Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE
January 23, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
JOE BIDEN COSPONSORS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
— Influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman
Adds New Energy to Adoption of Anti-Genocide Legislation
WASHINGTON, DC – The highly regarded and influential chairman of
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Joseph Biden (D-
DE), a longtime supporter of U.S. recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, officially announced his support yesterday for the
Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.106), reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
"Armenian Americans – and all those committed to forever ending the
cycle of genocide – welcome Chairman Biden’s principled support for
Congressional reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide, and thank him
for his years of leadership in helping to put America back on the
right side of this compelling moral and foreign policy issue," said
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
Chairman Biden has long been a supporter of proper U.S.
reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide, cosponsoring legislation in
successive sessions of Congress. Last year, he introduced
legislation "condemning the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist
and human rights advocate Hrant Dink and urging the people of
Turkey to honor his legacy of tolerance." The resolution,
S.Res.65, noted that Dink was "subjected to legal action under
Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for referring to the 1915
massacre of Armenians as genocide." Chairman Biden also led Senate
Foreign Relations Committee efforts to uncover the circumstances
surrounding the firing of former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John
Evans, for properly characterizing the Armenian Genocide as a clear
case of genocide.
The Armenian Genocide Resolution calls upon the President to ensure
that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate
understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human
rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United
States record relating to the Armenian Genocide. Senator Biden’s
decision yesterday brings the official Senate cosponsor list to 34.
Introduced by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen.
John Ensign (R-NV), the legislation has the support of key Senate
leaders including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and
presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY). Earlier this week,
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), called for Congressional adoption of
the legislation. "America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully
about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all
genocides. I intend to be that President," noted Sen. Obama.
Similar legislation in the U.S. House (H.Res.106), spearheaded by
Rep. Adam Schiff along with Representative George Radanovich (R-
CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Rep. Brad
Sherman (D-CA), has over 200 cosponsors and was adopted by the
House Foreign Affairs Committee in October 2007, despite Turkish
threats, the strong opposition of the Bush Administration and
personal lobbying by the President.
Over the past year, Armenian Americans and human rights advocates
have joined with Members of Congress in educating their colleagues
about the Armenian Genocide and the importance of proper
recognition of this crime against humanity. The ANCA has mounted
several national grassroots initiatives including the highly
successful "Click for Justice" and "Call for Justice" campaigns as
well as the "End the Cycle of Genocide" Advocacy Days, cosponsored
with the Genocide Intervention Network.
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PHOTO CAPTION: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe
Biden (D-DE) with ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian
and Legislative Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian.