AHI Applauds Senate Foreign Relations Committee Passage of Armenian Genocide ResolutionWASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) applauds passage of S. Res. 410 an Armenian Genocide Resolution by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on April 10, 2014 that remembers and observes the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2014. “The Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s adoption of this resolution is a victory for human rights,” AHI President Nick Larigakis said. “Through the leadership of Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez, and the bipartisan co-sponsorship of Senator Mark Kirk, a historic step was taken to ensure an end to America’s foreign policy silence on the Armenian Genocide and on Turkey’s denial of it. The Greek American community commends the Armenian American community and congratulates the senators who voted for this important measure.” Senate Resolution 410 expresses the sense of the Senate: (1) in remembrance of the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2014; (2) that the President should work toward an Armenian-Turkish relationship that includes Turkey's full acknowledgment of the facts about the Armenian Genocide; and (3) that the President should ensure that U.S. foreign policy reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the U.S. record relating to the Armenian Genocide. The committee adopted the resolution by a vote of 12 to 5. Senators voting in favor were: Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Richard Durbin (D-IL), John McCain (R-AZ), Tom Udall (D-NM), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Edward Markey (D-MA). Senators voting against were: Ranking Member Bob Corker (R-TN), James Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), and John Barrasso (R-WY). Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) was not present. AHI has long called for an end to America’s denial of the Armenian Genocide and include the recognition of the Assyrian, Pontian and Anatolian Greek Genocides as defined by the U.N. Genocide Convention as stated in AHI’s Annual Policy Statement. “AHI calls on President Obama to affirm his campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide and calls on the Republic of Turkey to acknowledge the genocide committed against Armenians, Assyrians, Pontian and Anatolian Greeks, and call for Turkey to issue a formal apology and to take prompt and meaningful steps toward restitution,” Larigakis said.
The American Hellenic Institute is a non-profit Greek American public policy center and think tank that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community. ### For additional information, please contact Georgea Polizos at (202) 785-8430 or at pr@ahiworld.org. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our website at https://www.ahiworld.org and follow us on Twitter @TheAHIinDC. |
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AHI Applauds Senate Foreign Relations Committee Passage of Armenian Genocide Resolution
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