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BOXER, LIEBERMAN, SANCHEZ ADD NEW SUPPORT TO GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
Armenian Weekly Staff
December 15, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Joe Lieberman
(D-Conn.) and Representative Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) this week
became the most recent additions to the growing bipartisan group of
legislators supporting the Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.316 and
H.Res.252), reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The new support for this human rights legislation comes in the
wake of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to
Washington, D.C. last week, during which he repeatedly denied the
Armenian Genocide. Responding to a question from journalist Charlie
Rose, during an hour-long televised PBS interview on Dec. 8, Erdogan
stated, "I can say very clearly that we do not accept genocide. This
is completely a lie. I invite people to prove it. Something like this
is really not possible, and there is no truth to it."
"We want to thank Senators Boxer and Lieberman and Representative
Sanchez for once again standing up for principle and against Turkey's
denials," said Aram Hamparian, the executive director of the ANCA. "We
look forward, in the weeks ahead, to working with these friends and our
many others in both houses of Congress, to see this genocide-prevention
legislation adopted at the very first opportunity."
Armenian Americans and human rights activists have been contacting
their legislators in support of the congressional measures for a
month leading up to Erdogan's Washington visit as part of the ANCA
"Countdown to Erdogan" Campaign. In the 30 days leading up to the
meeting between Obama and Erdogan, the ANCA organized a new action
each day-ranging from online advocacy, call-in days, social networking,
coalition building, community outreach, and fieldwork. The campaign's
first week addressed the U.S. Senate, the second week addressed the
U.S. House, followed by the media during the third week, and then,
in the final seven days, a final push with the White House.
Thousands participated in the unique month-long activism campaign.
H.Res.252, introduced on March 17 by lead sponsors Adam Schiff
(D-Calif.) and George Radanovich (R-Calif.), and Congressional Armenian
Caucus co-chairs Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R- Ill.),
currently has over 135 co-sponsors. With the support of Senators
Boxer and Lieberman, S.Res.316, spearheaded by Senators Bob Menendez
(D-N.J.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.), will have 10 co-sponsors.
Both bills are identical to legislation in the 110th Congress that was
adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and publicly endorsed
by then-candidate for president Barack Obama, as well as current Vice
President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Since the
introduction of the current resolution this March, Obama has broken
his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide, retreating markedly
from repeated statements and promises he made throughout his service
in the Senate calling for proper U.S. condemnation and commemoration
of this crime against humanity.
Armenian Weekly Staff
December 15, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Joe Lieberman
(D-Conn.) and Representative Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) this week
became the most recent additions to the growing bipartisan group of
legislators supporting the Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.316 and
H.Res.252), reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The new support for this human rights legislation comes in the
wake of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to
Washington, D.C. last week, during which he repeatedly denied the
Armenian Genocide. Responding to a question from journalist Charlie
Rose, during an hour-long televised PBS interview on Dec. 8, Erdogan
stated, "I can say very clearly that we do not accept genocide. This
is completely a lie. I invite people to prove it. Something like this
is really not possible, and there is no truth to it."
"We want to thank Senators Boxer and Lieberman and Representative
Sanchez for once again standing up for principle and against Turkey's
denials," said Aram Hamparian, the executive director of the ANCA. "We
look forward, in the weeks ahead, to working with these friends and our
many others in both houses of Congress, to see this genocide-prevention
legislation adopted at the very first opportunity."
Armenian Americans and human rights activists have been contacting
their legislators in support of the congressional measures for a
month leading up to Erdogan's Washington visit as part of the ANCA
"Countdown to Erdogan" Campaign. In the 30 days leading up to the
meeting between Obama and Erdogan, the ANCA organized a new action
each day-ranging from online advocacy, call-in days, social networking,
coalition building, community outreach, and fieldwork. The campaign's
first week addressed the U.S. Senate, the second week addressed the
U.S. House, followed by the media during the third week, and then,
in the final seven days, a final push with the White House.
Thousands participated in the unique month-long activism campaign.
H.Res.252, introduced on March 17 by lead sponsors Adam Schiff
(D-Calif.) and George Radanovich (R-Calif.), and Congressional Armenian
Caucus co-chairs Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R- Ill.),
currently has over 135 co-sponsors. With the support of Senators
Boxer and Lieberman, S.Res.316, spearheaded by Senators Bob Menendez
(D-N.J.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.), will have 10 co-sponsors.
Both bills are identical to legislation in the 110th Congress that was
adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and publicly endorsed
by then-candidate for president Barack Obama, as well as current Vice
President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Since the
introduction of the current resolution this March, Obama has broken
his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide, retreating markedly
from repeated statements and promises he made throughout his service
in the Senate calling for proper U.S. condemnation and commemoration
of this crime against humanity.