MENENDEZ AND KIRK SET TO LAUNCH RENEWED DRIVE FOR U.S. SENATE RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Bipartisan Genocide-Prevention Measure Seeks to Apply Lessons of Armenian Genocide in Preventing Future Crimes Against Humanity

March 14, 2012

WASHINGTON, DC –Senators Bob Menendez, fresh off blocking the flawed nomination of Matt Bryza to a full term as Ambassador to Azerbaijan, and Mark Kirk, who came to the Senate last year after serving as Co-Chairman of the Armenian Caucus in the U.S. House, are set to introduce the Armenian Genocide Resolution, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The two Senators are currently collecting original cosponsors for the genocide-prevention measure, which will, upon introduction, be referred to the Foreign Relations Committee, chaired by John Kerry (D-MA). The resolution is being introduced during a closely contested election year, amid increasingly strained relations between Turkey and many of its former friends on Capitol Hill.

Armenian Americans and anti-genocide activists are encouraged to contact their Senators to become original cosponsors of this legislation by sending a free ANCA WebMail.

“We extend our thanks to Senators Menendez and Kirk for their leadership in putting America on the right side of this human rights issue,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “We look forward to supporting their efforts to ensure that our leaders – in the White House and Congress – reject Turkey’s gag-rule on American recognition of the Armenian Genocide. No one – ally or adversary – deserves a veto on U.S. human rights policy.”

Parallel to this effort, Reps. Robert Dold (R-IL) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) have offered a nearly identical measure, S.Res.304, in the U.S. House, and Senators Scott Brown (R-MA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Mark Kirk have introduced S.Res.392, the Senate version of a religious freedom measure that was adopted last December, in the U.S. House calling upon Turkey to return stolen Christian church properties to their rightful owners.

Click here for the full text of the Senate Armenian Genocide resolution.

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