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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
June 6, 2008
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
AS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION ADVANCES AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEES FOR ARMENIA
AND TURKEY ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA CALLS ATTENTION TO U.S.
STATEMENT BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE ACKNOWLEDGING
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Washington, D.C. - On the heels of President George W. Bush's
announcement of Marie L. Yovanovitch and James F. Jeffrey to serve as
Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to the Republics of Armenia and Turkey, respectively, the
Armenian Assembly of America calls attention to a U.S. filing with the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning the United Nations
Genocide Convention squarely acknowledging the Armenian Genocide as a
crime.
The document reads in part:
The Genocide Convention resulted from the inhuman and barbarous
practices which prevailed in certain countries prior to and during World
War II, when entire religious, racial and national minority groups were
threatened with and subjected to deliberate extermination. The practice
of genocide has occurred throughout human history. The Roman persecution
of the Christians, the Turkish massacres of Armenians, the extermination
of millions of Jews and Poles by the Nazis are outstanding examples of
the crime of genocide.
Moreover, this 1951 document recently discussed by leading genocide
legal authority Professor William A. Schabas of The Irish Centre of
Human Rights also reads:
This was the background when the General Assembly of the United Nations
considered the problem of genocide. Not once, but twice, that body
declared unanimously that the practice of genocide is criminal under
international law and that States ought to take steps to prevent and
punish genocide.
The United Nations General Assembly Resolution of 1946, 96 (I), defined
the crime of genocide as:
Genocide is a denial of the right of existence of entire human groups,
as homicide is the denial of the right to live of individual human
beings; such denial of the right of existence shocks the conscience of
mankind, results in great losses to humanity in the form of cultural and
other contributions represented by these human groups, and is contrary
to moral law and to the spirit and aims of the United Nations.
Many instances of such crimes of genocide have occurred when racial,
religious, political, and other groups have been destroyed, entirely or
in part.
Additionally, in 1948 the United Nations War Crimes Commission invoked
the 28 May 1915 Allied declaration denouncing crimes against humanity
and civilization in connection to the Armenian massacres. "The warning
given to the Turkish Government on this occasion by the Governments of
the Triple Entente dealt precisely with one of the types of acts which
the modern term 'crimes against humanity' is intended to cover, namely,
inhuman acts committed by a government against its own subjects."
"Professor Schabas has reminded us again of the historic American record
of affirmation," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "Now
the Bush Administration has an opportunity to utilize the confirmation
process to ensure that Turkey's ongoing denial campaign is squarely
confronted."
The 1951 statement is consistent with the legislative history of the
U.S. ratification of the Genocide Convention, President Reagan's 1981
Proclamation 4838 ("Like the genocide of the Armenians before it, and
the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it - and like too many
other such persecutions of too many other peoples - the lessons of the
Holocaust must never be forgotten."), the 2003 International Center for
Transitional Justice study endorsed by President Bush, which concluded
that "the Events [of 1915], viewed collectively, can thus be said to
include all of the elements of the crime of genocide as defined in the
Convention, and legal scholars as well as historians, politicians,
journalists and other people would be justified in continuing to so
describe them," the 1993 court decision in Krikorian v. Department of
State (where the D.C. Federal Court of Appeals confirmed that U.S.
policy recognizes the Armenian Genocide) and the 42 U.S. States that
have affirmed the Armenian Genocide.
"Furthermore and in particular," Ardouny added, "the U.S. Ambassador to
Turkey has an unique opportunity to follow in the tradition of
Ambassador Henry Morgenthau to ensure that universal principles of human
rights are adhered to, and that minorities in Turkey are protected not
persecuted."
Yovanovitch, a career member of the Foreign Service, currently serves as
Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic. Prior to this, she served as Senior
Advisor to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the Department
of State. Earlier in her career, she served as Deputy Chief of Mission
in Kiev. Yovanovitch received her bachelor's degree from Princeton
University and her master's degree from the National War College.
Jeffrey, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, currently serves
as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor at
the White House. Prior to this, he served as Principal Deputy Assistant
Secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Earlier in his career,
he served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Baghdad, United States
Ambassador to Albania, and three other assignments in Turkey. Ambassador
Jeffrey received his bachelor's degree from Northeastern University and
his master's degree from Boston University.
The Assembly anticipates a vigorous confirmation process. The last
Ambassador to Armenia John Evans was forced out due to his public
acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide.
For more on Yovanovitch and Jeffrey, including background information,
official statements and press reports, please visit www.aaainc.org.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
NR#2008-053
Link: http://www.aaainc.org/fileadmin/pdf_2008_new/1951_ -_ICJ_AAA.pdf
Link: http://www.nuigalway.ie/human_rights/
Link:
http:/ /www.armenian-genocide.org/Affirmation.388/current _category.6/affi
rmation_detail.html
Link:
http:// www.armenian-genocide.org/Affirmation.63/current_c ategory.4/affir
mation_detail.html
Link:
http://ww w.armenian-genocide.org/Affirmation.244/current_ca tegory.5/affi
rmation_detail.html
Link:
http://www .armenian-genocide.org/Affirmation.241/current_cat egory.76/aff
irmation_detail.html
Link:
http://www .armenian-genocide.org/current_category.11/affirma tion_list.ht
ml
Link: http://www.aaainc.org/?id=339
Attached:
http://ww w.aaainc.org/fileadmin/pdf_2008_new/1951_-_ICJ_AAA .pdf
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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
June 6, 2008
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
AS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION ADVANCES AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEES FOR ARMENIA
AND TURKEY ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA CALLS ATTENTION TO U.S.
