U.S. has special responsibility to ensure that lessons of past are never forgotten
Shortly after the Armenian Genocide bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressmen Pallone, Schiff, Knollenberg, and Radanovich held a press conference on Capitol Hill which was attended by Genocide survivors Rose Baboyian and Yer. Sirarpi Khoyan, members of the media, the Armenian Assembly and other leading Armenian-American organizations and community supporters.
"The United States has a compelling historical and moral reason to recognize the Armenian Genocide, which cost a million and a half people their lives," said Schiff, the bill's lead sponsor. "But we also have a powerful contemporary reason as well -- how can we take effective action against the genocide in Darfur if we lack the will to condemn genocide whenever and wherever it occurs? With the new leadership in Congress, I am hopeful we can finally get this resolution passed."
Congressman Radanovich said he was pleased that the bill was introduced with the strong support of his House colleagues, adding that "the United States has a special responsibility to ensure that the lessons of the past are never forgotten - no matter the political discomfort or cost."
Congressmen Pallone and Knollenberg said they would work with members of the Armenian Caucus and the leadership of both parties to secure a floor vote. "By properly recognizing the systematic torture and murder of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide, we will honor America's historic leadership and remind the world of the democratic and humanitarian values on which our country is founded," the lawmakers said, reports the Armenian Assembly of America.
"The United States has a compelling historical and moral reason to recognize the Armenian Genocide, which cost a million and a half people their lives," said Schiff, the bill's lead sponsor. "But we also have a powerful contemporary reason as well -- how can we take effective action against the genocide in Darfur if we lack the will to condemn genocide whenever and wherever it occurs? With the new leadership in Congress, I am hopeful we can finally get this resolution passed."
Congressman Radanovich said he was pleased that the bill was introduced with the strong support of his House colleagues, adding that "the United States has a special responsibility to ensure that the lessons of the past are never forgotten - no matter the political discomfort or cost."
Congressmen Pallone and Knollenberg said they would work with members of the Armenian Caucus and the leadership of both parties to secure a floor vote. "By properly recognizing the systematic torture and murder of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide, we will honor America's historic leadership and remind the world of the democratic and humanitarian values on which our country is founded," the lawmakers said, reports the Armenian Assembly of America.
