AMERICAN ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS WECOME HILLARY CLINTON’S APPOINTMENT AS SECRETARY OF STATE
armradio.am
02.12.2008 10:46
US President-elect Barack Obama has nominated his former rival,
Hillary Clinton, as his Secretary of State.
American Armenian organizations welcomed the selection of Hilary
Clinton as Secretary of State.
"During her tenure in the U.S. Senate, Senator Clinton has consistently
supported affirmation of the Armenian Genocide," stated Assembly
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "Never before have we had such
an alignment whereby the incoming President, Vice-President and
Secretary of State have a clear and demonstrated record of support for
affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, as well as genocide prevention,"
continued Ardouny.
"We extend our thanks to President-elect Obama for this choice
and our congratulations to Senator Clinton on her appointment to
our nation’s top diplomatic post," said Aram Hamparian, Executive
Director of the ANCA. "We are certainly pleased to see that, for
the first time in recent memory, an individual with a strong record
in support of Armenian Genocide recognition will serve as America’s
Secretary of State."
First elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, Senator Clinton consistently
supported efforts to reaffirm the historical truth of the Armenian
Genocide.
In addition to co-sponsoring resolutions affirming the Armenian
Genocide, Senator Clinton also repeatedly urged President George
W. Bush to reaffirm the Armenian Genocide in his annual April 24th
statements.. In 2006, for example, Clinton signed a letter to President
Bush stating: "The memory of the Armenian Genocide underscores our
responsibility to speak forcefully about our respect for fundamental
human rights and opposition to mass slaughters. It is in the best
interests of our nation and the entire global community to remember
the past and learn from these crimes against humanity to ensure that
they are never repeated. We respectfully request that you refer to
the mass slaughter of Armenians as genocide in your commemorative
statement." Senator Clinton also supports expanding and improving
U..S.-Armenia relations and "a fair and democratic resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabagh conflict."
Throughout the 2008 presidential election, President-elect Obama
repeatedly pledged to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide
and with the nomination of Hillary Clinton, President-elect Obama
has an ally in Genocide affirmation and prevention. In making the
announcement today, President-elect Obama said, "The time has come
for a new beginning, a new dawn of American leadership to overcome
the challenges of the 21st century."
During the campaign trail, Senator Clinton stated: "I believe the
horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians
constitute a clear case of genocide. Our common morality and our
nation’s credibility as a voice for human rights challenge us to e
nsure that the Armenian Genocide be recognized and remembered by the
Congress and the President of the United States."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
