn Woolsey, and Bay Area ANC Chairperson, Roxanne Makasdjian
- Rep. Howard Berman