ANCA: Obama has chance to keep promise in April 24 speech

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian issued the following statement in response to U.S. President Barack Obama’s remarks at the U.S. Holocaust Museum, earlier today, April 23 outlining U.S. commitment to the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities, Asbarez reported.

"President Obama undermined his own commitment to 'Never Again' in his speech at the U.S. Holocaust Museum this morning, when, on the day before the annual commemoration marking the Armenian Genocide - the atrocities that Hitler himself referenced prior to launching the Holocaust - he cited several past genocides but remained entirely silent on the Armenian Genocide, the crime that, as a candidate for the White House, he so prominently and repeatedly promised to recognize," Hamparian stated.

"President Obama has the chance, on April 24th, to give real meaning to his words about genocide prevention by rejecting Ankara's gag-rule and honoring his pledge to properly condemn and commemorate the Armenian Genocide," Hamparian concluded.

As Senator and presidential candidate, President Obama consistently and repeatedly urged former President Bush to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide, and pledged, as President, to recognize that crime. In a January, 2008, statement, then Senator Obama clearly stated, "as President, I will recognize the Armenian Genocide."