Case 55-2020: Turkey

Charges:

Complicity with Genocide

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LIST OF EVIDENCES

Countries that Recognize the Armenian Genocide

1. Argentina2. Austria3. Belgium4. Bolivia5. Brazil6. Canada7. Chile8. Cyprus9. Czech Republic10. Denmark11. France12. Germany13. Greece14. Italy15. Lebanon16. Lithuania17. Luxembourg18. Netherlands19. Paraguay20. Poland21. Portugal22. Russia23. Slovakia24. Sweden25. Switzerland26. Vatican City27. Venezuela28. United States29. Uruguay

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U.S. Congress, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

A CENTURY OF DENIAL: THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND THE ONGOING QUEST FOR JUSTICE

April 23, 2015

COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE

WASHINGTON, DC

The hearing was held at 1:40 p.m. in room 2175, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC, Hon. Christopher H. Smith, Chairman, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, presiding.

Commissioners present: Hon. Christopher H. Smith, Chairman, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; Hon. Steve Cohen, Commissioner, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; and Hon. Sheldon Whitehouse, Commissioner, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Members present: Hon. Brad Sherman (D–30), a Member of Congress from the State of California.

Witnesses present: Dr. Taner Akc¸am, Professor of History, Robert Aram, Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marian Mugar Chair in Armenian Genocide Studies, Clark University; Kenneth V. Hachikian, Chairman, Armenian National Committee of America; Van Z. Krikorian, Co-Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Armenian Assembly of America; Dr. Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Visiting Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution, The Fletcher School, Tufts University; and Karine Shnorhokian, Representative, The Genocide Education Project.

HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, CHAIRMAN, COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE

Mr. SMITH. The Commission will come to order and good afternoon to everybody. Welcome to our witnesses and everyone joining us for today’s hearing marking 100 years since the start of the Armenian Genocide—one of the most terrible crimes of the 20th century.

The Armenian Genocide is the only one of the genocides of the 20th century in which the nation that was decimated by genocide has been subjected to the ongoing outrage of a massive campaign of genocidal denial, openly sustained by state authority. This campaign of genocide denial is a slap in the face to the Armenian people, preventing reconciliation and healing. As Pope Francis said so eloquently at his Mass marking the 100th time period of the genocide, quote, "Concealing or denying evil is like allowing a wound to keep bleeding without bandaging it."

U.S. House of Representatives, Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

September 22, 2010

The Committee on Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred the resolution (H. Res. 252) calling upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the resolution be agreed to."

United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities

July 2, 1985

"Toynbee stated that the distinguishing characteristics of the twentieth century in evolving the development of genocide 'are that it is committed in cold blood by the deliberate fiat of holders of despotic political power, and that the perpetrators of genocide employ all the resources of present-day technology and organization to make their planned massacres systematic and complete'."

United Nations Economic and Social CouncilCommission on Human RightsSub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of MinoritiesThirty-eighth sessionItem 4 of the provisional agenda

E/CN.4/Sub.2/1985/6 — 2 July 1985

REVIEW OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN FIELDS WITH WHICH THE SUB-COMMISSION HAS BEEN CONCERNED

Revised and updated report on the question of the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide Prepared by Mr. B. Whitaker

[Paragraph 24]

24.Toynbee stated that the distinguishing characteristics of the twentieth century in evolving the development of genocide "are that it is committed in cold blood by the deliberate fiat of holders of despotic political power, and that the perpetrators of genocide employ all the resources of present-day technology and organization to make their planned massacres systematic and complete"11. The Nazi aberration has unfortunately not been the only case of genocide in the twentieth century. Among other examples which can be cited as qualifying are the German massacre of Hereros in 1904,12 the Ottoman massacre of Armenians in 1915-1916,13 the Ukrainian pogrom of Jews in 1919,14 the Tutsi massacre of Hutu in Burundi in 1965 and 1972,15 the Paraguayan massacre of Ache Indians prior to 1974,16 the Khmer Rouge massacre in Kampuchea between 1975 and 1978,17 and the contemporary Iranian killings of Baha'is.18 Apartheid is considered separately in paragraphs 43-46 below. A number of other cases may be suggested. It could seem pedantic to argue that some terrible mass-killings are legalistically not genocide, but on the other hand it could be counter-productive to devalue genocide through over-diluting its definition.

______________________________________________

[Paragraph 73]

73."In place of the law of the jungle of “vae victis” (“woe to the conquered”) Hugo Grotius laid the foundation for international law during the terrible Thirty Years War in the Seventeenth Century with his work De Jure Belli ac Pacis (Concerning the Laws of War and Peace). Following the founding of the Red Cross two centuries later, a series of Geneva and Hague Conventions were ratified seeking to establish international norms of conduct even in warfare. There were however no agreed sanctions or procedure to deal with war criminals. After the First World War, the defeated Germans themselves held some war crime trials in Leipzig in 1922, but these were unsuccessfully organized and 888 people out of the 901 charged in them were acquitted. The Turks also in 1919-20 held trials: not of ‘war criminals’ but of some of the Ottomans guilty of the Armenian genocide. When in the Second World War awareness of the extraordinary scale of the Nazi crimes became widespread, a European advisory Commission on War Crimes was set up to consider, as it was told by the French “an enemy who has sought to annihilate whole nations, who has elevated murder to a political system, so that we no longer have the duty of punishing merely those who commit but also those who plan the crime”.56 As early as January 1942 the representatives of nine occupied countries conferred in London and issued the St. James’s Declaration that “international solidarity is necessary to

avoid the repression of these acts of violence simply by acts of vengeance on the part of the general public and in order to satisfy the sense of justice of the civilized world”.57

The Declaration announced that punishment for war crimes, whoever committed them, was now a principal war aim of the governments at the conference. It also made clear the intention to bring to justice not only those who themselves physically perpetrated such crimes, but those leaders who ordered them. The St. James’s Declaration was approved by Britain, the United States and the USSR, and significantly, expressed disgust not only at atrocity but at the idea of more vengeance: it implied a desire for some form of judicial proceeding to determine guilt and satisfy a sense of justice. The St. James’s conference was followed by one practical step: the United Nations War Crimes Commission was set up in London in 1943 to collect and collate information on war crimes and criminals.”58

At the Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers in November 1943, Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union had issued a joint declaration condemning Nazi atrocities in occupied Europe. This stated that ‘at the time of the granting of any armistice to any government which may be set up in Germany, those German officers and men and members of the Nazi Party who have been responsible for or who have taken part in the above atrocities, massacres and executions, will be sent back to the countries in which their abominable deeds were done in order that they may be judged and punished according to the laws of those liberated countries and of the Free Governments which will be erected therein’.”

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[Footnotes]

11 Arnold Toynbee,Experiences (London, Oxford University Press, 1969).

12 General von Trogha issued an extermination order; water-holes were poisoned and the African peace emissaries were shot. In all, three quarters of the Herero Africans were killed by the Germans then colonizing present-day Namibia, and the Hereros were reduced from 80,000 to some 15,000 starving refugees. See P. Fraenk,The Namibians (London, Minority Rights Group, 1985).

13 At least 1 million, and possibly well over half of the Armenian population, are reliably estimated to have been killed or death marched by independent authorities and eye-witnesses. This is corroborated by reports in United States, German and British archives and of contemporary diplomats in the Ottoman Empire, including those of its ally Germany. The German Ambassador, Wangenheim, for example, on 7 July 1915 wrote "the government is indeed pursuing its goal of exterminating the Armenian race in the Ottoman Empire" (Wilhelmstrasse archives). Though the successor Turkish Government helped to institute trials of a few of those responsible for the massacres at which they were found guilty, the present official Turkish contention is that genocide did not take place although there were many casualties and dispersals in the fighting, and that all the evidence to the contrary is forged. See, inter alia, Viscount Bryce and A. Toynbee,The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 1915-16 (London, HMSO, 1916): G. Chaliand and Y. Ternon,Genocide des Armeniens (Brussels, Complexe, 1980); H. Morgenthau,Ambassador Morgenthau's Story (New York, Doubleday, 1918); J. Lepsius,Deutschland und Armenien (Potsdam, 1921: shortly to be published in French by Fayard, Paris); R.G. Hovanissian,Armenia on the Road to Independence (Berkeley, University of California, 1967); Permanent People's Tribunal, A Crime of Silence (London, Zed Press, 1985);

K. Gurun,Le Dossier Armenien (Ankara, Turkish Historical society, 1983); B. Simsir and others,Armenians in the Ottoman Empire (Istanbul, Bogazici University Press, 1984); T. Ataov,A Brief Glance at the "Armenian Question" (Ankara, University Press, 1984); V. Goekjian, The Turks before the Court of History (New Jersey, Rosekeer Press, 1984); Commission of the Churches on International Affairs,Armenia, the Continuing Tragedy (Geneva, World Council of Churches, 1984); Foreign Policy Institute,The Armenian Issue (Ankara, F.P.I., 1982).

14 Between 100,000 - 250,000 Jews were killed in 2,000 pogroms by Whites, Cossacks and Ukrainian nationalists. See Z. Katz ed.,Handbook of Major Soviet Nationalities (New York, Free Press, 1975), p.362; A. Sachar,A History of the Jews (New York, Knopf, 1967).

15 The Tutsi minority government first liquidated the Hutu leadership in 1965, and then slaughtered between 100,000 and 300,000 Hutu in 1972. See Rene Lemarchand,Selective Genocide in Burundi (London, Minority Rights Group, 1974) and Leo Kuper,The Pity of it All (London, Duckworth, 1977).

16 In 1974 the International League for the Rights of Man together with the Inter-American Association for Democracy and Freedom, charging the Government of Paraguay with complicity in genocide against the Ache (Guayaki Indians), alleged that the latter had been enslaved, tortured and massacred; that food and medicine had been denied them; and their children removed and sold. See Norman Lewis and others in Richard Arens ed.,Genocide in Paraguay (Philadelphia, Temple University Press, 1976); and R. Arens "The Ache of Paraguay" in J. Porter,Genocide and Human Rights (op.cit.).

17 It is estimated that at least 2 million people were killed by Pol Pot's Kher Rouge government of Democratic Kampuchea, out of a total population of 7 million. Even under the most restricted definition, this constituted genocide, since the victims included target groups such as the Chams (an Islamic minority) and the Buddhist monks. See Izvestia, 2 November 1978; F. Ponchaud,Cambodia Year Zero (London, Penguin Books, 1978); W. Shawcross,Sideshow; Kissinger, Nixon and the Destruction of Cambodia (New York, Simon and Schuster, 1979); V. Can and others,Kampuchea Dossier: The Dark Years (Hanoi,Viet Nam Courier, 1979); D. Hawk,The Cambodia Documentation Commission (New York, Columbia University, 1983); L. Kuper,International Action against Genocide (London, Minority Rights Group, 1984).

18 See evidence presented to United Nations Human Rights Commission and Sub-Commission, 1981-1984, and R. Cooper,The Baha'is of Iran (London, Minority Rights Group, 1985).

56 United Kingdom Lord Chancellor’s Office, LCO 2.2978. See A. and J. Tusa, op.cit.

57 Telford Taylor, International Conciliation, No. 450 (April 1949).

58 It was made up of representatives of 17 nations – but had no Russian member. Stalin would only join if every Soviet Republic were given separate representation. This was refused.

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UNITED NATIONS

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

Distr.General

E/CN.4/Sub.2/1985/6/Corr.129 August 1985

Original: ENGLISH

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTSSub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of MinoritiesThirty-eighth sessionItem 4 of the provisional agenda

REVIEW OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN FIELDS WITH WHICH THE SUB-COMMISSION HAS BEEN CONCERNED

Revised and updated report on the question of the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocidePrepared by Mr. B. Whitaker

Corrigendum

31. Paragraph 73, line 10: Between “acquitted” and “when”, insert the following: “The Turks also in 1919-20 held trials: not of ‘war criminals’ but of some of the Ottomans guilty of the Armenian genocide”.

May 28, 1951

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSITCE

PLEADINGS, ORAL ARGUMENTS, DOCUMENTS

RESERVATIONS TO THECONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION

AND PUNISHMENT OF THECRIME OF GENOCIDE

ADVISORY OPINION OF MAY 28TH, 1951

CONTENTSSECTION C. -- WRITTEN STATEMENTS

4. -- Written statement of the Government of the United States of America............... 23

4. WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THEUNITED STATES OF AMERICA

WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE U.S.A. 25

I. The Genocide Convention

The Genocide Convention resulted from the inhuman and barbarous practices which prevailed in certain countries prior to and during World War II, when entire religious, racial and national minority groups were threatened with and subjected to deliberate extermination. The practice of genocide has occurred throughout human history. The Roman persecution of the Christians, the Turkish massacres of Armenians, the extermination of millions of Jews and Poles by the Nazis are outstanding examples of the crime of genocide. This was the background when the General Assembly of the United Nations considered the problem of genocide. Not once, but twice, that body declared unanimously that the practice of genocide is criminal under international law and that States ought to take steps to prevent and punish genocide.

In 1946 the First General Assembly declared by Resolution 96 (I) that genocide was a crime under international law and entrusted to the Economic and Social Council the task of drafting a convention on the subject. An Ad Hoc Committee on Genocide was constituted by the Economic and Social Council for this purpose.

A Convention drawn up by that Committee and amended by the General Assembly was unanimously approved by the General Assembly in Paris on December 9, 1948.

United Nations War Crimes Commission Report

May 28, 1948

"...the warning given to the Turkish Government on this occasion by the Governments of the Triple Entente dealt precisely with one of the types of acts which the modern term 'crimes against humanity' is intended to cover, namely, inhumane acts committed by a government against its own subjects."

United Nations Economic and Social Council Commission on Human Rights

Report Prepared by the United Nations War Crimes Commission

In Accordance with the Request Received from the United Nations

Restricted — E/CN.4/W.20 — 28 May 1948

Information Concerning Human Rights Arising from Trials of War Criminals

II. Developments during the First World War

1. The Massacres of the Armenians in Turkey

In connection with the massacres of the Armenian population which occurred at the beginning of the First World War in Turkey, the Governments of France, Great Britain and Russia made a declaration, on 28 May 1915, denouncing them as "crimes against humanity and civilization" for which all the members of the Turkish Government would be held responsible, together with its agents implicated in the massacres. The relevant part of this declaration reads as follows:

"En presénce de ces nouveaux crimes de la Turquie contre l'humanité et la civilisation, les Gouvernements alliés font savoir publiquement à la Sublime Porte qu'ils tiendront personnellement responsables des dits crimes tous les membres du Gouvernement ottoman ainsi que ceux de ces agents qui se trouveraient impliqués dans de pareils massacres."

As will be shown later in more detail, the warning given to the Turkish Government on this occasion by the Governments of the Triple Entente dealt precisely with one of the types of acts which the modern term "crimes against humanity" is intended to cover, namely, inhumane acts committed by a government against its own subjects.

...The first peace treaty with Turkey, namely, the Treaty of Sèvres, signed on 10 August 1920, contained in addition to the provisions dealing with violations of the laws and customs of war [Articles 226-228 corresponding to Articles 228-230 of the Treaty of Versailles] a further provision, Article 230, by which the Turkish Government undertook to hand over to the Allied Powers the persons responsible for the massacres committed during the war on Turkish territory. The relevant parts of this article read as follows:

"The Turkish Government undertakes to hand over to the Allied Powers the persons whose surrender may be required by the latter as being responsible for the massacres committed

during the continuance of the state of war on territory which formed part of the Turkish Empire on the 1st August, 1914."

"The Allied Powers reserve to themselves the right to designate the Tribunal which shall try the persons so accused, and the Turkish Government undertakes to recognize such Tribunal."

"In the event of the League of Nations having created in sufficient time a Tribunal competent to deal with the said massacres, the Allied Powers reserve to themselves the right to bring the accused persons mentioned above before such Tribunal, and the Turkish Government undertakes equally to recognize such Tribunal."

The provisions of Article 230 of the Peace Treaty of Sèvres were obviously intended to cover, in conformity with the Allied note of 1915 referred to in the preceding section, offenses which had been committed on Turkish territory against persons of Turkish citizenship, though of Armenian or Greek race. This article constitutes therefore a precedent for Articles 6c and 5c of the Nuremberg and Tokyo Charters, and offers an example of one of the categories of "crimes against humanity" as understood by these enactments.

The Treaty of Sèvres was, however, not ratified and did not come into force. It was replaced by the Treaty of Lausanne, signed on 24 July 1923, which did not contain provisions respecting the punishment of war crimes, but was accompanied by a "Declaration of Amnesty" for all offenses committed between 1 August 1914, and 20 November 1922.

Statement by Concerned Scholars and Writers

April 24, 1998

To Honor the 50th Anniversary of the U.N. Genocide Convention

We Commemorate theArmenian Genocide of 1915

and Condemn the Turkish Government'sDenial of this Crime Against Humanity

On April 24, 1915, the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire began a systematic, premeditated genocide of the Armenian people -- an unarmed Christian minority living under Turkish rule.More than a million Armenians were exterminatedthrough direct killing, starvation, torture, and forced death marches. Another million fled into permanent exile. Thus an ancient civilization was expunged from its homeland of 2,500 years.

The Armenian Genocide was the most dramatic human rights issue of the time and was reported regularly in newspapers across the U.S. The Armenian Genocide is abundantly documented by Ottoman court-martial records, by hundreds of thousands of documents in the archives of the United States and nations around the world, by eyewitness reports of missionaries and diplomats, by the testimony of survivors, and by eight decades of historical scholarship.

After 83 years the Turkish government continues to deny the genocide of the Armenians by blaming the victims and undermining historical fact with false rhetoric. Books about the genocide are banned in Turkey. The words "Armenian" and "Greek" are nonexistent in Turkish descriptions of ancient or Christian artifacts and monuments in Turkey. Turkey's efforts to sanitize its history now include the funding of chairs in Turkish studies -- with strings attached -- at American universities.

It is essential to remember that...

When Raphael Lemkin coined the wordgenocidein 1944 he cited the 1915 annihilation of the Armenians as a seminal example of genocide.

The European Parliament, the Association of Genocide Scholars, the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide (Jerusalem), and the Institute for the Study of Genocide (NYC) havereaffirmed the extermination of the Armenians by the Turkish government asgenocideby the definition of the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention.

Denial of genocide strives to reshape history in order to demonize the victims and rehabilitate the perpetrators.Denial of genocide is the final stage of genocide.It is what Ellie Weisel has called a "double killing."Denial murders the dignity of the survivors and seeks to destroy remembrance of the crime. In a century plagued by genocide,we affirm the moral necessity of remembering.

