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PRESS RELEASE
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
RADANOVICH CALLS ON PRESIDENT BUSH TO HONOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE PLEDGE
- Letter to the White House notes that "it is crucial that you use the word 'Genocide' in your April 24th statement"
WASHINGTON, DC -- Fresno Congressman George Radanovich (R-CA), a leading Congressional advocate for official U.S. commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, has called on President George W. Bush to honor his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
In his April 19th letter to the White House, Rep. Radanovich specifically noted that he considers it "crucial" that the President "use the word 'Genocide' in [his] April 24th statement." In a statement released after sending his letter to the President, Congressman Radanovich said, "During his campaign, President Bush pledged to properly commemorate the Armenian Genocide. I have every reason to hope that he will honor that pledge and do what is right for both the Armenian people and our historical record."
"We want to thank Congressman Radanovich for his leadership in working toward official recognition of the Armenian Genocide, both in Congress and by the Executive branch," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Through his hard work and determination - and the efforts of so many other legislators from both sides of the aisle - we are closer than ever to bringing an end to the shameful history of official U.S. complicity in the Turkish government's campaign to deny this crime against humanity."
Congressman Radanovich's District Office Director, Steve Samuelian, raised the Congressman's concerns on this issue personally with White House officials during his visit to Washington, DC in late March.
The text of Congressman Radanovich's letter is provided below.
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Text of Rep. Radanovich's letter to President Bush 4/19/2001
Dear Mr. President,
I am writing to you in regard to the Armenian Genocide, a matter of great concern to me personally and of profound importance to the many Armenian American constituents of California's 19th Congressional District.
Recently, I joined with over 100 of my House colleagues in writing to welcome your pledge to properly commemorate the Armenian Genocide. I understand that your office has also received considerable correspondence on this point from throughout the nation.
As you know, last Congress, I co-authored a bill to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. Despite a series of irresponsible threats by the Turkish Government, the measure moved through the committee process and was, in the end, only stopped through the personal intervention of President Bill Clinton. Only moments before it was to have been voted upon, the President, caving in to Turkish threats, called on the House to withdraw the measure.
The Armenian Genocide is a historical fact and for every Congress in which I serve I will author legislation that properly commemorates it as Genocide.
I wanted to write to you personally to urge you to formally acknowledge this brutal episode in human history and describe it for what it was - a genocide. It is crucial that you use the word "Genocide" in your April 24th statement.
Thank you for your leadership of our great nation.
Sincerely yours,
[signed]
George Radanovich
Member of Congress
19th District, California
Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News Archives