Tweet
States News Service
June 14, 2011 Tuesday
SCHIFF AND DOLD INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
WASHINGTON
The following information was released by the office of California
Rep. Adam Schiff:
Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced a bipartisan House
Resolution with Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL) recognizing and commemorating
the Armenian Genocide in the House of Representatives. The resolution
calls on the President and the U.S. Government to properly recognize
and commemorate the atrocities that occurred in Armenia beginning in
1915, and which resulted in the death of 1.5 million Armenian men,
women and children, as genocide.
The facts of history are clear, well documented and non-negotiable 1.5
million Armenians were deliberately murdered in the first genocide of
the 20th century, Rep. Schiff said. If we are to prevent future
atrocities, we must condemn genocide whenever and wherever it occurs.
It has never served our national interest to be complicit in another
nation's campaign of genocide denial, and it never will. While there
are still some survivors left, we have a compelling, urgent and moral
obligation to speak plainly about the past.
It has been 96 years since the systematic and deliberate annihilation
campaign was launched by the government of the Ottoman Empire against
its Armenian population. While the Armenian Genocide has been
recognized by more than 20 nations including Canada, Italy, Sweden,
France, Argentina and Russia, as well as the European Parliament, it
has not been formally recognized by the U.S. Congress in decades.
The United States has a duty to remember those who have no voice, Rep.
Dold said. Ninety-six years ago 1.5 million people were killed simply
because they were Armenian. Ive personally heard stories from
Armenian-Americans in my district who lost loved ones during the
Armenian genocide. This appalling tragedy should not be ignored;
rather, as a nation that fights for justice it is only fitting that
the United States honestly recognize the Armenian Genocide and the
victims so that together we can help prevent future genocides.
Bolstering his efforts to achieve justice and human rights in the
region, Rep. Schiff has also joined in co-sponsoring a second
resolution introduced today by Reps. Ed Royce and Howard Berman,
calling on the government of Turkey to end religious discrimination,
to cease all restrictions on gatherings for religious prayer and
education, and to return stolen church property.
By expropriating church properties, harassing worshippers, and
refusing to grant full legal status to members of the Christian faith,
the Republic of Turkey is violating its obligation to uphold basic
freedoms that are the foundation of justice and peace worldwide, Rep.
Schiff said.
The Republic of Turkey is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, which requires freedom of thought, conscience and
religion. While Turkey considers itself a secular democracy, the U.S.
Commission on International Religious Freedom has identified the
Republic as one of the worlds leading violators of religious freedom.
Christians constitute less than 1 percent of Turkeys population,
placing them in an especially vulnerable position, Rep. Schiff said.
This resolution will help to promote religious equality by shining a
light on the unacceptable violations and intolerance of religious
freedom in Turkey.
June 14, 2011 Tuesday
SCHIFF AND DOLD INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
WASHINGTON
The following information was released by the office of California
Rep. Adam Schiff:
Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced a bipartisan House
Resolution with Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL) recognizing and commemorating
the Armenian Genocide in the House of Representatives. The resolution
calls on the President and the U.S. Government to properly recognize
and commemorate the atrocities that occurred in Armenia beginning in
1915, and which resulted in the death of 1.5 million Armenian men,
women and children, as genocide.
The facts of history are clear, well documented and non-negotiable 1.5
million Armenians were deliberately murdered in the first genocide of
the 20th century, Rep. Schiff said. If we are to prevent future
atrocities, we must condemn genocide whenever and wherever it occurs.
It has never served our national interest to be complicit in another
nation's campaign of genocide denial, and it never will. While there
are still some survivors left, we have a compelling, urgent and moral
obligation to speak plainly about the past.
It has been 96 years since the systematic and deliberate annihilation
campaign was launched by the government of the Ottoman Empire against
its Armenian population. While the Armenian Genocide has been
recognized by more than 20 nations including Canada, Italy, Sweden,
France, Argentina and Russia, as well as the European Parliament, it
has not been formally recognized by the U.S. Congress in decades.
The United States has a duty to remember those who have no voice, Rep.
Dold said. Ninety-six years ago 1.5 million people were killed simply
because they were Armenian. Ive personally heard stories from
Armenian-Americans in my district who lost loved ones during the
Armenian genocide. This appalling tragedy should not be ignored;
rather, as a nation that fights for justice it is only fitting that
the United States honestly recognize the Armenian Genocide and the
victims so that together we can help prevent future genocides.
Bolstering his efforts to achieve justice and human rights in the
region, Rep. Schiff has also joined in co-sponsoring a second
resolution introduced today by Reps. Ed Royce and Howard Berman,
calling on the government of Turkey to end religious discrimination,
to cease all restrictions on gatherings for religious prayer and
education, and to return stolen church property.
By expropriating church properties, harassing worshippers, and
refusing to grant full legal status to members of the Christian faith,
the Republic of Turkey is violating its obligation to uphold basic
freedoms that are the foundation of justice and peace worldwide, Rep.
Schiff said.
The Republic of Turkey is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, which requires freedom of thought, conscience and
religion. While Turkey considers itself a secular democracy, the U.S.
Commission on International Religious Freedom has identified the
Republic as one of the worlds leading violators of religious freedom.
Christians constitute less than 1 percent of Turkeys population,
placing them in an especially vulnerable position, Rep. Schiff said.
This resolution will help to promote religious equality by shining a
light on the unacceptable violations and intolerance of religious
freedom in Turkey.