Reps. Bilirakis and Maloney Join Bipartisan Legislative Group of H.Res.227 Co-Sponsors

WASHINGTON—In yet another demonstration of the enduring and increasingly energized Armenian-Hellenic partnership, U.S. Representatives Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, are backing the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution (H.Res.227), reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“We join Armenian Americans across the country and with all of our Hellenic American coalition partners in thanking Congressman Bilirakis and Congresswoman Maloney for their leadership in support of a truthful and just international resolution of Turkey’s crime of genocide against Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians and other Christian nations,” said Aram Hamparian, ANCA Executive Director.

“Greeks, Armenians, and all our fellow U.S. citizens who seek to advance American ideals look forward to the day when our White House will, at long last, end its complicity in Ankara’s genocide denials and begin the process of moving the Turkish society and state toward the acceptance of their full moral and material responsibilities for this crime.”

Representatives Maloney and Bilirakis join as cosponsors with a broad range of senior Congressional leaders, including many serving on key foreign policy and appropriations panels, who have already lent their support to this groundbreaking human rights measure. The bipartisan resolution seeks improved Armenian-Turkish ties based upon Turkey’s acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide and a just international resolution of this still unpunished crime.

Introduced and spearheaded by Congressmen David Valadao (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Michael Grimm (R-NY) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) in May of this year, the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution reflects and reinforces previous U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide as a crime of genocide, citing the U.S. Government’s May 28, 1951 written statement to the International Court of Justice regarding the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, President Ronald Reagan’s April 22, 1981 Proclamation and Congressional adoption of Armenian Genocide legislation in 1975 and 1984. H.Res.227 calls on “the President to work toward equitable, constructive, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey’s full acknowledgment of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.”

The resolution specifically references that “the Republic of Turkey, rather than acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past, has escalated its international campaign of Armenian Genocide denial, maintained its blockade of Armenia, and increased its pressure on the small but growing Turkish civil society movement acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and seeking justice for this systematic campaign of destruction of millions of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Pontians, Syriacs, and other Christians upon their biblical-era homelands.”

Armenian and Hellenic Americans across the country are reaching out to their U.S. Representatives to educate and advocate in support of H.Res.227. To send a free ANCA Webmail, visit: www.anca.org/justice.

For a full listing of H.Res.227 cosponsors, visit: www.anca.org/justice

For information about Armenian and Hellenic American cooperation on U.S.-Turkey trade issues, visit here.