Obama congratulated Armenian Americans on Armenia's Independence Day

PanARMENIAN.Net - Presidential candidate Barack Obama joined with Armenian Americans in celebrating Armenian Independence Day in statement that noted Armenia's first modern instance of independence in 1918 and congratulated all Armenians on Armenia's rebirth in 1991 as an independent state after 70 years of Soviet rule, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Communications Director Elizabeth Chouldjian told PanARMENIAN.Net



Senator Obama has, at several points during the campaign season, shared his views on Armenian American issues, including in a statement this April dedicated to the remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. In January of this year, in a statement on the eve of the California primary, he outlined his views on a broad array of Armenian American concerns. The Illinois legislator, who was then facing Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) for his party's nomination, called for Congressional passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 & S.Res.106), and pledged that, as president, he will recognize the Armenian Genocide. He also reaffirmed his support for a strong "U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common security and strengthens Armenian democracy," and promised 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 Karabakh conflict that is agreeable to all parties, and based upon America's founding commitment to the principles of democracy and self determination."