STATEMENT BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE ACKNOWLEDGING
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Washington, D.C. - On the heels of President George W. Bush's
announcement of Marie L. Yovanovitch and James F. Jeffrey to serve as
Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to the Republics of Armenia and Turkey, respectively, the
Armenian Assembly of America calls attention to a U.S. filing with the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning the United Nations
Genocide Convention squarely acknowledging the Armenian Genocide as a
crime.
The document reads in part:
The Genocide Convention resulted from the inhuman and barbarous
practices which prevailed in certain countries prior to and during World
War II, when entire religious, racial and national minority groups were
threatened with and subjected to deliberate extermination. The practice
of genocide has occurred throughout human history. The Roman persecution
of the Christians, the Turkish massacres of Armenians, the extermination
of millions of Jews and Poles by the Nazis are outstanding examples of
the crime of genocide.
Moreover, this 1951 document recently discussed by leading genocide
legal authority Professor William A. Schabas of The Irish Centre of
Human Rights also reads:
This was the background when the General Assembly of the United Nations
considered the problem of genocide. Not once, but twice, that body
declared unanimously that the practice of genocide is criminal under
international law and that States ought to take steps to prevent and
punish genocide.
The United Nations General Assembly Resolution of 1946, 96 (I), defined
the crime of genocide as:
Genocide is a denial of the right of existence of entire human groups,
as homicide is the denial of the right to live of individual human
beings; such denial of the right of existence shocks the conscience of
mankind, results in great losses to humanity in the form of cultural and
other contributions represented by these human groups, and is contrary
to moral law and to the spirit and aims of the United Nations.
Many instances of such crimes of genocide have occurred when racial,
religious, political, and other groups have been destroyed, entirely or
in part.
Additionally, in 1948 the United Nations War Crimes Commission invoked
the 28 May 1915 Allied declaration denouncing crimes against humanity
and civilization in connection to the Armenian massacres. "The warning
given to the Turkish Government on this occasion by the Governments of
the Triple Entente dealt precisely with one of the types of acts which
the modern term 'crimes against humanity' is intended to cover, namely,
inhuman acts committed by a government against its own subjects."
"Professor Schabas has reminded us again of the historic American record
of affirmation," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "Now
the Bush Administration has an opportunity to utilize the confirmation
process to ensure that Turkey's ongoing denial campaign is squarely
confronted."
The 1951 statement is consistent with the legislative history of the
U.S. ratification of the Genocide Convention, President Reagan's 1981
Proclamation 4838 ("Like the genocide of the Armenians before it, and
the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it - and like too many
other such persecutions of too many other peoples - the lessons of the
Holocaust must never be forgotten."), the 2003 International Center for
Transitional Justice study endorsed by President Bush, which concluded
that "the Events [of 1915], viewed collectively, can thus be said to
include all of the elements of the crime of genocide as defined in the
Convention, and legal scholars as well as historians, politicians,
journalists and other people would be justified in continuing to so
describe them," the 1993 court decision in Krikorian v. Department of
State (where the D.C. Federal Court of Appeals confirmed that U.S.
policy recognizes the Armenian Genocide) and the 42 U.S. States that
have affirmed the Armenian Genocide.
"Furthermore and in particular," Ardouny added, "the U.S. Ambassador to
Turkey has an unique opportunity to follow in the tradition of
Ambassador Henry Morgenthau to ensure that universal principles of human
rights are adhered to, and that minorities in Turkey are protected not
persecuted."
Yovanovitch, a career member of the Foreign Service, currently serves as
Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic. Prior to this, she served as Senior
Advisor to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the Department
of State. Earlier in her career, she served as Deputy Chief of Mission
in Kiev. Yovanovitch received her bachelor's degree from Princeton
University and her master's degree from the National War College.
Jeffrey, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, currently serves
as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor at
the White House. Prior to this, he served as Principal Deputy Assistant
Secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Earlier in his career,
he served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Baghdad, United States
Ambassador to Albania, and three other assignments in Turkey. Ambassador
Jeffrey received his bachelor's degree from Northeastern University and
his master's degree from Boston University.
The Assembly anticipates a vigorous confirmation process. The last
Ambassador to Armenia John Evans was forced out due to his public
acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide.
For more on Yovanovitch and Jeffrey, including background information,
official statements and press reports, please visit www.aaainc.org.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
NR#2008-053
Link: http://www.aaainc.org/fileadmin/pdf_2008_new/1951_ -_ICJ_AAA.pdf
Link: http://www.nuigalway.ie/human_rights/
Link:
http:/ /www.armenian-genocide.org/Affirmation.388/current _category.6/affi
rmation_detail.html
Link:
http:// www.armenian-genocide.org/Affirmation.63/current_c ategory.4/affir
mation_detail.html
Link:
http://ww w.armenian-genocide.org/Affirmation.244/current_ca tegory.5/affi
rmation_detail.html
Link:
http://www .armenian-genocide.org/Affirmation.241/current_cat egory.76/aff
irmation_detail.html
Link:
http://www .armenian-genocide.org/current_category.11/affirma tion_list.ht
ml
Link: http://www.aaainc.org/?id=339
Attached:
http://ww w.aaainc.org/fileadmin/pdf_2008_new/1951_-_ICJ_AAA .pdf
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress