US Congressmen To Introduce New Armenian Genocide Bill

US CONGRESSMEN TO INTRODUCE NEW ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL

14:28, 25 Feb 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Four members of Congress in the U.S. last week invited their colleagues
to become an original co-sponsor of the Armenian Genocide Recognition
Resolution, which accuses the Ottoman Empire of committing genocide
in 1915 and asking President Barack Obama to pressure the Turkish
government to resolve the issue.

A letter addressed to U.S. congressmen, penned by Robert J. Dold
(Republican from Illinois), David Valado (Republican from California),
Adam B. Schiff (Democrate from California) and Frank Pallone (Democrat
from New Jersey), claims that the Ottoman Empire killed 1.5 million
Armenians between April 24, 1915 and 1923, Daily Sabah reported.

“Forty-two U.S. states have recognized the Armenian Genocide, as have
11 of our NATO allies. On this special year, it is time for the United
States government to officially join with those voices standing against
this genocide denial. We can help bring closure to this longstanding
moral issue that continues to impact U.S. interests,” the letter read.

Representatives declared that they would be introducing the resolution
on February 24 and the same language as in House Resolution 227 from
the 113th Congress would be used.

Adam Schiff’s spokesman Patrick Boland confirmed to Hurriyet that the
bill would be presented in the coming weeks. Boland did not mention
the reason for the delay.

House Resolution 227, which last year became obsolete, urged President
Obama to work toward durable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon
Turkey’s full acknowledgment of the facts and ongoing consequences
of the Armenian Genocide.

The draft resolution also cites President Obama’s statements before
entering office, saying he held the conviction that the Armenian
genocide is not an allegation but rather a widely documented fact
supported by historical evidence.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress