Ed Royce: Armenian Genocide resolution is not aimed against Turkey

March 4, 2010 - 20:50 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The state of California has already recognized the Armenian Genocide; it is now US Congress’ turn, California Congressman Ed Royce stated.

As he noted at US House Foreign Affairs hearing on H.Res.252, the resolution aims at registering the fact of Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire. “US dropped behind other countries in the world in Genocide recognition issue,” Ed Royce said.

At the same time, he noted that Armenian Genocide resolution is not aimed against Turkey itself, but rather the crime against humanity committed in the Ottoman Empire. “We have to recognize the Genocide and resist outer pressure on the issue,” the Congressman emphasized.

The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, Italy, 45 U.S. states, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Switzerland, Canada, Poland, Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, the Vatican, Luxembourg, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Sweden, Venezuela, Slovakia, Syria, Vatican, as well as the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.