We denounce as morally and intellectually corruptthe Turkish government's denial of the Armenian genocide.We condemn Turkey's manipulationof the American government and American institutions for the purpose of denying the Armenian genocide.We urge our government officials, scholars, and the mediato refrain from using evasive or euphemistic terminology to appease the Turkish government; we ask

them torefer to the 1915 annihilation of the Armenians as genocide.

This statement has been signed by more than 150 distinguished scholars and writers, including:K. Anthony AppiahProfessor of Afro-American Studies & Philosophy, Harvard University.

Michael ArlenWriter

James AxtellProfessor History, College of William & Mary

Ben BagdikianFormer Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism, University of California at Berkeley

Houston BakerProfessor of English, University of Pennsylvania

Peter BalakianWriter; Professor of English, Colgate University

Mary Catherine BatesonClarence J. Robinson Professor in English & Anthropology, George Mason University

Yehuda BauerProfessor of Holocaust Studies, Hebrew University, Jerusalem

Robert N. BellahElliott Professor of Sociology, University of California, Berkeley

Norman BirnbaumUniversity Professor, Georgetown University

Peter BrooksProfessor of Comparative Literature, Yale University

Robert McAfee Brown

Richard G. HovannisianProfessor of Armenian and Near Eastern History, UCLA

Kurt JonahssonProfessor of Sociology, Concordia University

Alfred KazinWriter, Distinguished Professor of English Emeritus, CUNY Graduate Center

Steven KepnesDirector of Jewish Studies, Professor of Religion, Colgate University

Ben KiernanProfessor of History, Yale University

Robert Jay LiftonDistinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and The Graduate School of the City University of New York

Deborah E. LipstadtDorot Professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies, Emory University

Norman MailerWriter

Eric MarkusenProfessor of Sociology, Southwest State University, Minnesota

Robert MelsonProfessor of Political Science, Purdue University

Saul MedlovitzDag Hammarskjold Professor of Law, Rutgers University

W.S. Merwin

Professor of Theology and Ethics Emeritus, Pacific School of Religion

Christopher BrowningProfessor of History, Pacific Lutheran University

Frank ChalkProfessor of History, Concordia University

Israel W. CharnyDirector, Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide, Jerusalem

Ward ChurchillAssociate Professor of American Indian Studies, University of Colorado

Rev. William Sloane CoffinPastor Emeritus, Riverside Church, N.Y.C.

Vahakn DadrianDirector, Genocide Study Project, H.F. Guggenheim Foundation

David Brion DavisSterline Professor of History, Yale University

James Der DerianProfessor of Political Science, University of Massachusetts

Marjorie Housepian DobkinWriter

Jean Bethke ElshtainLaura Spelman Rockefeller Professor of Social and Political Ethics, University of Chicago Divinity School

Kai EriksonProfessor of Sociology, Yale University

Craig EtchesonActing Director, Cambodian Genocide Program, Yale University

Helen FeinExecutive Director, Institute for the Study

Wrtier

Arthur MillerWriter

Henry Morgenthau IIIWriter

George L. MosseProfessor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Hebrew University, Jerusalem

Joyce Carol OatesWriter

Grace PaleyWriter

Harold PinterWriter

Robert A. PoisProfessor of History, University of Colorado

Francis B. RandallProfessor of History, Sarah Lawrence College

Nicholas V. RiasanovskySidney Hellman Professor of European History, University of California, Berkeley

Leo P. RibuffoProfessor of History, George Washington University

David RiesmanHenry Ford II Professor of Social Science, Harvard University

Nathan A. ScottWilliam R. Kenan Professor of Religious Studies Emeritus, University of Virginia

Christopher SimpsonProfessor of Communications, American University

of Genocide, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Lawrence J. FriedmanProfessor of History, Indiana University

William GassDavid May Distinguished Professor of Humanities, Washington University

Henry Louis Gates, Jr.Professor of Afro-American Studies, Harvard University.

Carol GilliganPatricia Albjerg Graham Professor of Gender Studies, Harvard University

Langdon GilkeyKennedy Distinguished Visiting Professor of Theology, Georgetown University.

Daniel GoldhagenAssociate Professor of Government & Social Studies, Harvard University

Sandor GoodhartDirector of Jewish Studies, Purdue University

Vigen GuroianProfessor of Theology and Ethics, Loyola College

Geoffrey HartmanSterling Professor of Comparative Literature, Yale University

Seamus HearneyHarvard University; Nobel Laureate for Literature

Judith HermanProfessor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Raul HilbergProfessor of Political Science Emeritus, University of Vermont

Roger SmithProfessor of Government, College of William & Mary

Susan SontagWirter

Wloe SoyinkaNobel Laureate, Woodruff Professor of the Arts, Emory University

Max L. StackhouseStephen Colwell Professor of Christian Ethics, Princeton Theological Seminary

Charles B. StrozierProfessor of History, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and The Graduate Center, City University of New York

Rose StyronWriter; former Chair Freedom to Write Committee, PEN American Center

William StyronWriter

Ronald SunyProfessor of Political Science, University of Chicago

Raymond TanterProfessor of Political Science, University of Michigan

D.M. ThomasWriter

John UpdikeWriter

Kurt VonnegutWriter

Derek WalcottProfessor of English, Boston University; Nobel Laureate for Literature

Cornel WestProfessor of Philosophy & Religion, and

Afro-American Studies, Harvard University

Howard ZinnProfessor Emeritus of History, Boston University

A Statement by Concerned Scholars and Writers

Statement by 126 Holocaust Scholars, Holders of Academic Chairs, and Directors of Holocaust Research and Studies Centers

March 7, 2000

126 HOLOCAUST SCHOLARS AFFIRM THE INCONTESTABLE FACT OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND URGE WESTERN DEMOCRACIES TO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE IT

At the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Scholars' Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches Convening at St. Joseph University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 3-7, 2000, one hundred twenty-six Holocaust Scholars, holders of Academic Chairs and Directors of Holocaust Research and Studies Centers, participants of the Conference, signed a statement affirming that the World War I Armenian Genocide is an incontestable historical fact and accordingly urge the governments of Western democracies to likewise recognize it as such. The petitioners, among whom is Nobel Laureate for Peace Elie Wiesel, who was the keynote speaker at the conference, also asked the Western Democracies to urge the Government and Parliament of Turkey to finally come to terms with a dark chapter of Ottoman-Turkish history and to recognize the Armenian Genocide. This would provide an invaluable impetus to the process of the democratization of Turkey.

Below is a partial list of the signatories:Prof. Yehuda BauerDistinguished ProfessorHebrew UniversityDirector, The International Institute of Holocaust ResearchYad Vashem, Jerusalem

Prof. Israel Charny, DirectorInstitute of the Holocaust and Genocide, Jerusalem

Prof. Richard LibowitzTemple University

Dr. Marcia LittellStockton CollegeExec. Director, Scholars' ConferenceOn the Holocaust and the Churches

Franklin LittellEmeritus Professor

Professor at the Hebrew University,Editor-in-Chief of The Encyclopedia of Genocide

Prof. Stephen Feinstein, DirectorCenter for Holocaust and Genocide StudiesUniversity of Minnesota

Prof. Saul Friedman, DirectorHolocaust and Jewish StudiesYoungston State University, Ohio

Prof. Edward GaffneyValparaiso University Law School

Prof. Zev GarberLos Angeles Valley College

Prof. Dorota GlowackaUniversity of King's CollageHalifax, Nova Scotia

Dr. Irving Greenberg, PresidentJewish Life Network

Prof. Herbert HirschVirginia Commonwealth University

Prof. Irving L. HorowitzHannah Arendt Distinguished ProfessorRutgers University, NJ

Rabbi Dr. Steve JacobsTemple Sinai ShalomHuntsville, AlabamaAssociate Editor of The Encyclopedia of Genocide

Prof. Steven KatzDistinguish ProfessorDirector, Center for Judaic StudiesBoston University

Temple University

Prof. Hubert G. LockeWashington UniversityCo-founder of the Annual Scholar's ConferenceOn the Holocaust and the Churches

Dr. Elizabeth MaxwellExecutive Director of the International ScholarlyConference on the Holocaust, London, England

Prof. Erik MarkusenSouthwest State University, MN

Prof. Saul MendlowitzDag Hammerskjold Distinguished Professorof International LawRutgers University

Prof. Jack Needle, DirectorCenter for Holocaust StudiesBrookdale Community CollegeLincroft, NJ

Dr. Philip Rosen, DirectorHolocaust Education Center of the Delaware Valley

Prof. Alan S, RosenbaumDept. of PhilosophyCleveland State University

William L. Shulman, PresidentAssociation of Holocaust Organizations City University of New York

Prof. Samuel TottenThe University of ArkansasAssoc. Editor of The Encyclopedia of Genocide

Prof. Elie WieselAndrew W. Mellon Professor in the HumanitiesBoston UniversityFounding Chairman of the United StatesHolocaust Memorial CouncilNobel Laureate for Peace

I hereby declare that the originals of these one hundred and twenty-six signatories are on file in my office. All affiliations supplied are for identification purposes only.

