Armenian Assembly expects Obama to fulfill Genocide pledge in 2nd term

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian Assembly of America has issued a statement on U.S. President Barack Obama’s re-election to a second term.

“During President Obama's first term U.S.-Armenia relations were strengthened through increased contact among high-level officials, including Obama's official invitation to Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan to attend the critically important summit on nuclear non-proliferation in Washington, DC, as well the two visits to Yerevan, Armenia, by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and growing relations between the Pentagon and Armenia's Defense Ministry.

More recently, the Administration reacted quickly in September to condemn the pardon issued by Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev of Ramil Sarafov, the Azeri lieutenant who brutally murdered an Armenian officer at a NATO Partnership for Peace program in Budapest, Hungary.

The president also repeatedly endorsed ongoing negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group by issuing statements along with the presidents of France and Russia, the other two participant states in the Minsk Group, encouraging the parties to peacefully resolve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. President Obama's re-election represents an opportunity to help reduce tensions in the South Caucasus and seek diplomatic solutions to regional challenges. The president's victory speech correctly noted that there is "more work to do."

While President Obama has repeatedly stated that his views on the Armenian Genocide have not changed and has employed the Armenian term Meds Yeghern, as we approach the 100th anniversary, the Assembly expects that President Obama will be more explicit in acknowledging the American record of Genocide recognition, work to reconcile Turkey with its past, and thereby help in the cause of genocide prevention around the world.

Armenian-Americans from across the country came out in strong numbers to vote in this election cycle and have made their voices heard. 'Armenian-Americans for Obama,' which was affiliated with the Obama campaign, activated supporters as did 'Armenian-Americans for Mitt Romney.' Armenian-Americans were directly engaged in many swing states including Ohio,Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada and Wisconsin.

In addition to Obama's victory, the Co-Chairs of the Armenian Caucus in the House of Representatives, Ed Royce (R-CA) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Armenian Genocide resolution sponsor Adam Schiff (D-CA) were re-elected, as were a majority of the Armenian Caucus members, including Armenian-American Congresswomen Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA),” the statement reads.

"We congratulate President Obama on his re-election victory and with the centennial of the Armenian Genocide in 2015, expect that his repeated promises to affirm the Armenian Genocide will be fulfilled this term," stated Armenian Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.

"The Assembly looks forward to working with the Administration and the Congress to build on the progress already made on key issues for the Armenian community and for continued strengthening of U.S.-Armenia and U.S- Artsakh relations," Ardouny added.