AAA makes statement on Senate resolution rejected by Senate on  recognition of Armenian Genocide

ArmInfo.The Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) issued a statement stating that US Senate resistance to the veto imposed by Trump and Erdogan.  Today, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator  Ted Cruz (R-TX) requested unanimous consent to consider S.Res.150,  reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). The Armenian  Genocide resolution was introduced in April, and enjoys the  bipartisan support of 28 Senators. 

"I will not cease until we do what is morally and principally right -  and that is to recognize the Armenian Genocide as a host of other  nations have already done," stated Senator Menendez, who also pledged  to come to the floor once a week to request unanimous consent to  consider S.Res.150. 

"It was an atrocious genocide. That it happened is a fact and an  undeniable reality," Senator Cruz remarked. "I believe in the coming  days and weeks we will get this passed," he added.

"We commend Senators Menendez and Cruz who have persistently  advocated for passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution, and  continue to do the right thing in calling for official recognition  and remembrance, as well as encourage education and public  understanding of the Armenian Genocide," Assembly Executive Director  Bryan Ardouny stated.

Regrettably, the request for unanimous consent was objected to by  Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) at the request of the Administration.

Senator Cramer said "I support the spirit of this resolution," yet he  stated that now is not the right time because of bilateral diplomatic  discussions between the United States and Turkey.

In response, Senator Menendez noted: "There is never a good time. But  in my view, there is always the right time, however, to recognize  genocide as genocide."

Senator Cramer disclosed that the acknowledgement of the Armenian  Genocide was a topic of conversation between President Donald Trump  and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the NATO summit  this week in London. Fifteen member nations of NATO have already  recognized the Armenian Genocide. 

"Given Senator Cramer's stated support for Holocaust Education  legislation that passed the Senate last month and his past  co-sponsorship of the Armenian Genocide legislation in the last  Congress, his objection is more than ironic as it contradicts the  stated purpose of S.Res.150 and undermines the important need for  genocide and human rights education," stated Armenian Assembly  Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "The Armenian Genocide resolution  calls for education to prevent genocide, and reminds us of the proud  chapter in U.S.  history when America's diplomatic corps and  humanitarian intervention helped save countless lives. This proud  chapter should be highlighted, not obscured at the behest of a  foreign government."

Upon passage of the Holocaust Education Legislation, Senator Cramer  stated: "We must never forget those who perished in the Holocaust and  we must always work to ensure that knowledge, tolerance, and reason  are ever present in the face of ignorance and rising anti-Semitism,  Islamophobia, and other forms of intolerance and hate."

Senator Cramer represents the State of North Dakota, which adopted a  resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide on January 3, 2007. The  resolution notes: "It is essential to raise awareness about the  Armenian genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter of  world history, but also because learning more about this  unconscionable tragedy will help better understand the necessity of  eliminating hatred from our own communities."