Dr. Stephen Feinstein, Director,

Center for Holocaust and Genocide StudiesUniversity of Minnesota

International Association of Genocide Scholars

June 13, 1997

Resolution

That this assembly of the Association of Genocide Scholars in its conference held in Montreal, June 11-13, 1997, reaffirms that the mass murder of Armenians in Turkey in 1915 is a case of genocide which conforms to the statutes of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention

and Punishment of Genocide. It further condemns the denial of the Armenian Genocide by the Turkish government and its official and unofficial agents and supporters.

Anti-Defamation League on the Armenian Genocide

May 13, 2016

As the still fairly new CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), I’ve been on the job less than one year. I’m frequently asked about our current position on historical League decisions. One of those crucial questions is where ADL stands with regards to recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

My family was directly impacted by the Holocaust. Given that profoundly personal experience, I appreciate the pain of those who suffered losses even generations ago and the need to remember. I am reminded daily that we must educate and take action against hate in our own time, as we vow “never again.”

Therefore, only a few weeks after the 101st commemoration of the tragedy, and on the occa-sion of Yom HaShoah, the remembrance of the Holocaust, I am using this opportunity to make our position clear.

ADL is a 103-year-old organization and very proud of both its history and its mission to not only lead the charge combatting anti-Semitism, but to also fight against all forms of bigotry. We rec-ognize and uphold a connection between our leadership role to stand up for the Jewish com-munity and stand up for other minority and marginalized communities at the same time.

Our mission reflects the words of the Jewish Sage Hillel from 2,000 years ago: “If I am not for myself, who will be? And, if I am only for myself what am I?”

That connection is both moral and practical: It is the right thing to do.

When we teach about the Holocaust, we speak about the 2,000-year history of anti-Semitism that made the Shoah possible.

We have a similar responsibility to talk more broadly and recall that in our own lifetime the world did not stand up against the horrors happening in Cambodia, Bosnia and Rwanda. Too often, the response to genocide has been global silence.

So, let me be crystal clear: the first genocide of the 20th century is no different. What hap-pened in the Ottoman Empire to the Armenians beginning in 1915 was genocide. The genocide began with the ruling government arresting and executing several hundred Armenian intellec-tuals. After that, Armenian families were removed from their homes and sent on death marches. The Armenian people were subjected to deportation, expropriation, abduction, tor-ture, massacre and starvation.

What happened to the Armenian people was unequivocally genocide.

We believe that remembering and educating about any genocide – Armenian, the Holocaust, Bosnia, Rwanda, and others is a necessary tool to prevent future tragedies.

Our experience regarding the Holocaust is relevant. When the first pictures of Auschwitz appeared at the end of World War II, there was widespread shame in the Western world at the realization that anti-Semitism was deeply embedded across cultures and countries and could produce such horror. That collective shame helped to inhibit manifestations of anti-Semitism for decades. Now, as time moves on, as that sense of shame eviscerates, it is no accident that anti-Semitism has reemerged with full force. In other words, we must educate each generation about the tragedies of the past.

That is why I am speaking out today and why we would support U.S. recognition of the Armen-ian Genocide. Silence is not an option.

In many ways, we have made great strides in this country fighting bigotry. Consider the great gains of the civil rights movement; the diminution of anti-Semitism that limited Jewish life in America; the ascendance of the Latino community; the revolution in attitudes and laws impact-ing the LGBT community. There have been setbacks and there is still tremendous work to be done, as exemplified by the stereotypes regarding Latinos and immigrants as well as anti-Muslim rhetoric that has characterized this unusual presidential campaign.

Collectively, this background makes it imperative for groups who, sadly, share a history of oppression to stand together. When individuals or groups deny the Armenian genocide, as recently took place with a billboard in Boston, ADL will speak out and denounce that denial. In that spirit, I am optimistic about greater cooperation going forward to end all forms of hate and bigotry.

Statement by Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt regarding the Armenian Genocide

Jewish Council of Public Affairs

October 1, 2015

Historians and scholars tell us that the Armenian people were the victims of the first genocide of the twentieth century at the hands of the Ottoman Turks, the predecessors of modern-day Turkey. Approximately 1.5 million Armenians were killed or expelled from their homes and deported. The year 2015 is the 100th anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide. The government of Turkey has, to this day, refused to acknowledge such genocide took place.

The Armenian Genocide is a distant memory in the minds of the children of survivors. However, there is abundant documentation of the atrocities, particularly by former U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau. Nevertheless, Hitler stated in 1939, “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”

The Jewish communities, as the targets of one of the worst genocides of the twentieth century, have a bond with the Armenian people here in the United States and abroad. We have a moral obligation to work toward recognition of the genocide perpetrated against the Armenian people.

The word genocide was coined just prior to the end of World War II, and the word Holocaust did not come into common usage to describe what happened to the Jews until after WWII. However, the term “genocide” may be attributed to atrocities that meet the definition of genocide after they have taken place.

The U.S. government has yet to name what happened to the Armenian people for a variety of reasons. The most obvious is the fear that doing so will hurt our relationship with Turkey. Turkey spans the east and west. The United States needs Turkey’s permission to fly over its territory and for support services in the United States’ activities in Iraq, its attempts to keep Iran in check, and to fight ISIS.

After 100 years, it is time for the U.S. to face facts and acknowledge that what happened in 1915 and in subsequent years was genocide.

Since at least 1951 there have been numerous references by U.S. government officials, Congress, and previous presidents to what happened to the Armenians as genocide. These have often been during events held in commemoration of the anniversary of the start of the genocide. But efforts to pass a House resolution officially recognizing it have failed, often as a result of lobbying on behalf of Turkey.

President Barack Obama, as a senator, pledged to support congressional resolutions to recognize the Armenian Genocide. As a presidential candidate, he once again promised to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Yet once he became president, political realities prevented such a move.

At this time, some 23 foreign countries, a number of world organizations, and 44 U.S. states have recognized the genocide that took place against the Armenian people. The Union for Reform Judaism, Anti-Defamation League, and American Jewish Committee have previously taken positions recognizing the genocide, as well as some U.S. church groups.

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs believes:

- The Jewish people have asked the world to bear witness to the Holocaust. As we say Never Again, we must likewise bear witness to other people’s genocide and say Never Again.

- We suffer greatly from efforts to minimize our own suffering and experience of genocide and we have a moral responsibility, as Jews, to name it in others’ experience.

-We must not let the politics of the moment, or the U.S. government’s relationship with Turkey, sway our moral obligation to recognize the suffering of the Armenian people.

- We call upon our the Congress and the President to officially recognize what started in 1915 at the hands of the Ottoman Turks, and resulted in the killing and deportation of approximately 1.5 million Armenians, as the Armenian Genocide.

The community relations field should:

- Consult and work with the major Jewish organizations to raise awareness of the issue and gain their support in working to gain U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

- Consult and work with our interfaith coalition partners to further the aim of U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

- Urge our congressional representatives to support resolutions in Congress that call for the United States to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

- Call upon the President to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION ISTANBUL BRANCH PRESS RELEASE

April 24, 2015

100th Year: STOP DENIALISM WE DEMAND RECOGNITION, APOLOGY, COMPENSATION

Precisely 100 years ago today, the first arrests that came to symbolize the Armenian genocide began in Istanbul. The Assyrians and Greeks too were victims of the Armenian Genocide. What we speak of here is a crime of 100 years. A shame of 100 years. A denial of 100 years.

We are the grandchildren of the perpetrators of genocide. Perhaps not each and every one of us comes from the lineage of the people who directly participated in the massacres and the plunders, but we were born into their ethnic and religious identity. We belong to a social group that has unquestioningly benefitted from the order and privileges created by the perpetrators of genocide. The crime of genocide and denial was committed in the name of the religion and ethnic identity into which we were born. We carry on our shoulders its shame, its responsibility, and its moral burden.

That is the reason why we declare: A commemoration of the crime of genocide on these lands can have meaning only if it expresses the shame and the responsibility of the descendants of the perpetrators, that is, those who have had the opportunity for growth, development, and enrichment in the absence of––due to the absence of––the peoples who fell victim to genocide.

While this understanding constitutes the ethical core of commemoration, our concrete demands are for Recognition, Apology, Compensation, and Restitution.

The historical building before which we now stand, and which now functions as the Museum for Turkish and Islamic Art, is in fact the Ibrahim Pasha Palace. This palace was used for many years as a prison, including a jail for children. This is where the detainees of 24 April 1915 were incarcerated before they were sent from Haydarpasha to the depths of Anatolia, and then to their deaths. A great many of them were leaders of the Armenian community of Istanbul—poets, writers, members of parliament, scientists, doctors, representatives in the Armenian National Assembly. Among them was Gomidas, the monumental figure of Armenian culture who traveled from village to village, collecting and transcribing thousands of songs in Kurdish, Armenian, and Turkish for the very first time.

Among them were also Armenians from all walks of life. Garabed Agha, the butcher, for example, was brought here before he even had a chance to take off his apron and steel knife-sharpener, or to take his earnings and close his shop. The detainees were first sent off from Sarayburnu to Haydarpasha, and then put on the train. After stopping overnight in Eskişehir, they continued further east. One group was deported to Ayaş, another to Çankırı. Of the 70 people sent to Ayaş, 58 were killed, and of the 150 sent to Çankırı, 81 were killed.

