House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer Statement on the Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

 “I join in remembering the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian genocide, which began on this day 98 years ago with the persecution of political leaders, clergy, journalists, and other leading figures in Armenian society. In the United States and throughout the world, Armenian communities mourn those lost and resolve never to forget – as do all who are committed to justice and human rights.”

On April 24th Chairmen of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee – the two powerful Congressional panels with oversight over U.S. foreign policy – joined with their colleagues on the evening on Capitol Hill in rallying bipartisan support for a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide.In the weeks leading up to April 24th, the ANCA formally invited scores of senior Administration officials, including Secretary of State John Kerry, to attend the April 24th Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide remembrance.  On the morning of the observance, after weeks of consideration, the State Department informed the ANCA that, as a matter of policy, the Obama Administration had decided not to participate in the event, or even to arrange for a single official to be present at the Congressional program.  The State Department remains set, however, over ANCA’s objections, to send U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone to speak at an April 26th Washington, DC conference of the ATAA, a group devoted, in large part, to the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

As in years past, the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues – co-chaired by Representatives Grimm and Pallone – was joined by Armenian American organizations, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, and the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in hosting the event.  In addition to remarks by legislators, powerful speeches of solidarity with the global movement for a just resolution of the Armenian Genocide were offered by Armenia’s Ambassador to the U.S., Tatoul Markarian, and Republic of Nagorno Karabakh Representative Robert Avetisyan.