genocide resolution

[mdo...@crocker.com]

BOSTON—State Reps. Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr, Peter J. Koutoujian, and 81
of their colleagues, including the Speaker of the House Robert A.
DeLeo, filed a House Resolution to urge the U.S. Congress to renew
their efforts in officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide of
1915.
The resolution calls for the passage of Congressional Resolution,
H.Res 252, which currently has the support of 100 U.S. Congressmen, as
well as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives Resolution passed on the
day before the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. April 24 is
marked as the annual day of remembrance by hundreds of thousands of
people around the world in recognition the Genocide.
President Barack Obama is set to offer remarks to the Armenian
people. As a U.S. Senator and candidate for the White House, Obama
explicitly pledged to recognize the Armenian Genocide. H. Res. 252
calls upon the president to ensure that the foreign policy of the
United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and
genocide documented in the United States’ record relating to the
Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Turkish
Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulting in the deportation of
nearly two million Armenians, of whom 1.5 million men, women and
children were killed. The 500,000 survivors were expelled from their
homes, succeeding in eliminating Armenians’ presence in their historic
homeland.
“The immense support from my colleagues was overwhelming,” State
Rep.Peter Koutoujian said.
“It is important that we never forget the 1.5 million Armenians
killed in the Genocide 94 years ago, and we must not allow the world
to forget,” Puppolo stated.
Currently, while the United States does not officially recognize the
Armenian Genocide nationally, 42 of the 50 states do. Additionally,
the countries of Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, France,
Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Lebanon, Netherlands, Poland,
Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, and Venezuela stand
with Armenia in recognizing the Genocide.