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SAA-ASA-GSA for Kerry
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The View from Switzerland
On Nov. 2nd, Armenian-Americans Can Make a Big Difference
Armenian history is marked with a long chain of lost opportunities in the
pursuit of the legitimate rights of our people. November 2, 2004 will be
the biggest occasion to show our willingness and the consciousness of belonging
to one of the oldest nations on earth. On that day, none of the oft-celebrated
Armenian traditional values will count more than our decisiveness and our
unity.
In Switzerland, we saw how our united effort resulted on December 16,
2003 in the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Swiss National
Council. All members of the Swiss-Armenian community worked hard, as a single
body, to accomplish that objective. This recognition was not only important
for Armenians, but also for the Swiss people. Speeches about human rights,
freedom, justice and democracy, which are enshrined in both the American
and Swiss constitutions, remain empty words, if our political representatives
are not able to translate them into actions.
Now it's your turn!
We, in Switzerland, are seriously concerned that the current president of
the Unites States, George W. Bush, could be re-elected. He violated one of
our most cherished values: honesty and keeping one’s word. Even though he
clearly promised, before his election four years ago, that he would recognize
the Armenian Genocide, Bush simply did not keep his word. Please remember
that on November 2nd when your casting your vote!
Sen. John Kerry, on the other hand, despite being subjected to intense Turkish
pressures, stood firmly on the side of the truth on the Armenian Genocide,
continuing the proud tradition of Pres. Woodrow Wilson, Ambassador Henry
Morgenthau and a great many other American officials.
November 2nd is a unique opportunity for all Armenian Americans to accomplish
a very important objective -- the recognition of the Armenian genocide, and
the prosperity of Armenia and Karabagh -- by electing John Kerry the next
President of the United States.
One thing is clear: only if all Armenian Americans, even those who have voted
Republican all of their lives, unite and cast their votes for the triumph
of justice, each one of us would then have the right to say: "I made a difference!"
Every vote counts, particularly in the swing states of Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania
and Florida. We place our hope in you. We in Switzerland cannot vote, but
you in America can. Go and make history on November 2nd by voting for Kerry!
Sarkis Shahinian
Co-Chairman
Switzerland-Armenia Association
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American-Armenians for Kerry
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On October 19, The Armenian
Revolutionary Federation, Armenian Democratic-Liberal Party, and the Social-Democratic
Hunchak Party issued the following appeal to the Armenian community in the
United States to cast their vote for Presidential candidate John Kerry:
An Appeal to American-Armenians
The US presidential elections
will take place on November 2. The two main candidates, President George
W. Bush and US Senator John Kerry, are waging a vigorous campaign for the
people's votes. So far, according to observers, the ratings of the two candidates
are extremely close; each vote will, therefore, carry significance.
On November 2, the American people
will have their decisive say--including American-Armenians, who will go to
the polls conscious of their civic duty.
Accordingly, we appeal to our
people to vote for Senator John Kerry, because he has espoused pro-Armenian
positions on issues that American-Armenians consider vital.
As a Senator, John Kerry has
been constant in adopting positions in favor of the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, increases in US aid to Armenia, and a just resolution to the Mountainous
Karabagh problem. Moreover, he has always had an open-door policy toward
American-Armenians and has been responsive to our needs and requests. John
Kerry's efforts within the Senate are proof positive of his pro-Armenian
and pro-Armenia policies.
Under the current circumstances,
American-Armenians will play a crucial role in the upcoming presidential
elections, because every vote counts. On November 2, let us go to the polls,
en masse, to cast our votes in favor of Senator John Kerry.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Central Committees of the Western and Eastern United States
Armenian Democratic-Liberal Party
Regional Executives of the Western and Eastern United States
Social-Democratic Hunchak Party
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USA and Armenian Genocide
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Washington D.C. | le 23 juillet 2004
US House adopts schiff amendment on Armenian Genocide
"None of the funds made available in this Act
may be used by the Government of Turkey to engage in contravention of section
1913 of title 18, United States Code, relating to lobbying with appropriated
moneys, with respect to HRes 193, Reaffirming support of the Convention on
the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and anticipating the
15th anniversary of the enactment of the Genocide Convention Implementation
Act of 1987 (the Proxmire Act) on November 4, 2003."
-- Amendment to Foreign Operations Bill prohibiting Turkey from
using US foreign aid to lobby against Genocide Resolution
-- Rep. Knollenberg's Leadership key to maintaining military aid parity for Armenia and Azerbaijan
WASHINGTON, DC - In a powerful rebuke to the Turkish government's campaign
of genocide denial, the House of Representatives this evening adopted the
Schiff Amendment, prohibiting the Turkish government from using U.S. foreign
assistance in its multi-million dollar campaign to defeat legislation (H.Res.193)
recognizing the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA).
The amendment, introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), was passed by a voice
vote and added to the fiscal year 2005 foreign aid bill (H.R.4818).
The foreign aid bill was later passed by a vote of 365 to 41.
In his remarks on the House floor introducing the measure, Rep. Schiff told
his colleagues that, "today I offer a simple amendment that will honor the
one and a half million Armenians who perished in the Armenian Genocide of
the 1915 and 1923. I consider this a sacred obligation to ensure that
the men, women, and children who perished in the Armenian Genocide are not
lost to history and that this Congress not fund shameful efforts to deny
that the Genocide occurred." Commenting after the vote, Rep. Schiff
said, "We are another step closer to silencing those who would deny the murder
of 1.5 million Armenians," adding that, "This amendment stands true to the
memory of the victims."
"The passage of this amendment is a major victory," said Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. "It clearly sends a message that the
United States House of Representatives will not tolerate Turkey's lobbying
against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide." In his remarks during
consideration of the measure, the New Jersey legislator stressed that "it
is time for this body to stop defending and funding a government that continues
to deny its own history, and refuses to break with the pattern of intolerance
established by past Turkish governments which dealt with minority issues
by committing genocide against Armenians, massacring and driving Greeks from
its shores, restricting the rights of Christians to worship, and denying
the existence of its Kurdish citizens."
"We want, first and foremost, to thank Congressman Schiff for his tireless
leadership in advancing this amendment, to recognize the strong support of
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, and to note
the pivotal role that Chairman Kolbe played in helping this measure reach
the House floor - where, as we all saw this evening, it enjoyed overwhelming
bi-partisan support," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian.
The Genocide Resolution, H.Res.193, reaffirms U.S. support for the Genocide
Convention and cites the importance of remembering past crimes against humanity,
including the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodian and Rwandan genocides,
in an effort to stop future atrocities. It faces intense opposition
from the Turkish government, which has enlisted the backing of the White
House in its efforts to block this measure from being scheduled for a vote
of the full House.
The Genocide Resolution was introduced, in the House, in April, 2003, by
Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI).
Its Senate companion measure was introduced, in June, 2003, by Senators John
Ensign (R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ). H.Res.193 was adopted unanimously
by the House Judiciary Committee last May. Support for the measure
has been widespread off of Capitol Hill as well, with a diverse coalition
of over 100 ethnic, religious, civil and human rights organizations calling
for its passage, including American Values, National Organization of Women,
Sons of Italy, NAACP, Union of Orthodox Rabbis, and the National Council
of La Raza.
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