The violence did not end there. Armenian existence in Anatolia, with all its historical, economic and social fabric, was brought to an end by way of the governing Committee for Union and Progress and its violent organization, Teşkilat-ı Mahsusa. It was not only Armenian lives, but their property, belongings, money, memories, and history that were usurped. The genocide was not only a destruction, but also a massive plunder. An entire civilization was annihilated, and erased from its homeland of thousands of years.

But even so, they did not succeed in destroying the Armenian people and putting an end to Armenian existence altogether. All over the world, including in Armenia and in Turkey, Armenians have maintained and passed on their identity through their schools, churches, and publications, no matter how little their numbers. And yet denialism perpetuates the genocide for each and every one of them, and prolongs the crime.

Other non-Muslim Anatolian peoples—Assyrians, Greeks, Ezidis—shared the same fate as Armenians in the period of the genocide. 300,000 Assyrians were killed in the deportations and massacres in the region of Tur Abdin, which incorporates Hakkari, Van, and Siirt, as well as in Urmiye in northwest Iran. Starting in 1914, the Greeks of Asia Minor were killed or driven out as a result of organized attacks by gangs under the orders of the CUP. This period lasted until 1923, the founding of the Republic. 1.5 million Greeks, of whom about 750,000 were killed, were torn form their homeland. The lands on which we live today were first purged of its Christian peoples. After the founding of the Republic, the Kurds, some of whom had themselves perpetrated the genocide, were now targeted. This is when the Turkification of the country began, which included the assimilation of other Muslim ethnic groups as well.

As the 100th Year—Stop Denialism Initiative, we here call out to the state of the Republic of Turkey: Recognize the genocide. Apologize. Compensate and restitute justice. Only then will the dead be buried as they deserve, in dignity––the dead who flowed in rivers, who were piled up in valleys, thrown down cliffs, drowned in the sea. Only then will their soul find some peace. It is not possible to bring back a world that disappeared. But the recognition of the crime and the restitution of justice will begin to relieve the righteous anger, pain, and longing of the victims’ families who continue to live under the tyranny of denial.

100th YEAR—STOP DENIALISM INITIATIVE

American Jewish Commitee

April 23, 2014

AJC Pays Tribute to Memories of Victims of the Meds Yeghern

April 23. 2014 -- New York -- In a month of solemn remembrance of the atrocities of the last century -- from the 20th anniversary of the start of the Rwandan genocide to the annual commemoration in Israel and the United States of the Holocaust -- we pause in mournful tribute to the memories of the estimated 1.5 million victims of the Meds Yeghern, the Genocide of Armenians, committed in the final years of the Ottoman Empire.

AJC calls on the government of Turkey, a republic founded years after the empire's dissolution, to not only provide at long last full access, as the government has pledged, to the historical record of that dark period of mass murder, forced relocation, death marches, sundering of families, and other abuses -- but to address the realities the records reveal. The process of healing of this nearly century-old wound can only begin when the truth of that sorrowful era is confronted.

"As our organization has testified and written on various occasions, the atrocities committed against ethnic Armenians under Ottoman rule were an unspeakable crime against humanity," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "For the often-invoked but too-seldom-fulfilled

phrase 'Never again' to have real meaning, the full details of that period must be acknowledged."

"We identify with the core message of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, by then-Harvard University Professor, and now U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power that history must be faced, the dictates of conscience heeded -- or we are doomed to endless brutalities by the powerful against the weak," Harris added.

"As successive horrors painfully remind us," Harris concluded, "we each bear the obligation of remembrance as a necessary step toward preventing such acts in the future. We stand in solidarity with people of good will everywhere in marking the 99th anniversary of the onset of the Meds Yeghern -- the first, and not the last, instance of ethnic massacre and genocide of the 20th century."

Mercosur (Mercado Común del Sur / Southern Common Market. Consists of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay)

November 19, 2007

""The Parliament of MERCOSUR condemns the genocide committed by Ottoman Turkey from 1915-1923 which took the lives of one-and-a-half million people. The Parliament expresses its support to the righteous cause of the Armenian people. The Parliament also appeals to governments and parliaments, which have not recognised and condemned the Armenian genocide, to adopt similar decisions.""

South American Parliamentarians Coalition (MERCOSUR)

Montevideo, UruguayDeputies from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay - all members of the South American Parliamentarians coalition, known as MERCOSUR- adopted on Monday November 19 a resolution recognising and condemning the Armenian Genocide. The meeting was held in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay.

In a unanimous decision, the Human Rights Committee of the parliament recommended the adoption of the resolution.

"The Parliament of MERCOSUR condemns the genocide committed by Ottoman Turkey from 1915-1923 which took the lives of one-and-a-half million people. The Parliament expresses its support to the righteous cause of the Armenian people. The Parliament also appeals to governments and parliaments, which have not recognised and condemned the Armenian

genocide, to adopt similar decisions."

The resolution was introduced by representatives from Argentina and Uruguay. MERCOSUR member states Argentina and Uruguay have already recognised the Armenian Genocide. Chile followed suit this year.

MERCOSUR, established in 1986, is one of the largest intergovernmental organisations in South America. The associated members of MERCOSUR are Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador and Peru.

The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity

April 9, 2007

THE ELIE WIESEL FOUNDATION FOR HUMANITY

April 9, 2007

Re: Nobel Laureates call for tolerance, contact and cooperation between Turks and Armenians

Dear friends,

We, the undersigned Nobel laureates, issue this appeal directly to the peoples of Turkey and Armenia. Mindful of the sacrifice paid by Hrant Dink, the ethnic Armenian editor of Agos in Turkey, who was assassinated on January 19, 2007, and whose death was mourned by both Turks and Armenians, we believe that the best way to pay tribute to Mr. Dink is through service to his life's work safeguarding freedom of expression and fostering reconciliation between Turks and Armenians.

To these ends, Armenians and Turks should encourage their governments to:

- Open the Turkish-Armenian border. An open border would greatly improve the economic conditions for communities on both sides of the border and enable human interaction, which is essential for mutual understanding. Treaties between the two countries recognize existing borders and call for unhampered travel and trade.

- Generate confidence through civil society cooperation. Turks and Armenians have been working since 2001 on practical projects that offer great promise in creatively and constructively dealing with shared problems. The governments should support such efforts by, for example, sponsoring academic links between Turkish and Armenian faculty, as well as student exchanges.

- Improve official contacts. Civil society initiatives would be enhanced by the governments' decision to accelerate their bilateral contacts, devise new frameworks for consultation, and consolidate relations through additional treaty arrangements and full diplomatic relations.

- Allow basic freedoms. Turkey should end discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities and abolish Article 301 of the Penal Code, which makes it a criminal offense to denigrate Turkishness. Armenia also should reverse its own authoritarian course, allow free and fair elections, and respect human rights. Turks and Armenians have a huge gap in perceptions over the Armenian Genocide. To address this gap, we refer to the 2003 "Legal Analysis on the Applicability of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide to Events which Occurred During the Early Twentieth Century," which corroborated findings of the International Association of Genocide Scholars.

It concluded that, "At least some of the [Ottoman] perpetrators knew that the consequences of their actions would be the destruction, in whole or in part, of the Armenians of eastern Anatolia, as such, or acted purposefully towards this goal and, therefore, possessed the requisite genocidal intent. The Events can thus be said to include all the elements of the crime of genocide as defined in the Convention." It also concluded that, "The Genocide Convention contains no provision mandating its retroactive application."

The analysis offers a way forward, which addresses the core concerns of both Armenians and Turks. Of course, coming to terms will be painful and difficult. Progress will not occur right away. Rather than leaving governments to their own devices, affected peoples and the leaders of civil society need to engage in activities that promote understanding and reconciliation while, at the same time, urging their governments to chart a course towards a brighter future.

Sincerely,

Peter Agre Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2003)Sidney Altman Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1989)Philip W. Anderson Nobel Prize, Physics (1977)Kenneth J. Arrow Nobel Prize, Economics (1972)Richard Axel Nobel Prize, Medicine (2004)Baruj Benacerraf Nobel Prize, Medicine (1980)Gunter Blobel Nobel Prize, Medicine (1999)Georges Charpak Nobel Prize, Physics (1992)Steven Chu Nobel Prize, Physics (1997)J.M. Coetzee Nobel Prize, Literature (2003)Claude Cohen-Tannoudji Nobel Prize, Physics (1997)Mairead Corrigan Maguire Nobel Prize, Peace (1976)Robert F. Curl Jr. Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1996)Paul J. Crutzen Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1995)Frederik W. de Klerk Nobel Prize, Peace (1993)Johann Deisenhofer Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1998)

