Obama Recognizes Armenian Genocide

[Joseph]

And here is Obama's official statement--- Excellent!!!

Barack Obama on the Importance of US-Armenia Relations

By admin - Posted on January 22nd, 2008

Tagged: 2008 Presidential election • Armenia • Barack Obama • Foreign Policy • Politics

January 19, 2008 -- Barack Obama: I am proud of my strong record on issues of concern to the one and a half million Americans of Armenian heritage in the United States. I warmly welcome the support of this vibrant and politically active community as we change how our government works here at home, and restore American leadership abroad.

I am a strong supporter of a U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common security and strengthens Armenian democracy. As President, I will maintain our assistance to Armenia, which has been a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism and extremism. I will promote Armenian security by seeking an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, and by working for a lasting and durable settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict that is agreeable to all parties, and based upon America's founding commitment to the principles of democracy and self determination. And my Administration will help foster Armenia's growth and development through expanded trade and targeted aid, and by strengthening the commercial, political, military, developmental, and cultural relationships between the U.S. and Armenian governments.

I also share with Armenian Americans – so many of whom are descended from genocide survivors - a principled commitment to commemorating and ending genocide. That starts with acknowledging the tragic instances of genocide in world history. As a U.S. Senator, I have stood with the Armenian American community in calling for Turkey's acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide. Two years ago, I criticized the Secretary of State for the firing of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, after he properly used the term "genocide" to describe Turkey's slaughter of thousands of Armenians starting in 1915. I shared with Secretary Rice my firmly held conviction that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence. The facts are undeniable. An official policy that calls on diplomats to distort the historical facts is an untenable policy. As a senator, I strongly support passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106), and as President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Genocide, sadly, persists to this day, and threatens our common security and common humanity. Tragically, we are witnessing in Sudan many of the same brutal tactics - displacement, starvation, and mass slaughter - that were used by the Ottoman authorities against defenseless Armenians back in 1915. I have visited Darfurian refugee camps, pushed for the deployment of a robust multinational force for Darfur, and urged divestment from companies doing business in Sudan. America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President.

I look forward, as President, to continuing my active engagement with Armenian American leaders on the full range of issues of concern to the Armenian American community. Together, we will build, in new and exciting ways, upon the enduring ties and shared values that have bound together the American and Armenian peoples for more than a century.

Source: Obama for America

[Joseph]

Commentary
Presidential Candidates should be Asked
For More Than Just Genocide Affirmation
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
In every U.S. presidential election for the past several decades,
Armenian-Americans, including this writer, have gone to great lengths to make sure that
they supported the candidate that acknowledged the Armenian Genocide during
the campaign and, even more importantly, promised to do so after the election.
This was a worthwhile effort as it encouraged political participation by
the Armenian American community in the presidential elections and transformed
the Armenian Genocide into a national campaign issue. There were, on occasion,
heated debates among Armenians as to which candidate had the strongest record
on the Armenian Genocide and which one was most likely to carry out his
campaign promise.
But, alas, almost all of the presidential candidates, be they Democrats or
Republicans, after benefiting from the Armenian community's lavish campaign
contributions and their votes, either forgot about this subject altogether or
issued annual commemorative statements on April 24, substituting various
euphemisms for the word genocide. For example, Presidents Clinton and Bush,when they
were candidates, promised in writing that, if elected, they would officially
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Not only did they fail to keep their word
upon election, but went ahead and vehemently opposed and obstructed the
adoption of non-binding commemorative congressional resolutions that intended to
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
As another presidential campaign is underway now and a few states have
already held their primary elections, once again members of the Armenian-American
community have started asking the same old question: Which candidate has
acknowledged the Armenian Genocide and which one is most likely to utter the words
Armenian Genocide after he or she becomes President?
I suggest that this year Armenian Americans adopt a new approach. U.S.
Presidential candidates should no longer be asked to promise that, if elected,
they would say "Armenian Genocide." To begin with, such a request gives thefalse
impression that the genocide is not recognized already and that a candidate's
or a future president's uttering of this word will make a significant
difference in the pursuit of the Armenian Cause. Do American-Jewish groups demand
that presidential candidates promise to say "Jewish Holocaust" after the
election? Of course not. Such a request would automatically raise a question as to why
the next president needs to confirm that the Holocaust occurred. The same
argument would apply to the Armenian Genocide.
After decades of struggle for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by
parliaments of scores of countries, twice by the U.S. House of Representative
in 1975 and 1984, by the European Parliament, a United Nations human rights
committee, and hundreds of Genocide and Holocaust scholars, why would Armenian
Americans put such an overwhelming record of acknowledgment in doubt by asking a
US president to acknowledge it?
Furthermore, a very prominent U.S. President, Ronald Reagan, did
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide back in 1981 in a Presidential Proclamation. What
would Armenians gain if another president simply repeated what has already been
said by his or her predecessor more than 25 years ago?
Armenians should treat the Armenian Genocide as an acknowledged fact
similar to the Holocaust. And just as no candidate could even think of running for
the highest office of the land if he or she denies the Holocaust, the same
should be true for the Armenian Genocide.
Due to years of admirable efforts by the Armenian-American community,
almost all of the presidential candidates have a clear record of acknowledging the
Armenian Genocide (particularly Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards
and Rudy Giuliani; less so John McCain, Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney).
Of course, Armenians would not be opposed to having presidential candidates
reaffirm the Armenian Genocide. Candidates realize that such supportive
statements would benefit their own campaigns as Armenian Americans would back them
for simply telling the truth.
What requests should Armenians present to U.S. presidential candidates? In
recent weeks, two Armenian American organizations sent questionnaires to all
the presidential candidates and asked for their positions on the following
issues:
-- Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
-- Giving more Foreign Aid to Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno Karabagh)
-- Placing restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan
-- Lifting of the Turkish blockade of Armenia
-- Self-determination for Artsakh
-- Presidential Visit to Armenia
-- Appointment of qualified Armenian-Americans to governmental positions.
I would add one more issue: Denouncing violations of Armenian minority
rights in Turkey.
Once the candidates confirm their positions on these issues,
Armenian-American voters can then make an informed decision on whom to support in the next
presidential election.

