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Armenian Genocide Anniversary Marked at Capitol Hill Observance

More than twenty U.S. Senators and Representatives addressed a packed crowd of Armenian Americans on April 25 during an inspiring Congressional remembrance ceremony marking the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Held in the historic Kennedy Caucus Room on the Senate side of Capitol Hill, the program featured sharp criticism of the Obama Administration's refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide, and calls for Congressional action to properly condemn and commemorate this crime. The reach of the program was multiplied by social media, with Senators and citizens posting photos, tweeting impressions, and emailing updates throughout the event.

"The strong community turn-out and the energy of the principled stands staked out this evening by legislators really speak to the strength of our renewed drive to overcome the remaining obstacles being thrown up by Ankara and its allies to a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "We look forward to building on this enthusiasm, here in Washington and in communities across our country, to finally end the outsourcing to Ankara of U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide."

As in years past, the observance was hosted by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues - co-chaired by Representatives Ed Royce (R-CA) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) - in conjunction with Armenian American organizations, and with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia and the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

The Master of Ceremonies was the Honorable Ardashes Kassakhian, Clerk of the City of Glendale, California, who drew on his broad understanding of Armenian history, his long experience working for the Armenian Cause, and his expert, first-hand understanding of the dynamics of Capitol Hill to inform and inspire legislators and all in attendance.

Among the U.S. legislators participating in the remembrance were Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Representatives Joe Baca (D-CA), Howard Berman (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), David Cicilline (D-RI), Robert Dold (R-IL), Elliot Engel (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Janice Hahn (D-CA), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Laura Richardson (D-CA), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Ed Royce (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), and Bob Turner (R-NY).

In addition to remarks by legislators, powerful speeches were offered by Armenia's Ambassador to the U.S., Tatoul Markarian, and Republic of Nagorno Karabakh Representative Robert Avetisyan.  


Also invited to speak was special guest Tom Andrews, a former Congressman from Maine who now serves as President of United to End Genocide, the leading group behind the growth of a national, grassroots anti-genocide movement. He thanked Armenian Americans for working against all genocides and crimes against humanity. Former Senator Paul Sarbanes was invited to the podium and received a standing ovation for his praise of Armenian Americans as a true American lobby for American values. Also receiving a standing ovation was former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, whose term in office was cut short because he spoke honestly about the Armenian Genocide.

The observance's opening prayer was offered by Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Eastern U.S., who, earlier in the day, gave the opening prayer for the U.S. Senate. Archbishop Choloyan, during a busy day on Capitol Hill, met personally with over a dozen U.S. legislators. The closing prayer was offered by Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian, representing His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. 

Obama Administration officials who handle Armenian-related foreign policy related issues were individually invited to attend the observance. Those who responded each explained that they were "unable to attend," reflecting, by all accounts, a policy-level decision to appease Turkish government sensitivities by prohibiting foreign policy officials from participating in Armenian Genocide remembrance events in the United States.

 

Comments (2)

