{"id":15698,"date":"2009-10-23T05:04:12","date_gmt":"2009-10-23T03:04:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.turkishforum.com.tr\/en\/content\/?p=15698"},"modified":"2014-01-05T17:32:42","modified_gmt":"2014-01-05T15:32:42","slug":"menendez-ensign-introduce-genocide-resolution-in-senate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.turkishnews.com\/en\/content\/2009\/10\/23\/menendez-ensign-introduce-genocide-resolution-in-senate\/","title":{"rendered":"Menendez, Ensign Introduce Genocide Resolution in Senate"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Oct 21st, 2009 @ 11:52 am \u203a Asbarez Staff
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<\/span>Senators Menendez (left) and Ensign (right)<\/div>\n

WASHINGTON\u2014The Armenian National Committee of America welcomed the introduction Wednesday of the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the U.S. Senate by Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and John Ensign (R-NV).<\/p>\n

The measure is similar to legislation in the U.S. House, H.Res.252, introduced earlier this year by Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co- Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL).\u00a0 This measure already has more than 130 cosponsors.<\/p>\n

In introducing the measure, Sen. Menendez noted, \u201cOnly when history\u2019s darkest hours are acknowledged and understood can we truly learn from them and build a peaceful future upon those lessons.\u00a0 One and a half million Armenians experienced Hell on Earth, and to sweep their plight under the rug is to insult their memories and their descendants. It is long past time that our nation help set the historical record straight and provide a foundation of understanding that helps prevent future atrocities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Senator Ensign explained, \u201cIt\u2019s inconceivable that after so many years the international community has yet to affirm that the deportation, expropriation, abduction, torture, massacre and starvation of the Armenian people was genocide.\u00a0 By joining together and affirming that genocide was committed on the Armenian people, we send a strong message to the international community that we will not turn a blind eye to the crimes of the past simply because they are in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn behalf of all Armenian Americans, we thank Senators Menendez and Ensign for their tireless leadership in moving America toward a full and proper commemoration and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide,\u201d said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. \u201cThis legislation, in seeking to end U.S. silence in the face of Turkey\u2019s
\ndenial of this crime, not only honors the past, but also, very powerfully, helps make Armenia and all the world safer from future genocides.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, Senator Menendez spoke out about the importance of international affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, and condemned provisions in the Turkey-Armenia protocols, which would create a historical commission as \u201cfrankly absurd\u201d and an \u201cinsult to the Armenian people.\u201d\u00a0 He went on to note, \u201cIt is time that Turkey recognizes it [the Armenian Genocide] and accepts it. It is time that the world acknowledges this fact of history and moves on towards a viable peace that honors the true history of the Armenian people.\u201d\u00a0 His complete remarks, delivered at an event supporting the efforts of the ANCA Eastern Region can be viewed at:
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