[Yegoyan]

Like George Bush and all the presidents they all lie. They say it to gain our support and go lie and not recognize it.

Someone should say, 'how can you prove that you are not like the rest? trying to gain our support than not doing what you promised to do to a people who are looking for justice".

[Alexandros]

Armenian National Committee of America

1711 N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918 * Fax. (202) 775-5648 * [email protected]


PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release ~ 2008-01-20
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian ~ Tel: (202) 775-1918


BARACK OBAMA CALLS FOR PASSAGE OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION


“America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President.”


WASHINGTON, DC – Presidential candidate Barack Obama shared with the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) a strongly worded statement today calling for Congressional passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 & S.Res.106), and pledging that, as president, he will recognize the Armenian Genocide.

In his statement, the Presidential hopeful reaffirmed his support for a strong “U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common security and strengthens Armenian democracy.” He also pledged to “promote Armenian security by seeking an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, and by working for a lasting and durable settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict that is agreeable to all parties, and based upon America’s founding commitment to the principles of democracy and self determination.”

“Armenian American voters welcome Senator Obama’s powerful call for real change in how our government addresses the core moral and foreign policy issues that hold such great meaning for our community,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “After decades of White House complicity in Turkey’s efforts to block American recognition of the Armenian Genocide, most recently in the form of President Bush’s personal efforts this past October to delay the Armenian Genocide Resolution, the time has clearly come for a President who will personally lead – not obstruct – the commemoration of this crime against all humanity.”

As a Senator, Barack Obama has spoken in support of U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide and cosigned a letter urging President Bush to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. He has forcefully called for the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, but has yet to formally cosponsor this legislation. While visiting Azerbaijan in August 2005, Senator Obama was asked by reporters why he cosigned the letter to President Bush. Obama defended his decision by stating the genocide was a historical fact. The Illinois Senator publicly criticized the firing of former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, who was dismissed for speaking truthfully about the Armenian Genocide.

In recent weeks, the ANCA has invited each of the candidates to share their views on Armenian Americans issues, and to comment on both the growing relationship between the U.S. and Armenian governments and the enduring bonds between the American and Armenian peoples. Questionnaires sent to the candidates have invited them to respond to a set of 19 questions, including those addressing: affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, U.S.-Armenia economic, political, and military relations, self-determination for Nagorno Karabagh, the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, and the genocide in Darfur.

