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US CONGRESSMAN SCHIFF GIVES CLINTON OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT MISREPRESENTATION OF GENOCIDE, CLINTON DODGES QUESTION
news.am
March 01, 2012 | 12:02
WASHINGTON, DC. - In a forceful series of questions offered during
the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations hearing
with Secretary Clinton, Rep. Schiff referenced the U.S. record
of affirming the Armenian Genocide, citing a document submitted
to the International Court of Justice in 1951 clearly referencing
the Armenian Genocide, President Ronald Reagans affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide in 1981 and Secretary Clintons own statements as
Senator properly characterizing those, crimes reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA)..
The California Congressman then juxtaposed this record with recent
statements made by the Secretary in January, in which she referred
to the Armenian Genocide as a "historical debate," and asked "is
there any question that you have that the facts of that tragic period
between 1915 and 1923 constitute genocide? Do you have any different
view on the subject now than you did as a state - as a U.S. senator?"
Once again, Secretary Clinton was evasive, resorting to euphemisms
such as "terrible events," and "one of the worst atrocities of the
20th century," but stopping short of her clear statements as Senator
in 2008, when she affirmed that "the horrible events perpetrated
by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians constitute a clear case of
genocide." She noted President Obamas annual April 24th statement,
in which he has argued that "a full, frank and just acknowledgement
of the facts of what happened is in everyones interest," then put
the onus on the Turkish and Armenian people, and their respective
governments, to resolve the issue.
"The Armenian Genocide is a major crime against all humanity,
requiring international justice, not a simple bilateral conflict
between nations needing mediation," stated ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian. "According to her morally and factually flawed logic,
America and the international community should have remained silent in
the face of the Holocaust and other genocides in Rwanda and elsewhere,
leaving it to the perpetrators and victims of these crimes to come
to a common understanding of their past. Its truly a sad spectacle
to see our nations top diplomat pressured by Turkey to dance around
the truth and play word games with genocide."
Both Representatives Jesse Jackson (D-IL) and Steve Rothman (D-NJ)
associated themselves with Rep. Schiffs statement and inquiry during
the hearing. Rep. Jackson went on to express concern about President
Obamas proposed 19% cut in assistance to Armenia.
Earlier this week, over 60 Members of the House of Representatives
sent a letter to Secretary Clinton, asking her to renounce her recent
public mischaracterization of the Armenian Genocide. In that letter,
Members stated that the "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."
news.am
March 01, 2012 | 12:02
WASHINGTON, DC. - In a forceful series of questions offered during
the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations hearing
with Secretary Clinton, Rep. Schiff referenced the U.S. record
of affirming the Armenian Genocide, citing a document submitted
to the International Court of Justice in 1951 clearly referencing
the Armenian Genocide, President Ronald Reagans affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide in 1981 and Secretary Clintons own statements as
Senator properly characterizing those, crimes reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA)..
The California Congressman then juxtaposed this record with recent
statements made by the Secretary in January, in which she referred
to the Armenian Genocide as a "historical debate," and asked "is
there any question that you have that the facts of that tragic period
between 1915 and 1923 constitute genocide? Do you have any different
view on the subject now than you did as a state - as a U.S. senator?"
Once again, Secretary Clinton was evasive, resorting to euphemisms
such as "terrible events," and "one of the worst atrocities of the
20th century," but stopping short of her clear statements as Senator
in 2008, when she affirmed that "the horrible events perpetrated
by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians constitute a clear case of
genocide." She noted President Obamas annual April 24th statement,
in which he has argued that "a full, frank and just acknowledgement
of the facts of what happened is in everyones interest," then put
the onus on the Turkish and Armenian people, and their respective
governments, to resolve the issue.
"The Armenian Genocide is a major crime against all humanity,
requiring international justice, not a simple bilateral conflict
between nations needing mediation," stated ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian. "According to her morally and factually flawed logic,
America and the international community should have remained silent in
the face of the Holocaust and other genocides in Rwanda and elsewhere,
leaving it to the perpetrators and victims of these crimes to come
to a common understanding of their past. Its truly a sad spectacle
to see our nations top diplomat pressured by Turkey to dance around
the truth and play word games with genocide."
Both Representatives Jesse Jackson (D-IL) and Steve Rothman (D-NJ)
associated themselves with Rep. Schiffs statement and inquiry during
the hearing. Rep. Jackson went on to express concern about President
Obamas proposed 19% cut in assistance to Armenia.
Earlier this week, over 60 Members of the House of Representatives
sent a letter to Secretary Clinton, asking her to renounce her recent
public mischaracterization of the Armenian Genocide. In that letter,
Members stated that the "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."