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OBAMA'S 'NEVER AGAIN' SPEECH IGNORES GENOCIDE
asbarez
Monday, April 23rd, 2012
President Obama delivers remarks at the US Holocause Museum on Monday
(Reuters photo)
WASHINGTON-Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director
Aram Hamparian issued the following statement in response to President
Obama's remarks at the U.S. Holocaust Museum, on Monday, outlining
U.S. commitment to the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities.
"President Obama undermined his own commitment to 'Never Again' in
his speech at the U.S. Holocaust Museum this morning, when, on the
day before the annual commemoration marking the Armenian Genocide
- the atrocities that Hitler himself referenced prior to launching
the Holocaust - he cited several past genocides but remained entirely
silent on the Armenian Genocide, the crime that, as a candidate for the
White House, he so prominently and repeatedly promised to recognize,"
stated Hamparian.
"President Obama has the chance, on April 24th, to give real meaning to
his words about genocide prevention by rejecting Ankara's gag-rule and
honoring his pledge to properly condemn and commemorate the Armenian
Genocide," concluded Hamparian.
As Senator and presidential candidate, President Obama consistently
and repeatedly urged former President Bush to properly characterize
the Armenian Genocide, and pledged, as President, to recognize that
crime. In a January, 2008, statement, then Senator Obama clearly
stated, "as President, I will recognize the Armenian Genocide."
To read then Senator Obama's complete statement, visit the following
link:
http://anca.org/change/docs/obama_pledge_011908.pdf
To review then Senator Obama's complete record on Armenian Genocide
affirmation related issues, visit the following link:
http://anca.org/change/docs/Obama_Armenian_Genocide.pdf
President Obama's April 23rd 'Never Again' speech at the U.S.
Holocaust Museum took place one day before Armenians and people of good
conscience worldwide commemorate the murder of 1.5 million Armenians by
the Ottoman Turkish Government during the years 1915-1923. Forty-two
U.S. states and over 20 countries have properly recognized the
Armenian Genocide. Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan acknowledged the
crime as genocide in 1981. The U.S. House adopted Armenian Genocide
legislation in 1975 and 1984 and included reference to the crime in
House adopted amendments in 1996 and 2005. More recently, the House
Foreign Affairs Committee has passed Armenian Genocide legislation
in 2007 and 2010. The Republic of Turkey continues its international
campaign of Armenian Genocide denial, issuing economic and political
threats against countries who properly characterize the crime. Those
threats have largely been hollow, with economic trade data showing
a marked increase in trade with Turkey after the Genocide has been
recognized.
asbarez
Monday, April 23rd, 2012
President Obama delivers remarks at the US Holocause Museum on Monday
(Reuters photo)
WASHINGTON-Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director
Aram Hamparian issued the following statement in response to President
Obama's remarks at the U.S. Holocaust Museum, on Monday, outlining
U.S. commitment to the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities.
"President Obama undermined his own commitment to 'Never Again' in
his speech at the U.S. Holocaust Museum this morning, when, on the
day before the annual commemoration marking the Armenian Genocide
- the atrocities that Hitler himself referenced prior to launching
the Holocaust - he cited several past genocides but remained entirely
silent on the Armenian Genocide, the crime that, as a candidate for the
White House, he so prominently and repeatedly promised to recognize,"
stated Hamparian.
"President Obama has the chance, on April 24th, to give real meaning to
his words about genocide prevention by rejecting Ankara's gag-rule and
honoring his pledge to properly condemn and commemorate the Armenian
Genocide," concluded Hamparian.
As Senator and presidential candidate, President Obama consistently
and repeatedly urged former President Bush to properly characterize
the Armenian Genocide, and pledged, as President, to recognize that
crime. In a January, 2008, statement, then Senator Obama clearly
stated, "as President, I will recognize the Armenian Genocide."
To read then Senator Obama's complete statement, visit the following
link:
http://anca.org/change/docs/obama_pledge_011908.pdf
To review then Senator Obama's complete record on Armenian Genocide
affirmation related issues, visit the following link:
http://anca.org/change/docs/Obama_Armenian_Genocide.pdf
President Obama's April 23rd 'Never Again' speech at the U.S.
Holocaust Museum took place one day before Armenians and people of good
conscience worldwide commemorate the murder of 1.5 million Armenians by
the Ottoman Turkish Government during the years 1915-1923. Forty-two
U.S. states and over 20 countries have properly recognized the
Armenian Genocide. Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan acknowledged the
crime as genocide in 1981. The U.S. House adopted Armenian Genocide
legislation in 1975 and 1984 and included reference to the crime in
House adopted amendments in 1996 and 2005. More recently, the House
Foreign Affairs Committee has passed Armenian Genocide legislation
in 2007 and 2010. The Republic of Turkey continues its international
campaign of Armenian Genocide denial, issuing economic and political
threats against countries who properly characterize the crime. Those
threats have largely been hollow, with economic trade data showing
a marked increase in trade with Turkey after the Genocide has been
recognized.