Armenian Americans, in key primary states and throughout the country, represent a motivated and highly networked constituency of more than one and a half million citizens. The ANCA mobilizes Armenian American voters through a network of over 50 chapters and a diverse array of affiliates, civic advocates, and supporters nationwide. ANCA mailings reach over a quarter of a million homes, and, through the internet, updates and action alerts reach well over 100,000 households. The ANCA website, which features election coverage from an Armenian American point of view, attracts over 100,000 unique visits a month. The ANCA also has broad reach to Armenian American voters via a sophisticated media operation of newspapers, regional cable shows, satellite TV, blogs, and internet news sites.

To learn more about the Obama campaign, contact:

Obama for America
P.O. Box 8102
Chicago, IL 60680
Tel: (866) 675-2008
Website: http://www.barackobama.com/

Sen. Obama’s statement on U.S.-Armenia relations is available on the official campaign website.

As always, the ANCA welcomes feedback on its service to the Armenian American community. Please forward your thoughts and suggestions about the 2008 Presidential election by email to [email protected].

source

[Alexandros]

U.S Presidential Candidate Barack Obama

Barack Obama on the Importance of US-Armenia Relations


January 19, 2008

I am proud of my strong record on issues of concern to the one and a half million Americans of Armenian heritage in the United States. I warmly welcome the support of this vibrant and politically active community as we change how our government works here at home, and restore American leadership abroad.

I am a strong supporter of a U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common security and strengthens Armenian democracy. As President, I will maintain our assistance to Armenia, which has been a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism and extremism. I will promote Armenian security by seeking an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, and by working for a lasting and durable settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict that is agreeable to all parties, and based upon America's founding commitment to the principles of democracy and self determination. And my Administration will help foster Armenia's growth and development through expanded trade and targeted aid, and by strengthening the commercial, political, military, developmental, and cultural relationships between the U.S. and Armenian governments.

I also share with Armenian Americans – so many of whom are descended from genocide survivors - a principled commitment to commemorating and ending genocide. That starts with acknowledging the tragic instances of genocide in world history. As a U.S. Senator, I have stood with the Armenian American community in calling for Turkey's acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide. Two years ago, I criticized the Secretary of State for the firing of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, after he properly used the term "genocide" to describe Turkey's slaughter of thousands of Armenians starting in 1915. I shared with Secretary Rice my firmly held conviction that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence. The facts are undeniable. An official policy that calls on diplomats to distort the historical facts is an untenable policy. As a senator, I strongly support passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106), and as President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Genocide, sadly, persists to this day, and threatens our common security and common humanity. Tragically, we are witnessing in Sudan many of the same brutal tactics - displacement, starvation, and mass slaughter - that were used by the Ottoman authorities against defenseless Armenians back in 1915. I have visited Darfurian refugee camps, pushed for the deployment of a robust multinational force for Darfur, and urged divestment from companies doing business in Sudan. America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President.

I look forward, as President, to continuing my active engagement with Armenian American leaders on the full range of issues of concern to the Armenian American community. Together, we will build, in new and exciting ways, upon the enduring ties and shared values that have bound together the American and Armenian peoples for more than a century.

source

[Tongue]

FUNNY how they're comparing Khojali with the Armenian genocide! hahaha

btw I just found out Armenians weren't even responsible for kojali, or at least there is no proof of Armenians being responsible for it. The evidence says it was their own Azeri government. BUT Azeris thugs have savagely killed and set afire many Armenians in Sumgait! Why did they not ask Obama about Sumgait?

[Hovik]

OBAMA RECOGNIZES 'GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS'

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Aug 8 2005

US Senator Barack Obama has recognized the so-called 'genocide of
Armenians'.

"I believe the letter sent by the Senators to President George Bush
to recognize the genocide of Armenians reflects historic facts", said
Obama, who co-signed the appeal. The Senator told journalists in Baku
that the document indicates that thousands of innocent Armenians were
killed in the mentioned developments. "By signing the letter, I also
defended the interests of the State of Illinois I represent. Killing
civilians anywhere in the world should not be allowed." Asked whether
he is aware of the horrible massacre of Azerbaijanis by Armenian
thugs in Khojali, the Senator simply replied that he is informed
of the problems in the region that have persisted for many years,
reiterating that he opposes the killings of civilians.