  Armenian Assembly of America support Barack Obama's decision to visit TurkeyMarch 18, 2009 - 21:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - "As President Barack Obama plans his trip to Turkey next month, we would like to express our support for this decision," said Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "An irreversible trend has commenced in Turkey and President Obama's visit presents a unique opportunity for the President to reinforce this message, as well as his own statements reaffirming the historical truth of the Armenian Genocide."The Assembly wholeheartedly agrees with President Obama, Vice President Biden and Secretary of State Clinton that the Armenian Genocide is an historical fact that must be affirmed. As then Senator Obama stated "America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides." The Assembly looks forward to change in Washington, including the repudiation and reversal of the Bush Administration's doctrine that disallowed State Department officials to publicly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, and what our own U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, described as a campaign of race extermination. The Assembly is encouraged by the recent signs of rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia, and commends Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan for his bold actions. Normalization of relations and Turkey's lifting of its 15-year long blockade of Armenia should not be held hostage to U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide.   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Related sections Topic Latest news Erdogan wants “realistic road map” for relations with Armenia  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a “new realistic road map” for relations with Armenia.Armenia-Azerbaijan: Experts launch work on determining coordinates Expert groups from the countries started the process of determining the coordinates based on geodetic measurements.Yerevan says did not expect CSTO in peacekeeping role Pashinyan has declared that the CSTO would be expected to come to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as an ally of ArmeniaHenrikh Mkhitaryan wins Serie A title with Inter Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits that the team have long been imagining clinching Serie A against AC Milan. |
