U.S. presidential hopefuls deciding on Armenian Genocide recognition

PanARMENIAN.Net - The winners of Iowa caucuses, U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (R), are both on record as having recognized the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America

(ANCA).



Senator Obama has spoken forcefully about the moral imperative of U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, specifically calling upon the Bush Administration, in letters and public statements, to end its "wrong and untenable" policy on this issue. During his three years in the Senate, however, he has yet to join with his legislative colleagues in cosponsoring the Armenian Genocide Resolution. Senator Obama also voted in the Foreign Relations Committee to approve the highly controversial and ultimately unsuccessful nomination of Dick Hoagland to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, despite bipartisan Congressional opposition and widespread outrage among Armenian Americans over the nominee's denial of the Armenian Genocide.



As Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee issued a proclamation recognizing April 24, 2001 as a Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. The declaration memorialized the "the death of at least 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks and the forced deportation of countless others." The official statement also noted that, "the Armenian people have not received reparations for their losses" and that the present Turkish government engages in a campaign of "denial of the Armenian Genocide."