John B. Fenn Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2002)Val Fitch Nobel Prize, Physics (1980)Jerome I. Friedman Nobel Prize, Physics (1990)Donald A. Glaser Nobel Prize, Physics (1960)Sheldon Glashow Nobel Prize, Physics (1979)Roy J. Glauber Nobel Prize, Physics (2005)Clive W.J. Granger Nobel Prize, Economics (2003)Paul Greengard Nobel Prize, Medicine (2000)David J. Gross Nobel Prize, Physics (2004)Roger Guillemin Nobel Prize, Medicine (1977)Dudley R. Herschbach Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1986)Avram Hershko Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2004)Roald Hoffman Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1981)Daniel Kahneman Nobel Prize, Economics (2002)Eric R. Kandel Nobel Prize, Medicine (2000)Aaron Klug Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1982)Edwin G. Krebs Nobel Prize, Medicine (1992)Sir Harold W. Kroto Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1996)Finn E. Kydland Nobel Prize, Economics (2004)Leon M. Lederman Nobel Prize, Physics (1988)Anthony J. Leggett Nobel Prize, Physics (2003)Rudolph A. Marcus Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1992)Daniel L. McFadden Nobel Prize, Economics (2000)Craig C. Mello Nobel Prize, Medicine (2006)Robert C. Merton Nobel Prize, Economics (1997)Marshall W. Nirenberg Nobel Prize, Medicine (1968)Sir Paul Nurse Nobel Prize, Medicine (2001)Douglas D. Osheroff Nobel Prize, Physics (1996)Martin L. Perl Nobel Prize, Physics (1995)John C. Polanyi Nobel Prize, Chemistry (1986)Stanley Prusiner Nobel Prize, Medicine (1997)José Ramos-Horta Nobel Prize, Peace (1996)Richard J. Roberts Nobel Prize, Medicine (1993)Wole Soyinka Nobel Prize, Literature (1986)Elie Wiesel Nobel Prize, Peace (1986)Betty Williams Nobel Prize, Peace (1976)Kurt Wüthrich Nobel Prize, Chemistry (2002)

Human Rights Association of Turkey, Istanbul Branch

HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION ISTANBUL BRANCHPRESS RELEASE

24th April 2006

Today, 24th of April, is worldwide recognised as the date signifying the Armenian Genocide. Only in Turkey it indicates a taboo. The Turkish state mobilises all its resources to deny the meaning of this date.

At diplomatic platforms Turkish officials and their advocates claim that they recognise the "big tragedy" and they only object to its being named as a "Genocide". That's not true. At every occasion in Turkey not only the Armenian Genocide, but also the great agony of the Armenian people is denied and attempts are made to justify the genocide.

It was only last month that during a Symposium on the Armenian-Turkish relations the denialist official theses were voiced one after another, offending the Armenians in Turkey and elsewhere and insulting the memory of their grandparents. Lies were told in the name of "science"., like "Armenians have always sold their masters", "deportation was a means of crisis management", "death toll of deportation is comparable to the death toll of flu epidemic in England that time", "there is no other people as noble as the Turkish nation in the world, it is impossible for them to commit a genocide", and many more, humiliating a people who was one of the most advanced in science, art, literature, and in all other aspects.

Denial is an constituant part of the genocide itself and results in the continuation of the genocide. Denial of genocide is a human rights violation in itself. It deprives individuals the right to mourn for their ancestors, for the ethnic cleansing of a nation, the annihilation of people of all ages, all professions, all social sections, women, men, children, babies, grandparents alike just because they were Armenians regardless of their political background or conviction. Perhaps the most important of all, it is the refusal of making a solemn, formal commitment and say "NEVER AGAIN".

Turkey has made hardly any progress in the field of co-existence, democracy, human rights and putting an end to militarism since the time of the Union and Progress Committee. Annihilation and denial had been and continues today to be the only means to solve the problem. Villages evacuated and put on fire and forced displacements are still the manifestation of the same habit of "social engineering". There has always been bloodshed in the homeland of Armenians after 1915. Unsolved murders, disappearances under custody, rapes and arrests en masse during the 1990's were no surprise, given the ongoing state tradition lacking any culture of repentance for past crimes against humanity.

Similarly the removal of a public prosecutor and banning him from profession just for taking the courage to mention an accusation against the military, a very recent incident, is the manifestation of an old habit of punishing anybody who dares to voice any objection to the army. And today's ongoing military build up of some 250,000 troops in the southeast of Turkey is the proof of a mindset who is unable to develop any solution to the Kurdish question other than armed suppresion.

Turkey will not be able to take even one step forward without putting an end to the continuity of the Progress and Union manner of ruling. No human rights violation can be stopped in Turkey and there will be no hope of breaking the vicious circle of Kurdish uprisings and their bloody suppression unless the Turkish state agree to create an environment where public homage is paid to genocide victims, where the sufferings of their grandchildren is shared and the genocide is recognised.

Today we, as the human rights defenders, would like to address all Armenians in Turkey and elsewhere in the world and tell them "we want to share the pain in your hearts and bow down before the memory of your lost ones. They are also our losses. Our struggle for human rights in Turkey, is at the same time our mourning for our common losses and a homage paid to the genocide victims".

International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) Report Prepared for TARC

February 10, 2003

The Applicability of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide to Events which Occurred During the Early Twentieth Century

Legal Analysis Prepared for the International Center for Transitional Justice

The Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC), formed July 9, 2001, by Turkish and Armenian civil society representatives, requested that the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) facilitate an independent legal study on the applicability of the 1948 Genocide Convention to events which occurred during the early twentieth century. On February 4, 2003, ICTJ provided TARC the following analysis on the subject. This analysis was issued to the public by TARC on February 10, 2003.

Read the full text of the memorandum.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF LEGAL CONCLUSIONS

International law generally prohibits the retroactive application of treaties unless a different intention appears from the treaty or is otherwise established. The Genocide Convention contains no provision mandating its retroactive application. To the contrary, the text of the Convention strongly suggests that it was intended to impose prospective obligations only on the States party to it. Therefore, no legal, financial or territorial claim arising out of the Events could successfully be made against any individual or state under the Convention.

The term genocide, as used in the Convention to describe the international crime of that name, may be applied, however, to many and various events that occurred prior to the entry into force of the Convention. References to genocide as a historical fact are contained in the text of the Convention and its travaux preparatoires.

As it has been developed by the International Criminal Court (whose Statute adopts the Convention's definition of genocide), the crime of genocide has four elements: (i) the

perpetrator killed one or more persons; (ii) such person or persons belonged to a particular national, ethnical, racial or religious group; (iii) the perpetrator intended to destroy, in whole or in part, that group, as such; and (iv) the conduct took place in the context of a manifest pattern of similar conduct directed against that group or was conduct that could itself effect such destruction.

There are many accounts of the Events, and significant disagreement among them on many issues of fact. Notwithstanding these disagreements, the core facts common to all of the various accounts of the Events we reviewed establish that three of the elements listed above were met: (1) one or more persons were killed; (2) such persons belonged to a particular national, ethnical, racial or religious group; and (3) the conduct took place in the context of a manifest pattern of similar conduct directed against that group. For purposes of assessing whether the Events, viewed collectively, constituted genocide, the only relevant area of disagreement is on whether the Events were perpetrated with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such. While this legal memorandum is not intended to definitively resolve particular factual disputes, we believe that the most reasonable conclusion to draw from the various accounts of the Events is that at least some of the perpetrators of the Events knew that the consequence of their actions would be the destruction, in whole or in part, of the Armenians of eastern Anatolia, as such, or acted purposively towards this goal, and, therefore, possessed the requisite genocidal intent. Because the other three elements identified above have been definitively established, the Events, viewed collectively, can thus be said to include all of the elements of the crime of genocide as defined in the Convention, and legal scholars as well as historians, politicians, journalists and other people would be justified in continuing to so describe them.

World Alliance of YMCAs

July 20, 2002

15th World Council of YMCAs, Oaxtepec, Mexico14th-20th July, 2002

In the course of its work with the Armenian YMCA, the European Alliance of YMCAs has developed a greater understanding of the trauma experienced by the Armenian people as a result of the continued indifference by much of the world to the genocide committed against them at the beginning of the 20th century.

As a Christian youth movement, the World Alliance of YMCAs believes that failure to acknowledge the injustice of the past contributes to their repetition in the future.

With this conviction, the World Alliance of YMCAs, assembled for World Council, July 2002 in Oaxtepec, Mexico, recognizes and condemns the genocide committed against the Armenian people and appeals to all National YMCA movements to similarly recognize and condemn it.

Le Ligue des Droits de l'Homme

May 16, 1998

Résolution

RÉSOLUTION ADOPTÉÉ AU 78e CONGRÈSDE LA LIGUE DES DROITS DE L'HOMME (8, 9 et 10 mai 1998)

SUR LE GÉNOCIDE DES ARMÉNIENS

Réunie en congrès à l'occasion du 100e anniversaire de sa création, la Ligue des Droits de l'Homme réaffirme que les massacres perpétrés à l'encontre des populations arméniennes de l'Empire Ottoman entre 1915 et 1917 constituent un véritable génocide.

En conséquence, elle demande à l'ensemble des Parlementaires d'émettre un vote unanime de reconnaissance du Génocide des Arméniens, le premier de ce siècle.

16 Mai 1998

Unofficial translation

May 16, 1998

Resolution

RESOLUTION ADOPTED AT THE 78TH CONGRESSOF THE LEAGUE OF HUMAN RIGHTS (May 8, 9 and 10, 1998)

ON THE GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS

Meeting in congress on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its creation, the League of Human Rights reaffirms that the massacres perpetrated against the Armenian populations of the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1917 constitute a true genocide.

As a result, the League asks all parliamentarians to issue a unanimous vote of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the first of this century.

May 16, 1998

Parlamenta Kurdistanê Li Derveyî Welat

April 24, 1996

Parlamenta Kurdistanê Li Derveyî WelatKurdistan Parliament in Exile

24 April 1996

To the members of the public

The division of Kurdistan has affected both the Armenian and the Assyrian people. Colonialists have not only pursued the policy of extermination against the Kurds and forced them into migration but had also turned the peoples against one another.

