KERRY PLEDGES TO FIGHT DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
31-08-2004 19:05:00 | USA | Articles and Analyses
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry issued a
statement on the Armenian Genocide last week that goes far
beyond what most other candidates have promised in the past. In
addition to pledging to recognize the Armenian Genocide, Sen.
Kerry stated that he would fight against its denial.
Most Armenians, after terribly disappointing past
experiences, have become very skeptical about promises made by
previous presidential candidates. However, given Sen. Kerry's
long-standing acquaintance with the Armenian community in
Massachusetts, his support for the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide in the U.S. Senate for the past 20 years, and his
unequivocal statements on this subject, Armenians should be
assured that Sen. Kerry is more worthy of our trust than past
presidential candidates. For those who still remain skeptical,
what alternative do they have? Pres. Bush has repeatedly proven
that he cannot be trusted given his broken promises to recognize
the Armenian Genocide.
Here are excerpts from Sen. Kerry's latest statement issued
over the weekend on the occasion of an Armenian fund-raising
festival that was organized by the ANC in the Boston area:
"I have been honored to represent tens of thousands of
Armenian Americans as a Massachusetts Senator. And I look
forward to representing hundreds of thousands of Armenian
Americans as the next President of the United States. "It has
been my privilege, over the past two decades, to work with the
Armenian community on important issues including U.S.
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, strengthening U.S.-Armenia
relations and trade, lifting the devastating blockades of
Armenia and working for a fair and lasting peace in Nagorno
Karabagh....
"I want to assure you that, as President, I will continue
to fight against the denial of the Armenian Genocide. My
administration will recognize April 24, 2005 as the 90th
Anniversary of this atrocity and will work to ensure that the
lessons of this crime against humanity are used to prevent
future genocides. There can be no compromise on the clear moral
imperative to end genocide."