Victory for Armenians: Genocide Bill Passes First Step!

Earlier Bush had this to say, but it seems his even his superior persuasive skills could not prevent the bill from moving forward!

It passed through the House Foreign Affairs Committee by 27 votes to 21 - the first step towards holding a vote in the House of Representatives.

After the vote, the US Undersecretary of State, Nicholas Burns, told the BBC that the Bush administration was "deeply disappointed".

Of course, there was predictable opposition from some, especially the anti-Armenian Jewish members of Congress:

"We have to weigh the desire to express our solidarity with the Armenian people... against the risk that it could cause young men and women in the uniform of the United States armed services to pay an even heavier price than they are currently paying," he said.

That was said by Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Source: BBC News

Bush Urges Against Armenian Genocide Resolution

I haven't blogged for a while, but what better time to restart than now?

"This resolution is not the right response to these historic mass killings," he said hours before a vote by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

It is highly unusual for the White House to make such a dramatic last-minute intervention in Congressional business...

With the opposition Democrats now in charge in Congress, they could force a vote, dealing a potentially grave blow to the Bush administration's efforts to keep Turkey on side...

By the way, this story is the top story on BBC right now. Obviously Bush knows how close it is to getting passed and is doing everything he can to prevent that from happening.

Source: BBC News

Video: Adam Schiff Questioning Condoleezza Rice About Armenian Genocide

Congressman Adam Schiff questioning Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice regarding the State Department's efforts to defeat legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations - March 21, 2007

Wisconsin to Commemorate Armenian Genocide

Our cheese-producing friends at Wisconsin just made my day.

On Tuesday, April 24, 2007, the Armenian National Committee of Wisconsin, State Representatives Mark Honadel, Jeff Stone and Robin Vos, and State Senators Mary Lazich, John Lehman, and Jeff Plale are hosting a reception and program to commemorate the 92nd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The event...designates April 24 of each year as "Wisconsin Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923" and to continue to educate and promote awareness of Armenia and Armenian issues, particularly the Armenian Genocide. The State Assembly adopted Assembly Resolution 42 (AR 42) on May 2, 2000 while the State Senate adopted Senate Resolution 14 on March 7, 2002, thereby reaffirming the Armenian Genocide as a fact of history.

From now on I'll only be buying cheese from Wisconsin. Oh, and Armenia!

Source: PanArmenian

Jews Want Monopoly on Genocide

Recently, with the introduction of the Armenian Genocide Resolution in Congress, there has been almost complete opposition by the Jewish community, especially the powerful lobby, as well as Israel. One of our readers sent in this article. While it attempts to render innocent the blatant negativity by the Jewish community towards the resolution, there are some important points that should be realized, the least of which is that the word "genocide" is not used once in the editorial to refer to the Armenian Genocide.

But there's more:

That said, we understand that opposition to House Resolution 106 does not necessarily signify lack of sympathy with the victims, or, indeed, sentiment against the concept itself. Not buying into an initiative on someone else’s schedule is not always an indicator of nefarious motives at play.

We also have no doubt that some would argue the Jewish community should oppose the resolution if only to preserve the aura of uniqueness surrounding the destruction of European Jewry in the Holocaust.

I think this speaks for itself. It wasn't written by an Armenian or anyone other than The Jewish Press.

Of course, the editorial attempts to remain balanced, but the statements above show the very clear Jewish position of anti-Armenianism, or at least as it relates to the proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Source: Jewish Press

Holocaust Survivor Lobbyist to Block Armenian Genocide Resolution

I don't want to sound racist or generalize, but is there something very wrong with this picture? A person who barely survived the Jewish Holocaust is working against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, arguably a main motivator of Hitler's doings due to lack of attention and recognition at the time.

"We will do our best stop the Armenian Genocide bill," said Tom Lantos, the most powerful person of the Jewish lobby in the U.S. and the chairman of the congressional foreign relations committee after the U.S. visit of Gül and Büyükanit.

