ANCA invites Kerry to attend Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide observance

PanARMENIAN.Net - The chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Ken Hachikian has formally invited John Kerry, as Secretary of State, to attend the same Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide observance that he addressed during his tenure as a U.S. Senator.

As Hachikian noted in his letter of invitation, “senior Administration officials, frequently participated in Armenian Genocide Observances as recently as the late 1990s. Unfortunately, we have witnessed a sharp departure from this tradition, even as we have seen increased participation by Administration representatives in programs hosted by organizations that actively deny this atrocity against all humanity.”

“We turn to you to start your tenure as Secretary in the right direction on this score by personally participating, along with your Obama Administration colleagues, in the upcoming April 24 Armenian Genocide observance on Capitol Hill.”

“We raise this issue with you in the spirit of the letter we sent you earlier this year noting how very pleased we were to see the Department of State being led by someone with your long and distinguished record of leadership on U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. It was in the same context of shared values that we continue to offer you our help in facilitating a continued dialogue with our community, and we ask you to urge President Obama to honor his as yet unfulfilled pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide,” the letter said.