Genocide Resolution launch sparks media coverage‏

March 17, 2009 U.S. REPRESENTATIVES RENEW DRIVE FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION Introduce Bipartisan Armenian Genocide Resolution TAKE ACTION NOW! Email your U.S. Representative and urge them to cosponsor H.Res.252 Call your U.S. Representative to cosponsor H.Res.252 (phone script included). Email President Obama about his promise to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS Schiff-Radanovich-Pallone-Kirk Letter to President Obama International Association of Genocide Scholars Letter to President Obama The Obama File: Statements and documents affirming the Armenian Genocide IN THE NEWS Obama Wavers on Pledge to Declare Armenian Genocide Los Angeles Times; March 17, 2009 U.S. Lawmakers Introduce another Armenian Genocide Resolution McClatchy Newspapers; March 17, 2009 Turkish Trip Intensifies Dilemma for Obama Associated Press; March 13, 2009 US Lawmakers Press Obama on Armenian 'genocide' Agence France Presse; March 12, 2009 WASHINGTON, DC - Legislation calling on the U.S. President to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide was introduced today in the U.S. House of Representatives, two weeks before President Obama's April 5th trip to Turkey and roughly a month before the White House's annual April 24th commemoration of this crime against humanity, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The measure, H.Res.252, is spearheaded by lead sponsors, Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA) and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), and cosponsored by over 70 House colleagues. The resolution is identical to the one introduced in both the House and Senate in the 110th Congress, which was adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, over intense pressure from the Turkish Government and Bush Administration, and publicly endorsed by then-candidate for President Barack Obama, his Vice President Joe Biden, and current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "Armenians in the U.S. and around the world thank Adam Schiff, George Radanovich, Frank Pallone and Mark Kirk for leading Congressional efforts toward U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "The election of Barack Obama, who has spoken repeatedly, forcefully, and with great clarity about the need for American recognition of the Armenian Genocide, marked a truly welcome break from the flawed policies of the past on this score. We look, in the coming days and weeks, for the President to honor his pledge, to fully support this legislation, and to raise the discourse in Washington, DC on the Armenian Genocide from level of Turkey's threats and denials up to the level of the core moral and humanitarian values of the America people." Read more. . . THIRD ANNUAL ANCA / GENOCIDE INTERVENTION NETWORK CAPITOL HILL ADVOCACY DAYS SET FOR APRIL 22-24, 2009 Register Now! at www.anca.org/stopgenocide WASHINGTON, DC - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and Genocide Intervention Network (GI-Net) have teamed up, once again, for the third annual Capitol Hill advocacy campaign to encourage Congressional action to end the cycle of genocide. The three-day program, titled, "End the Cycle of Genocide: Grassroots Capitol Campaign," will take place from April 22nd-April 24th, in Washington, DC coinciding this year with the actual date of worldwide commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. The effort will kick off with a special breakfast briefing on the morning of April 22nd and will be followed by three days of Congressional visits to encourage U.S. action to stop the genocide in Darfur, to support the adoption of the soon-to-be-introduced Armenian Genocide Resolution, and, more broadly, to strengthen U.S. resolve to act against all instances of genocide. "The Grassroots Capitol Campaign is an important opportunity for anti-genocide activists to demand that their elected officials take action to end the cycle of genocide," said Genocide Intervention Network Executive Director Mark Hanis. "Now more than ever, with the escalating tide of violence in affected regions around the world, we need to ensure that ending mass atrocities is a priority for Congress." The multi-faceted program will coincide with the annual Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill, organized by the Congressional Armenian Caucus, in the historic Canon Caucus Room on April 22nd. On April 24th, interested participants are invited to join in the annual protest outside the Turkish Embassy urging the Turkish Government to deal honestly with its past and end its campaign of genocide denial. Read more. . .