Noyan Tapan News Agency
Sept 21 2005
ARPI VARDANIAN: OUR DUTY AS AMERICAN CITIZENS IS TO MAKE OUR
GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The American
people’s perception and understanding of problems related to
genocides, including the Armenian Genocide, is continuously
increasing thanks to the activities carried out by the Armenian
organizations in the US. Arpi Vardanian, Regional Director for
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh of the Armenian Assembly of America
(AAA), told this to NT correspondent, while commenting on the
adoption on September 15 of a resolution on the Armenian Genocide by
the Commission of Internatinal Relations of the US House of
Representatives.
She underlined that progress has been registered in the adoption of
the resolution on the Armenian Genocide by the US Congress. The above
mentioned commission approved the resolution by 40 votes to 7 – such
a result has not been registered since 2000 when 24 commission
members voted in favor and 11 ones – against.
Arpi Vardanian found it difficult to say when the House of
Representatives will hold a discussion on the resolution, since the
process involves several stages. According to her, it is envisaged to
finish the discussions of all drafts by late 2005, and it is not
ruled out that the process will be completed in October, but taking
into consideration the experience of the previous years, it is quite
possible the terms will be extended.
Arpi Vardanian was appreciative of the American Greek community’s
position on the issue. She reminded that a few years ago, the AAA
initiated the creation of the Central and East European Coalition tha
involves 15 organizations representing national minorities and unites
20 mln Americans. “Today there exists an understanding on the
Armenian Genocide issue, the minorities should help each other.”
Arpi Vardanian pointed out that in the event the resolution is not
adopted, the AAA will continue its work until the Armenian Genocide
is recognized and approved by the US government. “It is our duty to
our ancestors, and as American citizens to make out government
recognize the truth, one should never be afraid of truth,” Arpi
Vardanian stressed.