fehmicolpan
1 The ancestors of the Armenians who made their history are the real deniers. As you know, whoever disagree with the Armenian genocide claims are labelled as ‘deniers’, as ‘agents of Turkish government’, or ‘people hired by the Turkish government’ or ‘disingenous scholars/authorities’ Turkish nationalists’, ‘Turkish racists’ and now as ‘IDIOTS’ (http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2012/01/ataa_ergun_kirlikovali.php). And, here are the names of Armenians who comply with the these terms: Armenian “Garo Pasdermichan (Pastirmaciyan), the Ottoman deputy of Erzurum and commander of all the Armenian officials and soldiers of the Ottoman Third Army which joined the Russian Army in 1914, was the main denier , Turkish racist and an IDIOT. Because, he wrote in his book ‘Why Armenia Should Be Free’ (Boston, Dec.1918, Hairenik Publishing Company p. 16-17) that annual Congress of Armenian Party Dashnagzoutiun was held in Erzurum in August 1914, before the war broke, and Turkish emissaries offered Dashnaks an autonomous Armenia (made up of Russian Armenia and the three Turkish vilayets of Erzurum, Van and Bitlis) under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire’, if they joined the Turkish side and stopped supporting the Russians. He also stated that the executive committee of the Dashnagzoutiun rejected the proposal! The Armenian members of this parley were the well-known publicist E.Aknouni, the representative from Van, A.Vramian, and the director of the Armenian schools in the district of Erzurum, Mr Rostom. Another Armenian main denier and therefore an IDIOT was Boghos Noubar Pasha, the Armenian National Delegation President in The Paris Peace Conference 1919 who also stated that the Turks offered them autonomy in August 1914, much before the deportation, but they rejected this proposal and placed themselves without hesitation on the side of the Entente Powers from whom they expected liberation [Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States The Paris Peace Conference 1919 (United States Government Printing Office, 1948, Vol IV, p 139-157)]. Armenian Boghos Noubar Pasha, who told that ‘150 000 Armenian volunteers in Russian Army were the only forces against Turks’ (Times of London , 1919 Jan 30 Link: http://armenians-1915.blogspot.com/2007/10/2013-150-000-armenian-volunteers-in.html) was obviously a denier and agent of Turkish government. Hovannes Katchaznouni, the first prime-minister of the Armenian state founded in 1918 and the prime authority of the Dashnagzoutiun Party who wrote a book ‘Dashnagzoutiun Has Nothing to do Anymore’ was also another chief denier and an IDIOT. Because, in his book which is banned in Armenia at present, he stated that *it was a mistake to establish the volunteer units. *They were unconditionally allied with Russia, *They massacred the Moslem population, *The Armenian terrorist acts were directed, at winning the Western public opinion. *British occupation aroused hopes of the Dashnaks, *They were provoked by imperial Sea to Sea land demand, *They had not taken into consideration Turkey’s power, * They should have used a peaceful language towards the Turks but they (Armenian Dashnaks) rejected the Turks who suggested to negotiate with them and they went on making war (KS Papazian the writer of ‘Patriotism Perverted’ published in 1934, in Boston, also confirms this Turkish suggestion. Note that ‘Patrionism Perverted’ is banned in Armenia). *The decision of the deportation of Armenians was a rightful measure taken by Turks. *Turkey had acted with an instinct of self-defence. *Their government was a Dashnak dictatorship. *The fault was within the Dashnak Party. They should commit suicide. They had nothing to do. Vratsyan, the last prime minister of Dashnaks who wrote in an article published in December 3 1920 issue of Araç, that they transformed Armenia to an arenna of endless wars with its neighbours for the Entente Powers (RGASPİ fond 80, list 4, file 83, sheet 136) was another chief denier and agent of Turkish government.
timm
Armenians or pro-Armenian historians are responsible to provide evidence that shows the intent of Ottoman government to destroy Armenian ethnicity. Since the beginning of these claims, such evidence was not provided. In addition, Armenian legal authorities did not bring this issue to the international court or none of the International Judicial branches recognized these acts as genocide. Because, the judicial process requires facts and documents in order to come up with a conclusion. Otherwise, the case stands as: “Your word to my word” In addition, Malta trials by British government is great example in order to show the lack of evidence. During those days, over 70 Ottoman government officials were arrested on charges of “Committing Genocide on Armenian people” and taken to the Malta Island. British investigators searched Ottoman government archives during the days of British invasion in Istanbul (around 5 years) and couldn’t find any evidence to support their claims. Finally, Turkish officials were released and brought back to Turkey. Today, around 20 countries that recognized the relocation in 1915 as ‘genocide’ have no historical basis. They did not create any historical commission to investigate the issue or invite Turkish government to present their position. They declared defendant as guilty on the evidence (in this case, evidence is grandparents’ diaries) of prosecution alone. What a democracy! http://armenians-1915.blogspot.com/2008/03/2389-logical-fallacies-of-armenian.html

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