Armen Rustamyan, Chairman of the RoA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, sent a letter to Howard Berman, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the US House of Representatives. The letter says in part: "Dear Chairman Berman: I have the pleasure to write to you upon the introduction of legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide, and to share with you and your colleagues our compete support for the adoption of this measure affirming the commitment of the United States to the cause of genocide-prevention. Armenia aspires for the universal recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, and sees it both as a restoration of an historical justice and as a way to improve the overall situation in the region, while also preventing similar crimes in the future. The Armenian people in our homeland, in the United States and around the world, remain grateful for the hard work that you and your colleagues, including, of course, Congressmen Adam Schiff and George Radanovich, have devoted over the course of many years to secure US recognition and official commemoration of this crime. I am confident that the proponents of this process and also rightly convinced that the lack of official recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States has thus far in fact served to make Turkey's position in the issue of resolving the Armenian-Turkish relations more uncompromising. We value these efforts and are, this year, particularly encouraged by the clear statements of President Barack Obama and senior members of his Administration in his regard during the elections. Please know that I remain available to share with your Congressional colleagues, either in writing in person, the principled stand of the Republic of Armenia in support of universal recognition of the Armenian Genocide. I am confident that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States not only would not hamper, but on the country will contribute to the prospects of a thorough dialogue between Turkey and Armenia. A clear and principled stance by the US can only assist in developing awareness that the recognition of the Genocide is not at all a demonstration of anti-Turkish sentiments, but a necessity emanating from the need to condemn this crime against humanity. Furthermore, any durable improvement of Armenia-Turkey relations must rest upon a foundation of shared respect for truth and justice. Thank you for your friendship with the people and government of the Republic of Armenia and for all your support and assistance over the years."