Schiff urges Obama to properly recognize Armenian Genocide

PanARMENIAN.Net - In a forcefully worded letter, Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsor, Congressman Adam Schiff, urged U.S. President Barack Obama to stand by his record as a Senator and his pledges as a Presidential candidate to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

"We join with Armenian Americans from across the country in thanking Congressman Schiff for his leadership in calling upon President Obama to keep his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

"As we approach April 24th, in the wake of the collapse of the Protocols process, it's clear that President Obama faces a stark choice: He can honor his commitments and his conscience by properly recognizing the Armenian Genocide, or he can remain an accomplice to the Turkish government's campaign to deny this crime against humanity," added Hamparian.

Noting that President Obama did not properly recognize the Armenian Genocide in his 2009 April 24th statement because of "possible reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey," Rep. Schiff pointed out that "this misapprehended the nature of reconciliation, which can never find a sound basis in the denial of genocide, or silence when confronted by denial."

He went on to argue that "Linking the process of the protocols to the Armenian Genocide resolution actually encourages Turkey to not ratify them, since the Turks know that prolonging the process serves to provide opponents of the resolution with a continuing excuse to delay recognition of the Armenian Genocide."