September 16, 2009 - 12:22 AMT
Armenian-American organizations address letter to President Obama
As U.S. Congress reconvened last week, the leaders of major Armenian-American organizations called upon President Barack Obama to hold Turkey accountable to its international obligations to lift the blockade of Armenia and establish diplomatic relations without preconditions, reported the Armenian Assembly of America.

They also urged President Obama to unequivocally reaffirm the Armenian Genocide. The letter recalled what the late Senator Edward Kennedy often said, "in order to know what to do in the future, you must understand and remember the past."

The signatories represented the following four organizations: Armenian General Benevolent Union; Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern); Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Western) and Armenian Assembly of America.

The letter was prompted by the August 31 release of the protocols announced by the governments of Armenia and Turkey for the normalization of relations between the two neighboring countries.