Fresno Mayor Alan Autry announced on October 10 his commitment to build in the near future a monument to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The announcement was made during the Fresno visit of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. In addition to the Pontiff, present were a large group of representatives of the Fresno Armenian American community. Plans for erecting a Genocide Monument in Fresno is yet another step in the road toward justice and proper recognition of the 1915 genocide committed against the Armenian people by the Ottoman Turkish government. Since the U.S. has always stood for tolerance, human rights and justice the U.S. Congress must recognize the Armenian Genocide and thereby demand justice for this crime against humanity," His Holiness Aram I stated.