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US SENATORS PRESS HILLARY CLINTON TO DISAVOW CALLING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE A 'HISTORICAL DEBATE'
epress.am
02.28.2012
The lead authors of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.304, Adam
Schiff (D-CA) and Robert Dold (R-IL), today sent a letter, co-signed
by 59 of their House colleagues, calling on US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton to renounce her recent public mischaracterization of
the Armenian Genocide as a "historical debate," reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
In their letter to Secretary Clinton, the signatories noted that
her, "historically inaccurate description of the Armenian Genocide
as an open question, in addition to the offense it represents to
Armenian Americans and other victims of genocide, provides American
encouragement to the Republic of Turkey in its shameful campaign of
denial." They also reminded the Secretary that in 2006 she joined with
US President Barack Obama - then a US Senator - in writing a letter
explaining to then US President George W. Bush that the Armenian
Genocide was a "systematic and deliberate campaign of genocide
perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. . . The victims of the
Genocide deserve our remembrance and their rightful place in history.
. . .It is in the best interests of our nation and the entire global
community to remember the past and learn from these crimes against
humanity to ensure that they are never repeated." The Congressional
letter also quoted then Senator Clinton's public statement in 2008
when, as a Senator and candidate for the presidency, she affirmed
that: "[T]he horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against
Armenians constitute a clear case of genocide," and that "[o]ur common
morality and our nation's credibility as a voice for human rights
challenge us to ensure that the Armenian Genocide be recognized and
remembered by the Congress and the President of the United States."
"We want to thank Congressmen Schiff and Dold and each and every
one of the signatories of this Congressional letter for calling on
Secretary Clinton to step back from her historically inaccurate and
deeply offensive assertion that the Armenian Genocide is a matter for
historical debate," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We
remain hopeful that the Secretary, after having allowed this false
statement to remain on the record for more than a month, will -
in response to this Congressional letter and the Armenian-American
community's growing outrage - finally recognize and, to the extent
possible, seek to reverse the impact of this sad episode in undermining
the advancement of US interests, compromising the promotion of American
values, and hindering the diplomatic work of the Department of State."
Secretary Clinton is scheduled to testify and answer questions before
four separate US House and Senate panels this coming week. ANCA has
called on legislators serving on these committees to question her about
her offensive "historical debate" comments, on and the full range of
other issues of special importance to Armenian-American voters.
epress.am
02.28.2012
The lead authors of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.304, Adam
Schiff (D-CA) and Robert Dold (R-IL), today sent a letter, co-signed
by 59 of their House colleagues, calling on US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton to renounce her recent public mischaracterization of
the Armenian Genocide as a "historical debate," reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
In their letter to Secretary Clinton, the signatories noted that
her, "historically inaccurate description of the Armenian Genocide
as an open question, in addition to the offense it represents to
Armenian Americans and other victims of genocide, provides American
encouragement to the Republic of Turkey in its shameful campaign of
denial." They also reminded the Secretary that in 2006 she joined with
US President Barack Obama - then a US Senator - in writing a letter
explaining to then US President George W. Bush that the Armenian
Genocide was a "systematic and deliberate campaign of genocide
perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. . . The victims of the
Genocide deserve our remembrance and their rightful place in history.
. . .It is in the best interests of our nation and the entire global
community to remember the past and learn from these crimes against
humanity to ensure that they are never repeated." The Congressional
letter also quoted then Senator Clinton's public statement in 2008
when, as a Senator and candidate for the presidency, she affirmed
that: "[T]he horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against
Armenians constitute a clear case of genocide," and that "[o]ur common
morality and our nation's credibility as a voice for human rights
challenge us to ensure that the Armenian Genocide be recognized and
remembered by the Congress and the President of the United States."
"We want to thank Congressmen Schiff and Dold and each and every
one of the signatories of this Congressional letter for calling on
Secretary Clinton to step back from her historically inaccurate and
deeply offensive assertion that the Armenian Genocide is a matter for
historical debate," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We
remain hopeful that the Secretary, after having allowed this false
statement to remain on the record for more than a month, will -
in response to this Congressional letter and the Armenian-American
community's growing outrage - finally recognize and, to the extent
possible, seek to reverse the impact of this sad episode in undermining
the advancement of US interests, compromising the promotion of American
values, and hindering the diplomatic work of the Department of State."
Secretary Clinton is scheduled to testify and answer questions before
four separate US House and Senate panels this coming week. ANCA has
called on legislators serving on these committees to question her about
her offensive "historical debate" comments, on and the full range of
other issues of special importance to Armenian-American voters.