ANCA Welcomes Senate Adoption of Ukraine Genocide Bill

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA WELCOMES SENATE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION
MARKING THE UKRAINIAN FAMINE-GENOCIDE OF 1932-1933

— Legislation Authorizes Establishment
of Genocide Memorial in Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
today welcomed the U.S. Senate’s adoption of legislation
recognizing the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-33 and
authorizing the Government of Ukraine to establish a memorial on
Federal land in the District of Columbia to honor the victims of
this crime against humanity.

"We join with our friends in the Ukrainian American community in
welcoming the Senate’s adoption of legislation appropriately
commemorating the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide through the creation of
a memorial in our nation’s capital," said Aram Hamparian, Executive
Director of the ANCA.

The legislation, adopted by the Senate on September 30th,
authorizes the government of Ukraine to establish a memorial
honoring the men, women, and children who perished by famine under
communist rule in Ukraine from 1932 to 1933. As a memorial gift
from a foreign nation, the government of Ukraine would be
responsible for constructing, maintaining, and preserving the
memorial. No federal funds will be used for those purposes.

The U.S. House adopted a similar measure on November 16th of last
year. Speaking in support of the House version, its author, Rep.
Sander Levin (D-MI), had explained that, "during the Famine
Genocide of 1932-33, between 7 and 10 million Ukrainians were
deliberately and systematically starved to death. He stressed to
his colleagues that, "the memorial authorized by this bill will not
only honor their memory, but serve as a tangible reminder to all of
us that we must work together to prevent such tragedies in the
future." He added that, "preventing the recurrence of crimes
against humanity, such as the Ukrainian Famine Genocide, begins
with remembering the tragedies of the past. That is why I believe
it is so important for there to be this monument, remembering the
millions of innocent victims."

The full text of the legislation is provided below.

#####

An Act

To authorize the Government of Ukraine to establish a memorial on
Federal land in the District of Columbia to honor the victims of
the manmade famine that occurred in Ukraine in 1932-1933.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH MEMORIAL.

(a) In General.­The Government of Ukraine is authorized to
establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia to
honor the victims of the Ukrainian famine-genocide of 1932-1933.

(b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works. ­ The
establishment of the memorial shall be in accordance with chapter
89 of title 40, United States Code (commonly known as the
"Commemorative Works Act"), except that sections 8902(a)(1),
8906(b)(1), 8908(b)(2), and 8909(b) shall not apply with respect to
the memorial.

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