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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. [email protected]
Internet www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
November 11, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
McCAIN RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
-- Action Highlights President Obama's Reversal on
his Pledge to Properly Recognize this Crime
WASHINGTON, DC - The Republican Party's 2008 Presidential nominee,
Arizona Senator John McCain, has publicly and properly recognized the
Armenian Genocide, breaking with his longstanding silence on this
human rights issue and, in the process, dramatically underscoring the
post-election retreat by his campaign opponent, President Barack
Obama, from his high-profile pledge to properly condemn and
commemorate this crime, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).
"I believe that genocide was committed against the Armenian people,
and I think there is ample documentation of that," Sen. McCain told
the Voice of America Georgian language service in an interview
focusing on the Caucasus as well as Armenia-Turkey relations.
During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Sen. McCain issued two
statements to the Armenian American community, both falling short of
properly characterizing as genocide the Ottoman Turkish Government's
deportation and annihilation of its Armenian community. "It is fair
to say that one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, the
brutal murder of as many as one and a half million Armenians under the
rule of the Ottoman Empire, has also been one of the most
neglected. The suffering endured by the Armenian people during that
period represented the prologue to what has come to be known as
humanity's bloodiest century," stated Sen. McCain in a September 29,
2008, statement.
In sharp contrast, Senator Barack Obama, during his campaign, clearly
and repeatedly promised to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Once
elected, however, the President has thus far not only failed to honor
his pledge, but actively cooperated with Turkey to pressure Armenia
into accepting a "commission" that calls into question this crime
against humanity.
Senator McCain has, throughout his tenure in the Congress, largely
opposed or remained indifferent to an array of Armenian American
issues. As recently as the last session of Congress, Senator McCain
publicly opposed Congressional recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. In 1999, he voted against restricting U.S. aid to Azerbaijan
over its blockades and other offensive uses of force against Armenia
and Nagorno Karabagh. He voted against Senator Bob Dole's Armenian
Genocide Resolution in 1990.
Contrary to the views of the majority of the Armenian American
community, Sen. McCain supports the controversial Turkey-Armenia
Protocols process.
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email. [email protected]
Internet www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
November 11, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
McCAIN RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
-- Action Highlights President Obama's Reversal on
his Pledge to Properly Recognize this Crime
WASHINGTON, DC - The Republican Party's 2008 Presidential nominee,
Arizona Senator John McCain, has publicly and properly recognized the
Armenian Genocide, breaking with his longstanding silence on this
human rights issue and, in the process, dramatically underscoring the
post-election retreat by his campaign opponent, President Barack
Obama, from his high-profile pledge to properly condemn and
commemorate this crime, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).
"I believe that genocide was committed against the Armenian people,
and I think there is ample documentation of that," Sen. McCain told
the Voice of America Georgian language service in an interview
focusing on the Caucasus as well as Armenia-Turkey relations.
During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Sen. McCain issued two
statements to the Armenian American community, both falling short of
properly characterizing as genocide the Ottoman Turkish Government's
deportation and annihilation of its Armenian community. "It is fair
to say that one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, the
brutal murder of as many as one and a half million Armenians under the
rule of the Ottoman Empire, has also been one of the most
neglected. The suffering endured by the Armenian people during that
period represented the prologue to what has come to be known as
humanity's bloodiest century," stated Sen. McCain in a September 29,
2008, statement.
In sharp contrast, Senator Barack Obama, during his campaign, clearly
and repeatedly promised to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Once
elected, however, the President has thus far not only failed to honor
his pledge, but actively cooperated with Turkey to pressure Armenia
into accepting a "commission" that calls into question this crime
against humanity.
Senator McCain has, throughout his tenure in the Congress, largely
opposed or remained indifferent to an array of Armenian American
issues. As recently as the last session of Congress, Senator McCain
publicly opposed Congressional recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. In 1999, he voted against restricting U.S. aid to Azerbaijan
over its blockades and other offensive uses of force against Armenia
and Nagorno Karabagh. He voted against Senator Bob Dole's Armenian
Genocide Resolution in 1990.
Contrary to the views of the majority of the Armenian American
community, Sen. McCain supports the controversial Turkey-Armenia
Protocols process.