REP. ROYCE: U.S. SHOULD GO ON RECORD OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Representative Ed Royce (R-CA), member of the U.S. Congressional Caucus of Armenian Issues addressed an open letter to Congress calling to pass the Armenian Genocide Resolution. The letter reads, “It is far past time when the United States Congress should go on record officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide. As a State Senator, with the help of Governor George Deukmejian, I authored the first resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide, which passed the California Legislature. In Congress, George Radanovich, Jim Rogan and myself, along with bipartisan support, were able to successfully pass the first Armenian Genocide Resolution through the foreign affairs committee. Later, Adam Schiff, with the support of myself and others, was able to do the same. But, regardless of whether the President was Bill Clinton or George Bush, and whether the Speaker was Dennis Hastert or Nancy Pelosi, the impact of the Government of Turkey’s protests has had the same effect. The Genocide Resolution, which we have passed through the Foreign Affairs Committee, has consistently been checkmated by the Government of Turkey. The reason the Government of Turkey can’t be allowed to halt passage of this resolution is because of the gravity of the subject of genocide. On April 24, 1915, the Ottoman Empire set out on a campaign to exterminate the Armenian people. Between 1915 and 1923, the numbers were horrific. One and a half million Armenians were murdered and 500,000 deported from their homelands. At the end of these eight years, the Armenian population of Anatolia and Western Armenia was virtually eliminated, becoming one of the 20th Century’s darkest chapters. While acknowledging the role played by the Ottoman Empire in killing Armenians, some have laid doubt to the claim of genocide, citing the subsequent deportation of the survivors as merely a movement of a people from one land to another. Henry Morgenthau, the U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1913-1916, saw it much differently. In his memoirs, Morgenthau recalls that the Turks, "never had the slightest idea of reestablishing the Armenians in (a) new country" knowing that "the great majority of those would...either die of thirst and starvation, or be murdered by the wild Mohammedan desert tribes." I recall Morgenthau’s words here because he saw first hand the atrocities wrought on the Armenians, and he had been told by Turks that they understood quite well that they had handed down a death sentence to the Armenian people. The Turks not only knew of what they were doing, but spoke quite freely of it. Eighty years later, however, many are still unwilling to recognize the killing for what it was: genocide. The U.S. has long been a global leader in promoting human rights around the world. On the issue of the Armenian genocide, however, we lag behind. The French, Swiss, Swedish, Germans, and even the Russian governments recognize the Armenian genocide properly. As a global leader in human rights, it is imperative for the U.S. to stand on principle and recognize the annihilation of the Armenians. However, it is no less important today to recognize the Armenian genocide for what it is. The deafening silence that came in its wake set the stage for a century that saw genocides occur in Europe, Africa, and Asia. While the Armenian genocide was the first of the 20th century, the blind eye cast to the slaughter of Armenians was a point used by Hitler who asked his joint chiefs of staff, "Who…speaks today of the [their] annihilation?" To the critics who say that we should not dwell on history, I say it’s much harder to get tomorrow right if we get yesterday wrong. The world’s strength to oppose killing today is made greater by accountability, for actions present, but also past. It’s weakened by denial of accountability of past acts. Not recognizing the Armenian genocide, as such, does just that. Rep. Ed Royce is a Republican from California. He is the Ranking Member of the Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Terrorism Subcommittee and is a senior member of the Armenia Caucus,” Yerkir reports.

<< | Home |

E-mail article | Discuss article new!

RSS © Panarmenian

Headlines for April 23, 2008

NALBANIDIAN, FASSIER DISCUSS KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
Currently in Paris on a working visit, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbanidian met with Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassador Bernard Fassier to discuss the current stage of the Nagorno Karabakh ...
UN: POLITICAL PROCESS IN DARFUR REACHES DEADLOCK
Five years after fighting first erupted in Darfur between Sudanese Government forces and rebel groups, the world has still not found a durable solution to the suffering of millions of people in the region, ...
RA FM CALLED ON UNESCO TO CONDEMN CULTURAL TERROR AGAINST ARMENIAN MONUMENTS
Edward Nalbandian met in Paris with UNESCO Secretary General Koichiro Matsuura to consider activity in educational, cultural, information and telecommunication fields in compliance with the national cooperation ...
UAR CONDEMNS RECEPTION IN TURKISH EMBASSY IN MOSCOW ON APRIL 24
On April 23, the Youth Association of the Union of Armenians of Russia intends to address ambassadors of foreign states over the April 24 farewell reception organized by the Turkish ambassador, who is ...
ARMENIA TO EXPAND ACTIVITY WITHIN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF LA FRANCOPHONIE
Currently in Paris on a working visit, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with Mr Abdou Diouf, Secretary General of the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF). Mr Diouf express ...
OVER THOUSAND ARMENIAN CITIZENS IMMIGRATED IN U.S. IN 2007
The U.S. Department of State published statistics of migration and non-migration visas issued to foreigners in 2007. The number of U.S. visitors totals 6.4 million; 434 thousand immigrated in the United ...
PAMUK’S “YOUTH” TO BE PUBLISHED IN ARMENIAN
Armenia holds negotiations with Nobel Prize winner, Turkish author Orhan Pamuk on publication of his novel “Youth” in Armenian, chairman of the Union of Writers of Armenia told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. ...
TURKEY DEMOLISHES ORTHODOX MONUMENTS IN CYPRUS
The Cypriot Orthodox Church decided to bring a legal action to the European Court of Human Rights against Turkey over demolition of historical and cultural heritage in Northern Cyprus, occupied by Turks. ...
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: JUSTICE IS DEMAND OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND SECURITY OF NATIONS
“April 24 is the day of mourning for Armenians throughout the globe. 93 years ago Young Turks perpetrated the Armenian Genocide, the fact modern Turkey denies despite international opinion. The problem ...
KARABAKH CONFLICT TO BE RESOLVED AT EXPENSE OF GEORGIA?
The U.S.-Russia opposition in Transcaucasia is a temporary factor, said head of the Transcaucasia division at the Institute of CIS Studies. “With Bush coming to power, the U.S. launched expansion over ...
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IDENTIFIED AS TEMPLATE FOR HOLOCAUST AND OTHER ‘MODERN’ GENOCIDES
1
New York Times bestselling author, Professor Peter Balakian joined political figures, and representatives and members of Sydney’s Armenian community in commemorating the 93rd Anniversary of the Armenian ...
“OUR DEAD HAVE NAMES” CAMPAIGN GOING ON
In connection with the 93rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, www.inhomage.com proceeds with “Our Dead Have Names” campaign, independent French journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net. Visiting ...
NKR AUTHORITIES READY TO HAND CAPTIVE TO AZERI SIDE
The Nagorno Karabakh Republic authorities once again demonstrating goodwill and adherence to the principles of the Geneva conventions expressed readiness to unilaterally hand to Azerbaijan a serviceman ...
ARMENIAN, AZERI FMS TO MEET IN STRASBOURG MAY 7
The first meeting of Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian with his Azeri counterpart will take place in Strasbourg on May 7, RA MA acting spokesman Tigran Balayan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. ...
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TO BE COMMEMORATED IN ALBANY, NY
On Friday, April 25, 2008, the Armenian National Committee of Albany (ANC of Albany) will host the 93rd annual commemoration of the Armenian Genocide at Troy City Hall at One Monument Square at 6:45 pm. ...
REP. ROYCE: U.S. SHOULD GO ON RECORD OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Representative Ed Royce (R-CA), member of the U.S. Congressional Caucus of Armenian Issues addressed an open letter to Congress calling to pass the Armenian Genocide Resolution. The letter reads, ...