The Turkish authorities were lobbying in the U.S. against the passage of the bill and trying to convince the chairman of the congressional foreign relations committee Tom Lantos who has a power in the Congress as he survived the Jewish massacre in the 2nd World War.

I'm a bit speechless, but if you're not, you can visit Tom Lantos's Official Webpage and tell him how you feel.

Update: Reader Helena has provided the lobbyist's phone numbers:

San Mateo: 650-342-0300
San Francisco: 415-566-5257
Washington, DC: 202-225-3531

Call him up!

Source: PanArmenian

Bill Gates, Warren Buffett Don't Want Genocide Recognition

NOTE: I can't find the original source to this story. Most places link to an Azeri website, thus I am starting to doubt whether it is real. If you can find a reputable news source with more information on this, such as the names of the 98 other people, please let me know.

Warren Buffett is perhaps my most favorite investor, but when he comes out against what is right and just, I realize that all he cares about is his personal fortune and that of his rich friends.

100 business leaders from the United States of America sent a letter to President George Bush of the United States to refuse to recognize the genocide of Armenians. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, among the signers, stress that the genocide could become a disaster for the United States.

"In the event of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, trade relations between the United States and Turkey would be severely affected."

You can do something about this:

1) Boycott all Microsoft products. Either use alternatives or pirate. Yes, I said it.
2) If you have Geico for your insurance, change it. If you have an American Express card, cancel it. Don't go to Dairy Queen, don't buy from See's Candies, throw away your Fruit of the Loom underwear and go commando, crumple the Washington Post newspaper, and when it comes time to get married, don't go to Ben Bridge, Borsheim's, or Helzberg.

Of course, you're not going to do any of that. In fact, I doubt that you even read the whole list. In case you did, the companies listed in the second section are all owned - partially or otherwise - by Berkshire Hathaway, which is the source of Buffett's fortune.

Source: Yerevan.ru (translated)

Congressman Howard Berman Responds to Armenia Blog

Following the introduction of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, I wrote to Congressman Howard Berman. Here is his reply:

Dear Mr. [edited]:

Thank you for contacting me about the Armenian Genocide. You will be pleased to know that I am a cosponsor of H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, and I voted for similar legislation when it was considered in committee during the last Congress. I will work to ensure that the resolution is brought up in committee again and makes its way to the Floor of the House for a vote.

On a related matter, you may be interested to know that I signed a letter to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemning the assassination of Armenian-Turkish editor Hrant Dink. I encourage the Turkish government to continue its investigation into the killing of Mr. Dink, and have also called on the prime minister to repeal Article 301, a section of the Turkish penal code making it a crime to "insult Turkishness," under which Mr. Dink had previously been prosecuted. Furthermore, I have also cosponsored H. Res.102, legislation which condemns the Dink assassination and calls for the vigorous prosecution of those responsible for his assassination.

I appreciate the opportunity to share my views and look forward to hearing from you again in the near future.


Sincerely,

HOWARD L. BERMAN
Member of Congress

Of course, Howard Berman's 28th district has many Armenians and it is a political necessity to support the bill and related causes. Regardless, he is the only representative who wrote back.

Of Interest: Howard Berman

U.S. to Reassure Turkey of Blocking Genocide Resolution

So tell me: do you believe in this or that? This is the same administration we're talking about here! One side of it wants to block the Armenian Genocide Resolution, while the other side wants Turkey to be friends with Armenia.

U.S. officials will reassure the Turkish foreign minister, currently visiting Washington, that they will try to quash a proposed resolution in Congress condemning as genocide the early 20th century killings of Armenians.

George W. Bush's administration is alarmed that the suggested congressional resolution could disrupt efforts to repair strains stemming from perceptions in Ankara that regional instability caused by the U.S.-led war in Iraq have harmed Turkish interests.

Ah, so it's clear now: U.S. wants to heal the wounds - literally speaking and otherwise - of Turks who oppose the Iraq war. How does it do this? He promises to block the resolution and address other issues, such as Kurdish rebels in Northern Iraq.

