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OVER ONE HUNDRED HOUSE MEMBERS URGE PRESIDENT BUSH TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
WASHINGTON, APRIL 2, NOYAN TAPAN. A congressional letter calling on President George W. Bush to properly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide in his statement of remembrance later this month, has the backing of over 100 Members of the House of Representatives to date, the Armenian Assembly of America reported. The letter, initiated by Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), will be sent to the President next month. "As we approach the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we recall with appreciation the leading role of the U.S. in attempting to prevent the genocide and helping those that survived," said Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian. "It is now time for the U.S. to formally and irrevocably reaffirm the facts of history and recognize this crime against humanity. We thank Congressmen Knollenberg and Pallone for again leading this effort and rallying strong bipartisan support to set the U.S. record straight." Barsamian also commended hundreds of Armenian-American activists nationwide, who this month responded to the Assembly's call to action urging President Bush to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. Assembly State Chairs also took a leadership role in the campaign for reaffirmation, helping to mobilize grassroots activists and encouraging congressional support for reaffirmation of the U.S. record. The letter to the President says in part, "By properly recognizing the terrible atrocities committed against the Armenian people as genocide in your statement, you will honor the many Americans who helped launch the unprecedented U.S. diplomatic, political and humanitarian campaign to end the carnage and protect the survivors." "As U.S. efforts to aid victims of genocide continue, it is imperative that we pay tribute to the memory of others who have suffered and to never forget the past," the letter states. "By commemorating the Armenian Genocide, we renew our commitment to prevent future atrocities and therefore negate the dictum that history is condemned to repeat itself." In his commemorative statement last year, President Bush avoided the term "Armenian Genocide," and instead offered the textbook definition of this crime against humanity. "On this day, we pause in remembrance of one of the most horrible tragedies of the 20th century, the annihilation of as many as 1.5 million Armenians through forced exile and murder at the end of the Ottoman Empire," the President said in part.