Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
February 15, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
SUPPORT GROWING FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
— Over 175 Representatives from Thirty-Four U.S. States
Already Cosponsoring Human Rights Legislation
WASHINGTON, DC – Bipartisan support for the adoption of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.106, continues to grow, with
new cosponsors joining this measure over the past week from
Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon, and Texas, reported
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Over the past week, more than a dozen new U.S. Representatives have
cosponsored the resolution, among them: Diana DeGette (D-CO),
Keith Ellison (D-MN), Gene Green (D-TX), Jane Harman (D-CA), Henry
"Hank" Johnson (D-GA), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Kenny Marchant (R-TX),
Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Michael Michaud (D-
ME), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), James Walsh (R-NY), and David Wu (D-
OR). All told, the more than 175 cosponsors for the anti-genocide
measure have come from thirty-four states and the District of
Columbia.
Speaking at a Capitol Hill press conference last month, Congressmen
Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA) and Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI) joined together in announcing the introduction of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution. Joining with the four legislators as
original cosponsors of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106)
were Congressmen Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI),
both strong supporters of Armenian Genocide recognition as well as
senior members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the
influential panel which will first consider this legislation prior
to a vote on the House floor.
The resolution is identical to legislation introduced in the
previous session of Congress, which was overwhelmingly approved in
the International Relations Committee (now called the Foreign
Affairs Committee), only to be blocked from final passage by the
House leadership.
In a related matter, Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) this week
reintroduced legislation honoring the memory of outspoken slain
journalist Hrant Dink, calling on Turkey to repeal Article 301 of
its penal code, an anti-free speech law under which Dink was
prosecuted and convicted for "insulting Turkishness". This new
resolution is similar to H.Res.102, which the New York legislator
introduced on January 29th, except that the revised text,
H.Res.155, removes mention of the Armenian Genocide.
"We appreciate Congressman’s Crowley’s intentions in honoring Hrant
Dink’s memory, but are troubled by the removal of any mention of
the Armenian Genocide in his revised and newly reintroduced
legislation," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.
"As Americans, we neither accurately nor appropriately pay tribute
to Hrant Dink’s proud legacy if we do not openly and honestly honor
his struggle – witnessed by all the world – to end Turkey’s denial
of the Armenian Genocide, a struggle for which he paid the ultimate
price."
"The circumstances surrounding this resolution’s reintroduction –
namely the continued heavy-handed pressure by the Turkish
government against any mention of the Armenian Genocide – clearly
speak to the pressing need for the passage of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution," added Hamparian.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden (D-DE)
introduced similar legislation in the Senate on February 1st. His
measure refers to the criminal prosecution Dink faced because of
his speech on the Armenian Genocide. Hrant Dink, editor of the
bilingual Armenian/Turkish "Agos" newspaper, was gunned down
outside his office in Istanbul on January 19th – sparking worldwide
protests and renewed scrutiny of Turkey’s repression of free speech
and international campaign of Armenian Genocide denial.
In another related development, Rep. Frank Pallone, in a February
13th statement on the House floor, condemned Turkish government
threats to cut off U.S. supply routes to American troops serving in
Iraq if the Armenian Genocide legislation is even considered by
Congress. Rep. Pallone stressed that, "such a brazen threat to
interfere in U.S. military operations is absolutely unacceptable.
I am outraged that the Turkish government would put the lives of
soldiers at risk in the pursuit of its desperate campaign to deny
the systematic slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians. This extremist
behavior is known as blackmail and it should be publicly and
forcefully rejected as such. Clearly, Turkey is no friend of the
U.S."