Tit for that. Quid pro quo. If this isn't politics, I don't know what is.

Source: ArmeniaLiberty

Armenian Genocide Resolution Introduced in Congress

At last, the gears have been set vigorously into motion.

Pro-Armenian lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a resolution on Tuesday calling for the recognition of World War I-era killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide.

"Time has come for the United States to recognize the Armenian genocide," Democrat Frank Pallone told a joint news conference of sponsors on Capitol Hill shortly after the resolution was introduced formally. "We feel very strongly that this year is the year we're going to get this passed."

"Make no mistake, the speaker will get a call from the president asking for a no vote on the grounds of national security," said Radanovich.

I am optimistic about this resolution. However, there is a chance that it may not make it. What will we do? Keep fighting until it is adopted, whether today, tomorrow, or in five years. There is a reason why Armenians have survived through the ages, regardless of conquest after conquest upon our people and culture: we never give up.

The sponsors of this bill are: Adam Schiff of California, Frank Pallone of New Jersey, George Radanovich of California, and Joe Knollenberg of Michigan. If you have time, send these four Congressmen a short letter of thanks. I already have.

Oh, and there's a reason I chose the source that I did for this story.

Source: Turkish Daily News

Turkey to Send Oil, Gas, Water to Israel

Wonder why Israel has no opinion on Karabakh? Wonder why the Jewish lobby is against the Armenian Genocide resolution? You can add one more reason to the list:

Turkey and Israel have tentatively agreed on building a network of pipelines to ship oil, natural gas and water from Turkey to Israel...Under the project, a pipeline already carrying Russian natural gas to Turkey will be extended to deliver supplies to Israel, the ministry said. The deal was reached earlier this month...

The oil shipments to Israel would be delivered through an extension of either an existing Iraqi oil pipeline to Ceyhan or one that Turkey is planning to build from Samsun to Ceyhan to export Caspian oil, the ministry said. Turkey would also build a new fresh water pipeline to carry Turkish water from the Mediterranean region to Israel.

There's one of your answers to a hundred questions. We must tackle Armenian issues now before they become impossible later.

Source: Boston

Turkey a Crybaby About Genocide Resolution

That picture is worth a million words. See the expression on the crying baby's face? That's sort of what Turks are feeling like now, what with the United States nearing the passing of the Genocide Resolution.

Turkey reacted in the past very harshly but inefficiently against the recognition of the “genocide”. In fact, the problem in Turkey is not about the recognition of the events which occurred in 1915 but about the qualification of those events as “genocide”. I think the word “genocide” prevents both parts from talking about the events and I think this is a real pity.

Okay, wait: I must have missed something or another. When exactly did Turkey come out and admit that it had killed 1,500,000 Armenians during WWI, but not as a genocide? Let's see...never! It gets better, though:

...he underscored that “a vote on this issue will be very unfortunate.” “Turkey and Turks will certainly react more seriously than they did against the French Law but I have my doubts about the efficiency in the long term of Turkish reactions (it can be a wide range of reaction: boycott of American products, restriction of military cooperation, no help to the US in Iraq and more generally in the Middle East, rapprochement with Russia and Iran etc...) However, if the recognition occurs, one shall not forget that this is a resolution not a law like it was the case in France.

Unfortunate for Turkey, that's for sure. They will react seriously, huh? A boycott will only affect the 20 million Turks who currently live in poverty. And with Iraq in the picture, I think Turkey's days as a strategic country for U.S. bases may be numbered. Besides, it will only be a resolution: the day after you will go back to whatever it is you do.

It must be awful to be a Turk, especially nowadays. It must sort of be like Kim Jung-Il in "America: World Police," right? Ronery, I'm so ronery, poor rittre me.

