MASSACHUSETTS MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION CUTS TIES WITH NPFH PROGRAM OVER STANCE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Expressing strong disapproval over the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) unwillingness to unequivocally recognize the Armenian Genocide, the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) severed ties with the "No Place for Hate" (NPFH) program, a community-based program offered by the human rights group, reported the Armenian Assembly of America. In a statement issued today, the MMA Board of Directors expressed disappointment with the ADL’s refusal to "clarify and strengthen" its earlier statements concerning the Armenian Genocide at the ADL’s National Commission meeting in November 2007. "The Board believes that unequivocal recognition of the Armenian Genocide is both a matter of basic justice to its victims, as well as essential to efforts to prevent future genocide," stated the MMA, a nonprofit, nonpartisan association that provides advocacy, training, publications, research and other services to Massachusetts cities and towns. "The MMA feels strongly that it is imperative to speak with absolute clarity on the genocide and that due to the NPFH program’s association with the National ADL, the Association will no longer be a sponsor of the program," the organization explained. "The Massachusetts Municipal Association has made a just and rightful decision," said Massachusetts State Representative Rachel Kaprielian (D-Watertown), a member of the Assembly's Board of Trustees who has been working on this issue. "As Armenians across the globe continue to fight for official recognition of the Genocide of 1915 committed at the hands of the Ottoman Empire - this is another step on the long path toward worldwide recognition of the Armenian Genocide." "As a former member of this board, a former municipal official and current State Representative, I am deeply heartened by today’s unanimous decision," Kaprielian continued. "The MMA did the right thing by disassociating with the ADL’s "No Place for Hate" program because ultimately its credibility was compromised by the ADL’s refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide," said Assembly State Chair for Massachusetts Herman Purutyan, who has also been working on this issue. "I hope that the ADL will reconsider its position in light of today’s events and recognize the Armenian Genocide." Following repeated calls by members of the Armenian, Jewish and other communities in Massachusetts and elsewhere, the ADL one of the oldest and most influential Jewish organizations in the US, issued a statement in August 2007 in which they categorized the events of 1915-1918 as "tantamount to genocide." The Assembly welcomed the declaration as a step forward, but urged the ADL to unequivocally recognize the crimes and support congressional affirmation of the Armenian Genocide resolutions, H. Res. 106 and S. Res. 106, pending in the House and Senate respectively.

<< | Home |

E-mail article | Discuss article new!

RSS © Panarmenian

Headlines for April 09, 2008

U.S. EMBASSY OPENS IN KOSOVO
The former U.S. office in Pristina became the U.S. Embassy in Pristina on April 8. “We’re very pleased to be able to have this official re-designation of the office so that it becomes a ceremony,” said ...
NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS UNLIKELY IN NEAR FUTURE
Normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations is hardly possibly during Serzh Sargsyan’s presidency, a Russian expert said. “Armenia’s new President will never agree to Ankara’s ultimatums,” said Mikhail ...
SERZH SARGSYAN TAKES ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT OFFICE
On April 9, the inauguration of Armenia’s third President Serzh Sargsyan took place during a solemn parliamentary session in the State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet. The President-elect swore ...
KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT TO BE IN FOCUS OF FINLAND’S OSCE CHAIRMANSHIP
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met Wednesday with the Special Envoy of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Heikki Talvitie, who arrived in Armenia to attend the inauguration of President-elect ...
ANCA OUTLINES BUSH ADMINISTRATION’S FAILING ON ARMENIA ISSUES
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) in a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has outlined the Armenian American community’s concerns regarding the Bush Administration’s seven-year ...
ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT-ELECT CALLED ON NATION TO ELIMINATE WALL OF MISUNDERSTANDING
Armenia’s President-elect Serzh Sargsyan assumed the office today. “Today is an extremely responsible day for me. A few minutes ago, I swore an oath to our people to unconditionally follow the provisions ...
OSKANIAN WON’T BE IN NEW GOVERNMENT
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said he will not enter the new government. “I will go on working and will try to make contributions to the development of our country. But I have numerously ...
EU WILLING TO HELP ARMENIA TO OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES
Mr Javier Solana, the EU High Representative for common foreign and security policy, congratulated Serzh Sargsyan on assuming the office of President of Armenia. The congratulatory message says, in ...
SERZH SARGSYAN: ALONE, NO ONE CAN TURN ARMENIA INTO A COUNTRY OF DREAMS
I am ready to contribute all my strength for an atmosphere of confidence to prevail in our society, for us to overcome any polarization, rough confrontation, and discredit, Armenia’s President-elect Serzh ...
BRYZA WISHED ARMENIA DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM AND STRENGTH
Matthew J. Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, wished Armenia’s President-elect and the whole Armenian nation democracy, freedom and strength. Commenting on ...
BRYZA: KARABAKH MAY JOIN TALKS ONE DAY
Stepanakert may join talks on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement one day, said Matthew J. Bryza, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Co-chair of the OSCE ...
TIGRAN SARGSYAN APPOINTED ARMENIA’S PRIME MINISTER
President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on appointment Tigran Sargsyan Prime Minister of Armenia, the RA leader’s press office reported. Earlier today, Serzh Sargsyan signed an edict on dismissal of ...
MASSACHUSETTS MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION CUTS TIES WITH NPFH PROGRAM OVER STANCE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Expressing strong disapproval over the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) unwillingness to unequivocally recognize the Armenian Genocide, the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) severed ties with the ...