BREAKING: U.S. Senate Unanimously Recognizes Armenian Genocide
13 DECEMBER 2019 – TOP STORIES – INTERNATIONAL POLICY:
Rejects Turkey’s Gag-Rule against American Remembrance of this Crime. Ankara Reacts by Calling Members of Congress ‘Irresponsible.’
WASHINGTON–The U.S. Senate struck a historic blow today against Turkey’s century-long obstruction of justice for the Armenian Genocide, unanimously adopting S.Res.150, an Armenian National Committee of America-backed measure that locks in ongoing U.S. recognition of this crime.
The resolution, identical to a measure (H.Res.296) adopted 405 to 11 in the U.S. House in October, officially rejects Turkey’s denials of its genocide against Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christian nations. Passage of the resolution – spearheaded by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) – marks the first time that the Senate has recognized the Armenian Genocide.
“The Senate today joined the House in rejecting Ankara’s gag-rule against honest American remembrance of the Armenian Genocide – overriding the largest, longest foreign veto over the U.S. Congress in American history,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Today’s unanimous Senate action shines a spotlight on the President, who continues – against all reason – to enforce Erdogan’s veto against honest American remembrance of Turkey’s extermination and exile of millions of Christians. It’s time for the Executive Branch to join Congress in ending any and all American complicity in Ankara’s lies. Together, the President and Congress should put in place a sustained and pro-active policy that rejects Turkey’s lies, challenges Ankara’s obstruction of justice, and works with Armenian and Turkish stakeholders toward the international reparations and other remedies required of this crime.”
The Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.150) establishes, as a matter of U.S. policy, 1) the rejection of Armenian Genocide denial, 2) ongoing official U.S. government recognition and remembrance of this crime, and 3) support for education about the Armenian Genocide in order to help prevent modern-day atrocities.
The ANCA has consistently pushed back against Turkey’s denials, striving to put America on the right side of the Armenian Genocide. Thousands of letters and phone calls have already been sent to Congress by Armenian American advocates through the ANCA online portal – anca.org/genocide.
Official Yerevan Reacts
Moments after the passage of S.Res 150, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan took to social media to express their gratitude to the Senate on behalf of Armenia.
“Thank you US Senate Resolution 150 is a victory of justice and truth. On behalf of the Armenian people worldwide, I express our profound appreciation to the Senate for this landmark legislation. This is tribute to the memory of 1.5 million victims of the first #Genocide of the 20th century and bold step in promotion of the prevention agenda. NeverAgain,” said Pashinyan in a post on Twitter.
“US Senate Res 150 unanimously adopted is a decisive step in serving justice, truth and recognition of Armenian Genocide. We are overwhelmed with appreciation. A tribute to the victims and their dignity. Thank you SenatorMenendez and Senator Cruz and all members of the US Senate,” said Mnatsakanyan in a Twitter post.
Ankara Not Happy; Calls Members of Congress ‘Irresponsible’
Official Ankara reacted swiftly to the news of the Senate’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
“The behavior of some members of the U.S. Congress is damaging the Turkish-American ties.The sanctions bill that passed yesterday in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Armenian resolution that passed today in the Senate endanger the future of our bilateral relationship,” said Fahrettin Altun, Turkey’s spokesperson said on Twitter.
“In every previous attempt to politicize history by some members of the US Congress, we reiterated our position to form a group to study it. We expressed that history should not be something that divides nations but unites them,” said Altun.
“But some members of the US congress in the last few months made every attempt to disregard the viewpoint and sensitivities of a NATO ally and acted irresponsibly to strain the ties between two nations and two states,” added Altun, apparently forgetting that 405 out of 435 House members voted for the resolution in October, while Thursday’s vote was a unanimous consent, thus his remarks signal that official Ankara believes that almost all U.S. lawmakers are “irresponsible.”
“The resolutions will not bring any good to the relations between Turkey and the US. As we stated previously we expect our armenian [sic] brothers to stand up and prevent the US Congress to destroy any attempt to reconcile our differences through scientific and academic channels,” added Altun.
“History will note these resolutions as irresponsible and irrational actions by some members of the US Congress against Turkey. They will go down in history as the responsible party for causing a long lasting damage between two nations,” said Altun.
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