On 24 April 1915, the Ottoman Empire had taken the decision of massacre of the Armenian and Assyrian peoples. The ground for this massacre was prepared in advance. The Kurdish tribes involved in Hamidieh Cavalry took part in the Armenian massacre. Hundreds of thousands of Armenian and Assyrians were slaughtered and as many were forced to migrate during this massacre.

The Turkish state is also following the same policy today. While aggravating the Alevi and Sunni people against each other, the government is also promoting the village guard system thus setting the Kurds against one another.

Today is the 81st anniversary of the massacre of both the Armenian and Assyrian peoples.

Today we wish to share the pain and suffering of our peoples and strongly condemn the Turkish state and any force which is collaborating with it.

Zubeyir AydarChair of the Executive Committee

Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, Verdict of the Tribunal

April 16, 1984

"...they constitute a people protected by the right to self determination which necessarily implies that they also constitute a group, the destruction of which is outlawed by virtue of the rule pertaining to genocide."

Permanent Peoples' TribunalApril 16, 1984

Verdict of the Tribunal

PreambleThe most fundamental of all assaults on the right of peoples is the crime of genocide. Nothing is graver in a criminal sense than a deliberate state policy of systematic extermination of a people based on their particular ethnic identity. This centrality of genocide to the works of the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal is embodied in its basic framework of law set forth in the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Peoples (Algiers, 4 July 1976).

Article 1 of the Algiers Declaration asserts: 'Every people has the right to existence.' Article 2:

'Every people has the right to respect of its national and cultural identity.' Article 3: 'Every people has the right to retain peaceful possession of its territory and to return to it if it is expelled.'

And finally, Article 4 confronts directly the reality of genocide: 'None shall be subjected, because of his national or cultural identity, to massacre, torture, persecution, deportation, expulsion or living conditions such as may compromise the identity of integrity of the people to which he belongs.'

Yet, it may still be asked, why so many years after the alleged genocide, should the Tribunal devote its energies to an inquiry into the allegations of the Armenian people. After all, the basic grievance of massacre and extermination is fixed in time sixty-nine years ago in 1915. The Tribunal is convinced that its duties include the validation of historic grievances if these have never been properly brought before the bar of justice and acknowledged in an appropriate form by the government involved.

In this instance, the basis for an examination and evaluation of these Armenian allegations is especially compelling. Every government of the Turkish state since 1915 has refused to come to grips with the accusation of responsibility for the genocidal events.

In recent international forums and academic meetings, the Turkish government had made a concerted effort to block inquiry or acknowledgement of the Armenian genocide.

Furthermore, the current Turkish government has not taken cognizance of these most serious charges of responsibility for extermination the Armenian people. On the contrary, additional charges implicate the present Turkish government in continuing these exterminist policies.

Particularly relevant in this regard are the charges of deliberate destruction, desecration, and neglect of Armenian cultural monuments and religious buildings. The Tribunal adopts the view that charge of the crime of genocide remains a present reality to be examined and, if established, to be appropriately and openly acknowledged by leaders of the responsible state. The victims of a crime of genocide are entitled to legal relief even after this great lapse of time, although this relief must necessarily reflect present circumstances.

Here, also, the attitudes of the Armenian survivors and their descendants are also relevant. Any people rightfully insist and seek a formal recognition by legal authorities of crimes and injustices found to have been committed at their expense. The more extreme the injustice and the longer it is covered up, the more profound is this longing for recognition. The Tribunal notes with regret that the frustration arising from this denial of acknowledgement has seemingly contributed to the recourse to terroristic acts against Turkish diplomats and others. The hope of the Tribunal is to facilitate a constructive process of coming to terms with the Armenian reality, which may lead to a resolution or moderation of the conflict that may arise from it.

Genocide is the worst conceivable crime of state. Often, the state responsible is protected from accountability by other states and by the international framework of the organizations, including the United Nations, composed exclusively of states. One striking feature of the Armenian experience is the responsibility of other states who, for reasons of geopolitics, join with the Turkish government in efforts to prevent, even at this late date, a thorough inquiry and award of legal relief.

The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal was brought into existence partly to overcome the moral and

political failures of states as instruments of justice. The Tribunal has inquired into the Armenian grievances precisely because of the long silence of the organized international society and, especially, of the complicity of leading Western states (with the recent exception of France) who have various economic, political, and military ties with the Turkish state.

The Tribunal also acts because it is deeply concerned with the prevalence of genocide and genocidal attitudes in our world. As members of the Tribunal we believe that the uncovering and objective documentation of allegations of genocide contributes to the process of acknowledgement. To uncover and expose the genocidal reality makes it somewhat harder for those with motives of cover up to maintain their position. By validating the grievances of the victims, the Tribunal contributes to the dignity of their suffering and lends support to their continuing struggle. Indeed, acknowledging genocide itself is a fundamental means of struggling against genocide. The acknowledgement is itself an affirmation of the right of a people under international law to a safeguarded existence.

The Facts

I. Historical IntroductionThe presence of the Armenian people in eastern Anatolia and the Caucasus is attested from the sixth century B.C. onward. For two millennia the Armenian people alternated between periods of independence and vassaldom. A succession of royal dynasties came to an end with the collapse of the last Armenian kingdom in the fourteenth century. Having adopted Christianity as their state religion in the early part of the fourth century as well as their own alphabet, both of which gave them a national identity from this period, the Armenians were often persecuted because of their faith by various invaders and suzerains. Though they occupied a geographical position which, as a strategic crossroads, was particularly vulnerable, the Armenians were able until the First World War to create and preserve on their historic territory - which the Turks themselves called Ermenistan - a language, a culture, and a religion: in short, an identity.

Following the disappearance of the last Armenian kingdom, the greater part of "Armenia fell under Turkish domination, while the Eastern regions were under the control first of Persia, then of the Russians, who annexed them in the nineteenth century.

Like other religious minorities, the Armenian community (or 'millet') enjoyed religious and cultural autonomy within the Ottoman Empire and, indeed, was left more or less in peace during the classical period of the Empire's history, in spite of the Armenians' status as second-class citizens ('rayahs').

But with the decline of the Empire in the nineteenth century, conditions grew steadily worse and the climate became one of oppression. The growth in population and the arrival of successive waves of Turkish refugees from Russia and the Balkans as well as the sedentarization of nomads (Kurds, Circassians, etc.) upset the balance of populations and increased the pressure of competition for land, creating numerous problems of tenure in the agrarian sector. The result was a deterioration in the fortunes of the Armenian population, who were mostly peasants and farmers. Modernization and reform were made difficult by the fossilized structure of the Empire. The few attempts at reform (formation of a modern army, taxation in coin) merely impoverished the peasantry further. At the same time, the emergence of national feelings in the Balkans was leading increasingly to the independence of peoples who had hitherto been under Ottoman rule. The empire was being steadily weakened, not least due to its foreign debt.

From 1878, following the Russian-Turkish war the Armenian question became a factor in the question of the Orient. Article 16 of the Treaty of San Stefano (1878) provided that a series of reforms would be carried out in Armenian areas under Russian guarantee. However, following a reversal of alliances, the Treaty of Berlin (1878) relieved Turkey of part of its obligations and charged Great Britain to supervise the reforms; but they were never implemented.

A revolutionary movement began to develop within the Armenian community (Dashnak and Hunchak parties). Following the Sasun insurrection in 1894, approximately 300,000 Armenians were massacred in the eastern provinces and in Constantinople on the orders of Sultan Abdul Hamid. Protests by the Powers led to more promises of reforms which, again, were never kept; the guerilla ('fedayis') struggle continued. From the turn of the century onward, Armenian revolutionaries also began to cooperate with the Young Turk party in the definition of a federalist plan for the Empire. Following the hopes generated by the constitutional revolution of 1908 Young Turk ideology, under pressure of the exercise of power and external events as well as from the radical wing of the movement, began to develop toward a form of exclusive nationalism which found expression in Pan-Turkism and Turanism.

The Armenians' situation in the Eastern province had not changed either as the result of the revolution or of the overthrow of Abdul Hamid in 1909 (massacres of Adana), and demands for reforms were again made by the Entente Powers. These demands were eventually heard in February 1914, and two inspectors were appointed to supervise their implementation. The appointments were considered by the Ottoman government as unacceptable interference.

At the outbreak of the First World War, the Ottoman Empire was uncertain as to which side to join. At the beginning of November 1914, under German pressure, it sided with the Central Powers. This placed the Armenians in a difficult position. They occupied a territory which Turkey considered as vital to the realization of its Turanist imperialistic ambitions with regard to the peoples of Transcaucasia and Central Asia. Furthermore, the division of the Armenian people between the Ottoman Empire (2,000,000 Armenians) and Russia (1,700,000) inevitably meant that the two sections of the population found themselves on opposing sides. At the Eighth Congress of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation at Erzerum in August 1914, the Dashnak party rejected Young Turk requests to engage in subversive action among the Russian Armenians. From the beginning of the war, the Turkish Armenians behaved in general as loyal subjects, signing up with the Turkish army. The Russian Armenians, on their side, were routinely conscripted into the Russian Army and sent to fight on the European fronts. In the first months of the war, Russian Armenians enrolled with volunteer corps which acted as scouts for the Tsarist army - the Russian answer to the plan Turks had submitted to Armenians in Erzerum some months earlier. The Erzerum refusal and the formation of these volunteer battalions were used as arguments by the Young Turks to allege Armenian treachery. Enver, who had been appointed Supreme Commander of Turkish forces, achieved a breakthrough into Transcaucasia in the middle of winter, but was defeated at Sarkamish as much by the weather conditions as by the Russian army. Of the Turkish Third Army's 90,000 men, only 15,000 remained. In the depressed aftermath of the defeat in the Caucasus, the anti-Armenian measures began.

