Recognizing genocide
Two Valley congressmen have acted on different fronts in the ongoing effort to win official U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide of the early 20th century.
George Radanovich, the Mariposa Republican, has once again offered a non-binding resolution to that effect, and this time there may be a chance for approval. Last year, Dennis Hastert, then Speaker of the House, pulled the rug out from under a similar resolution at the last minute, preventing it from reaching the House floor. The new speaker, Nancy Pelosi, has supported such efforts in the past.
Fresno Democrat Jim Costa has sent a letter to President Bush asking him to withdraw his nomination of Richard Hoagland as ambassador to Armenia. In two previous appearances before Congress, Hoagland has hewed to the official State Department line, which is to ignore the calls for justice from Armenian Americans and others upset with the U.S. pandering to Turkey on the issue of gencoide recognition.
Text of Radanovich's press release and Costa's letter follows:
Radanvich's press release:
Congressman George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, today released the following statement on the introduction of a resolution officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
"My district in California is home to tens of thousands of Armenians who have worked tirelessly over the years to help me understand the importance of genocide recognition.
"1.5 million Armenian men, women and children were systematically murdered, and over 500,000 exiled by the Ottoman Empire from 1915-1923 to compose what was the first genocide of the 20th century. This year will mark the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; 92 years without official recognition from the United States.
"As a leader in the free world, the United States should be at the forefront of combating human rights abuses around the world-one of the essential components in doing so is to recognize the abuses of the past.
"I have made official recognition of the Armenian Genocide a top priority since coming to Congress twelve years ago, and will continue to be a champion of the issue. Last Congress I introduced legislation with the exact same language as the resolution that was introduced today and I am proud to be the lead Republican in the 110th Congress.
"Adoption of this resolution would affirm a proud and groundbreaking chapter in U.S. history, and hopefully inspire other democracies around the world to follow similar suit. The time for official recognition of the Armenian Genocide is now."
Costa's letter:
January 29, 2007
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I write to express my disappointment with your re-nomination of Richard Hoagland to serve as United States Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia. On behalf of the many constituents of Armenian decent who I am proud to represent, I respectfully urge the withdrawal of Mr. Hoagland's nomination.
As you are well aware, on April 24, 1915, 300 Armenian leaders, intellectuals and professionals were rounded up in Constantinople, deported and killed, under orders from the Young Turk government. This was the beginning of a Genocide, resulting in the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians.
A growing number of nations have officially recognized the tragedies in Armenia as the first genocide of the 20th Century. However, despite the well documented history of this event, the Turkish government refuses to acknowledge the Genocide to this day, almost ninety years later. In a deliberate effort to suppress history, Article 301 of the Turkish penal code makes insulting "Turkishness" punishable by imprisonment. The article applies to individuals that even acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
On January 19, 2007, the world was witness to the danger of denial as the legacy of the Armenian Genocide continued. Hrant Dink, editor of the Turkish-Armenian newspaper who was tried and convicted under Article 301 for genocide recognition in his newspaper editorials, was shot dead in the broad daylight.
Mr. Hoagland's nomination has twice been place on hold by a Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee due to his unwillingness to acknowledge that the travesty Armenians faced at the hands of the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923 constituted genocide. As we mourn the loss of Hrant Dink, a great voice of the Armenian people, let us Americans put action behind the oft repeated claim, "Never Again" by nominating a candidate that respects Armenians past.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jim Costa