AAA welcomes John MacCain's support of Armenia's approach to normalize relations with Turkey
In a letter sent today, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) thanked Senator John McCain for affirming the historical truth regarding the Armenian Genocide and for his support of a new chapter in Armenia-Turkey relations.
During Senator McCain's interview with Voice of America's Georgian service, Senator McCain acknowledged the Armenian Genocide and also expressed his support for the Armenia-Turkish rapprochement.
"We strongly believe that U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide should not be held hostage to the normalization process and as such welcome Senator McCain's remarks," stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "The Assembly has also consistently expressed its support for normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey without preconditions," added Ardouny.
In the Assembly's letter to Senator McCain, Ardouny highlighted the need to redouble America's efforts to reaffirm the Armenian Genocide in the face of continued campaign to deny its very occurrence and quoted Archbishop Desmond Tutu who has stated: "It is sadly true what a cynic has said, that we learn from history that we do not learn from history. And yet it is possible that if the world had been conscious of the genocide that was committed by the Ottoman Turks against the Armenians, the first genocide of the twentieth century, then perhaps humanity might have been more alert to the warning signs that were being given before Hitler's madness was unleashed on an unbelieving world."
The Assembly letter also urged McCain to cosponsor S. Res. 316, the Armenian Genocide Resolution introduced by Senators Robert Menendez and John Ensign.
During Senator McCain's interview with Voice of America's Georgian service, Senator McCain acknowledged the Armenian Genocide and also expressed his support for the Armenia-Turkish rapprochement.
"We strongly believe that U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide should not be held hostage to the normalization process and as such welcome Senator McCain's remarks," stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "The Assembly has also consistently expressed its support for normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey without preconditions," added Ardouny.
In the Assembly's letter to Senator McCain, Ardouny highlighted the need to redouble America's efforts to reaffirm the Armenian Genocide in the face of continued campaign to deny its very occurrence and quoted Archbishop Desmond Tutu who has stated: "It is sadly true what a cynic has said, that we learn from history that we do not learn from history. And yet it is possible that if the world had been conscious of the genocide that was committed by the Ottoman Turks against the Armenians, the first genocide of the twentieth century, then perhaps humanity might have been more alert to the warning signs that were being given before Hitler's madness was unleashed on an unbelieving world."
The Assembly letter also urged McCain to cosponsor S. Res. 316, the Armenian Genocide Resolution introduced by Senators Robert Menendez and John Ensign.
