ANKARA: Armenians to Support Kerry for So-Called Genocide Draft

Zaman, Turkey
Aug 2 2004

Armenians to Support Kerry for So-Called Genocide Draft

The American National Committee for Armenians (ANCA), an Armenian
lobby firm in the US, announced their endorsement of Democratic Party
candidate, John F. Kerry, for the November 2 Presidential elections.
They removed their support from current US President George W. Bush,
who did not keep his promise to Armenians regarding a so-called
Armenian Genocide draft.

ANCA President, Ken Hachikyan, implored all Armenians in the US to
vote for Kerry. He said, “Senator Kerry is a friend of the Armenian
community who has strongly made efforts for Armenian issues during
his 20 years of experience.” Hachikyan regarded Bush as “a great
disappointment for Armenians” and said, “Not only did Bush not keep
his promise for recognizing genocide that he made before the 2000
election, but he also attacked on related legal efforts.”

The Armenian lobby claims that Bush was elected president in 2000
because Armenians in Florida, where the fate of the election was
determined, voted for Bush. According to a statement released by
ANCA, Kerry said, “My running mate and I thank ANCA for its support.”

Kerry has given support to pro-Armenian efforts during his long years
of service in the Senate. The Democratic Party Candidate voted for a
so-called genocide draft that was defeated in the Senate in 1990. He
is also a supporter of another draft envisaging indirect approval of
the so-called genocide draft, currently pending in the Senate.