Armenian Assembly of America
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
SENATOR ALLEN CHALLENGES SENATE HEARING WITNESS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly today commended longtime
Armenian issues supporter Senator George Allen (R-VA) for challenging
the assertions made by a panelist who testified before a Senate
Foreign Relations Subcommittee that passage of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution would harm U.S.-Turkish relations.
During a hearing on “The Future of Democracy in the Black Sea Area,”
on March 8, Zeyno Baran, Director of International Security and
Energy Programs for the Nixon Center, voiced her opposition to the
genocide resolution, saying that congressional passage of the bill
would further impair relations between Washington and Ankara.
“Given the prevalent Turkish view that the U.S. is running a campaign
against Turkey, it would be very damaging if the Armenian Genocide
resolution passed Congress this year,” Baran said. “This year
is the 90th anniversary of the tragic 1915 massacre and certainly
Armenian diaspora groups would like to get recognition. However,
such a resolution would play right into the hands of the growing set
of anti-Americans and ultra-nationalists in Turkey.”
Allen, who chaired the hearing before the Subcommittee on European
Affairs, countered that although the U.S. wants good relations with
Turkey, Washington is not “willing to sweep history under the rug.”
In a conversation with Assembly leaders today, Allen said he is deeply
troubled by this type of rhetoric which undercuts the U.S.-Turkey,
as well as the U.S.-Armenia relationships.
“The basis of a truly enduring and reliable U.S.-Turkey relationship
is the truth,” Allen said. “It is past time for America to affirm
the historical record and recognize the Armenian Genocide.”
In a similar vein, Bruce Jackson, President of the Project on
Transitional Democracies, testified at the same hearing and declared
in a statement for the record: “Just because Turkish officials become
indignant at the mention of a genocide campaign conducted by Ottoman
authorities against Armenian civilians in the early years of the last
century does not mean that coming to terms with history should not
be discussed between democratic allies. If we are to succeed where
democracy is at risk, we must be clear in what we say and do.”
Allen, who has co-sponsored previous Armenian Genocide Resolutions
during his tenure in the Senate, has joined calls to urge President
Bush to properly characterize the events of 1915 in his annual
statement of remembrance next month. Recently, U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans repeatedly evoked the Armenian Genocide during
his first stateside visit to Armenian communities across the country.
During a series of public exchanges with Armenians late last month,
Evans said “The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the
twentieth century.”
Following Evans’ public declarations, the Assembly mobilized its
nationwide network of activists to respond, by urging President Bush to
also properly characterize the attempted annihilation of the Armenians
as Genocide.
The Assembly campaign for reaffirmation was bolstered last week by
former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Harry Gilmore, who acknowledged the
Armenian Genocide and called for international recognition during an
interview with Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty.
The retired diplomat told the U.S.-funded news organizations that,
“There is no doubt that the Armenian events were genocide.”
For information on how to get involved in the Assembly campaign for
U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide, log onto the Assembly
Web site at or email the Assembly’s grassroots branch,
ARAMAC, at [email protected].
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
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