Jewish Lobby Does Not Want Armenian Genocide Resolution

One would think that holding Turkey accountable for its crimes against humanity and acknowledging the events of 1915 would be in tune with Jews. After all, they met a similar fate, which was seemingly inspired by the world's lack of care for the Armenian Genocide. But politics always goes before humanity:

A member of the Jewish lobby in the United States said “if Turkey doesn't do something, the Armenian genocide bill will pass in the U.S. Congress despite our best efforts to block it...”

In his words, neither the Jewish lobby nor President George W. Bush's last-minute efforts will stop the bill.the U.S. Jewish lobby which has always managed to block the Armenian genocide bill in the past has warned the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to “either do something or be ready to face the consequences.”

...he didn't even want to imagine what it would be like if Turkish-U.S. relations were further crippled by the Armenian bill after the row over Iraq. U.S. diplomats express similar concerns. However, the bill has already turned into a scare for the Jewish lobby in the United States. The only hope, for now, is Turkey's opening up its border with Armenia. Thus, the year 2007 is pregnant with a crisis that would leave even crises over the presidential elections and the general elections in the shadow, with the Jewish lobby already warning the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the yet unborn child.

Hard to believe, huh? Well, not really. Of course, from the point of view of justice, historical fact, human rights, and so on, it is ridiculous and filthy what these people are preparing for. But why are Jewish politicians so close to Turkey?

It's easy, really: the United States, Turkey, and Israel have a strong alliance together. Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Israel as an independent country, and since then it has remained a close political and military ally. Turkey also benefits the United States due to its strategic location and secular (relatively speaking) government, providing the superpower with bases from which to wage wars and protect its interests in the generally unstable region. For all this, Turkey receives money, investments, other economic aids, weapons, training, and much more, and enjoys the company of two very powerful countries.

Hypocrisy has never been so clear.

Source: PanArmenian

Participate! Urge Your Represenatives for 2007 Genocide Resolution!

With Congress now in the hands of Democrats, Armenians have a chance to get a Genocide resolution passed. This would mean that the United States, for the first time in its history, would acknowledge the genocide of 1915 by the Ottoman Turks.

This is what you do:
1) Find your representative: Click here to find your local representative. You will need your zip code.
2) Put in the required information. This is a must.
3) Use this prepared message, courtesy of ANCA:

I am writing to urge you to agree to join as an early cosponsor of the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the 110th Congress.

Along with Americans throughout the country, I look forward to the introduction of this legislation, which I understand will be the same as H.Res.316 in the last Congress. This human rights legislation honors the 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred by the Ottoman Turkish government starting in 1915 and recognizes the United States’ noble efforts to stop the genocide. It was cosponsored by 160 Representatives and was overwhelmingly approved by the House International Relations Committee.

To indicate that you would like to join as an early cosponsor, please contact Tim Bergreen in Rep. Schiff's office or Chris Herndon in Rep. Radanovich's office. To learn more, please contact the Armenian National Committee of America at (202) 775-1918.

Please accept my appreciation for your consideration of this morally compelling initiative to finally bring an end to the shameful denial of the Armenian Genocide - a crime against all humanity.

Sincerely,

Your Name Here

That's it! It takes a minute, but a minute well spent. Turkey is launching a counter-campaign to this, so let's show them that we are more powerful and more determined with real facts than they can ever be with false ones. Besides, you can't do much else in a minute. Do what is important, do this NOW!

Genocide Resolution by April 24, 2007?

There is terrific news coming out of Washington D.C. about the possible passing of the Armenian Genocide Resolution by the new Congress.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), one of the two most influential Armenian lobbying organizations in the USA (the second is the Armenian Assembly of America) said it believes that the recent changes in the U.S. Congress where now Democrats hold the majority, has brought about the best opportunity in years to defeat Turkey's Armenian Genocide denial campaign.

ANCA said its Congressional friends will soon re-introduce the Armenian Genocide Resolution, setting the stage for a nation-wide, four-month grassroots drive to secure its adoption by April 24th.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that such a resolution will take place this year!

Source: ArmenPress