II. The GenocideBeginning in January 1915, Armenians soldiers and gendarmes were disarmed, regrouped in work brigades of 500 to 1,000 men, put to work on road maintenance or as porters, then taken by stages to remote areas and executed. It was not until April that the implementation of a plan began, with successive phases carried out in a disciplined sequence. The signal was first given for deportation to begin in Zeytun in early April, in an area of no immediate strategic

importance. It was not until later that deportation measures were extended to the border provinces.

The pretext used to make the deportation a general measure was supplied by the resistance of the Armenians of Van. The vali of Van, Jevdet, sacked outlying Armenian villages and the Van Armenians organized the self-defense of the city. They were saved by a Russian breakthrough spearheaded by the Armenian volunteers from the Caucasus. After taking Van on May 18th, the Russians continued to press forward but were halted in late June by a Turkish counter-offensive. The Armenians of the vilayet of Van were thus able to retreat and escape extermination.

When the news of the Van revolt reached Constantinople, the Union and Progress (Ittihad) Committee seized the opportunity. Some 650 personalities, writers, poets, lawyers, doctors, priests and politicians were imprisoned on April 24th and 25th, 1915, then deported and murdered in the succeeding months. Thus was carried out what was practically the thorough and deliberate elimination of almost the entire Armenian intelligentsia of the time.

From April 24 onwards, and following a precise timetable, the government issued orders to deport the Armenians from the eastern vilayets. Since Van was occupied by the Russian army, the measures applied only to the six vilayets of Trebizond (Trabzon), Erzerum, Bitlis, Diarbekir, Kharput, and Sivas. The execution of the plan was entrusted to a 'special organization' (SO), made up of common criminals and convicts trained and equipped by the Union and Progress Committee. This semi-official organization, led by Behaeddin Shakir, was under the sole authority of the Ittihad Central Committee. This semi-official organization, led by Behaeddin Shakir, was under the sole authority of the Ittihad Central Committee. Constantinople issued directives to the valis, kaymakans, as well as local SO men, who had discretionary powers to have moved or dismissed any uncooperative gendarme or official. The methods used, the order in which towns were evacuated, and the routes chosen for the columns of deportees all confirm the existence of a centralized point of command controlling the unfolding of the program. Deportation orders were announced publicly or posted in each city and township. Families were allowed two days to collect a few personal belongings; their property was confiscated or quickly sold off. The first move was generally the arrest of notables, members of Armenian political parties, priests, and young men, who were forced to sign fabricated confessions then discreetly eliminated in small groups. The convoys of deportees were made up of old people, women, and children. In the more remote villages, families were slaughtered and their homes burned or occupied. On the Black Sea coast and along the Tigris near Diarbekir boats were heaped with victims and sunk. From May to July 1915, the eastern provinces were sacked and looted by Turkish soldiers and gendarmes, SO gangs ('chetes'), etc. This robbery, looting, torture, and murder were tolerated or encouraged while any offer of protection to the Armenians was severely punished by the Turkish authorities.

It was not possible to keep the operation secret. Alerted by missionaries and consuls, the Entente Powers enjoined the Turkish government, from May 24, to put an end to the massacres, for which they held members of the government personally responsible. Turkey made the deportation official by issuing a decree, claiming treason, sabotage, and terrorist acts on the part of the Armenians as a pretext.

Deportation was in fact only a disguised form of extermination. The strongest were eliminated before departure. Hunger, thirst, and slaughter decimated the convoys' numbers. Thousands of bodies piled up along the roads. Corpses hung from trees and telegraph poles; mutilated bodies floated down rivers or were washed up on the banks. Of the seven eastern vilayets' original population of 1,200,00 Armenians, approximately 300,000 were able to take

advantage of the Russian occupation to reach the Caucasus; the remainder were murdered where they were or deported, the women and children (about 200,000 in number) kidnapped. Not more than 50,000 survivors reached the point of convergence of the convoys of deportees in Aleppo.

At the end of July 1915, the government began to deport the Armenians of Anatolia and Cilicia, transferring the population from regions which were far distant from the front and where the presence of Armenians could not be regarded as a threat to the Turkish army. The deportees were driven south in columns which were decimated en route. From Aleppo, survivors were sent on toward the deserts of Syria in the south and of Mesopotamia in the southeast. In Syria, reassembly camps were set up at Hama, Homs, and near Damascus. These camps accommodated about 120,000 refugees, the majority of whom survived the war and were repatriated to Cilicia in 1919. Along the Euphrates, on the other hand, the Armenians were driven ever onward toward Deir-el-Zor; approximately 200,000 reached their destination. Between March and August 1916, orders came from Constantinople to liquidate the last survivors remaining in the camps along the railway and the banks of the Euphrates.

There were nevertheless still some Armenians remaining in Turkey. A few Armenian families in the provinces, Protestants and Catholics for the most part, had been saved from death by the American missions and the Apostolic Nuncio. In some cases, Armenians had been spared as a result of resolute intervention by Turkish officials, or had been hidden by Kurdish or Turkish friends. The Armenians of Constantinople and Smyrna also escaped deportation. Lastly, there were cases of resistance (Urfa, Shabin-Karahisar, Musa-Dagh). In all, including those who took refuge in Russia, the number of survivors at the end of 1916 can be estimated at 600,000 out of an estimated total population in 1914 of 1,800,000, according to A. Toynbee.

In Eastern Anatolia, the entire Armenian population had disappeared. A few survivors of the slaughter took refuge in Syria and Lebanon, while others reached Russian Armenia. In April 1918, in order to circumvent provisions of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk stipulating that Bolshevik Russia cede Batum, Kars, and Ardahan to Turkey, Transcaucasia declared independence, forming a short-lived Federation which was to break up into three republics in May 1918: Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

At its defeat in November 1918, Turkey recognized the Armenian state and even ceded to it in the following year the vilayets of Kars and Ardahan.

All the allied governments had solemnly promised on several occasions, in statements by their representatives Lloyd George, Clemenceau, Wilson, etc., to ensure that justice was done by the 'martyred Armenian people'.

In April 1920, the San Remo Conference proposed that the United States accept an Armenian mandate, and that, whatever the United States decision, President Wilson should define the frontiers of the Armenian State and that the peace treaty with Turkey should designate him as a referee in the question of the Turkish-Armenian frontiers.

The Treaty of Sèvres (August 10, 1920), which recognized the Armenian state and ratified the frontiers drawn by President Wilson, did not, however, settle the issue. This Treaty, which was signed by the government in Constantinople and which shared out large sections of Anatolia to the Italians, the British, and the French as well as favoured the Greeks in the Aegean Sea, was unacceptable to Mustafa Kemal, who rejected it. The Republic of Armenia under the leadership of the socialist Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnak) was soon caught in a vice between the Kemalist offensive and Bolshevik Russia. When, on November 20,1920,

President Wilson officially set forth the territorial limits of the new state, the collapse of the Republic was only a few days off. The vilayets of Kars and Ardahan were retaken by Turkey (Treaty of Alexandropol) and what remained of Armenia (approximately 30,000 sq. km.) became Soviet on December 2, 1920.

On July 24, 1923, the Treaty of Lausanne was signed by the Great Powers and the new Republic of Turkey with no mention of Armenia or the rights of Armenians. The Armenian question was closed.

III. The EvidenceThe Tribunal is invited to pronounce judgement on the charge of genocide brought on the basis of the events of 1915-1917.

The Tribunal considers that the facts presented above are established on the basis of substantial and concordant evidence. This evidence has been produced and analyzed in the various reports heard by the Tribunal, to which numerous documents have been submitted.

A near-exhaustive bibliography of these sources has been drawn up by Professor R.G. Hovannisian,The Armenian Holocaust, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1981.

Not counting the Ottoman archives-which are inaccessible-the main documents are as follows:

The German archives, which in view of the status of Germany as ally of the Ottoman Empire, are of prime significance. Especially worthy of note are the reports and eyewitness observations of Johannes Lepsius, of Dr. Armin Wegner, of the charitable organization 'Deutscher Hilfsbund', of Dr. Jacob Kunzler, of the journalist Stuermer, of Dr. Martin Niepage, of the missionary Ernst Christoffel, and of General Liman von Sanders; the latter related how the Armenian populations of Smyrna and Andrinopolis were spared as a result of his resolute personal intervention.

The reports of German diplomatic and consular personnel who were the eyewitnesses of the conditions of the dispersion of the Armenians at Erzerum, Aleppo, Samsun, etc.

The American archives, which also contained very ample material in confirmation of the above (reports by missionaries, consuls, and charities) and 'Internal Affairs of Turkey, 1910-1919, Race Problems', State Department, and the memoirs of the of the American Ambassador in Constantinople, Henry Morgenthau.

The British authorities' Blue Book on these events, published in 1916 by Viscount Bryce.

The minutes of the Trial of the Unionists (Ittihadists) on charges brought by the Turkish government following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire.

At the time of this trial, which took place between April and July 1919, the Turkish government collected evidence of the deportation and massacres and tried those responsible - the majority in their absence - by a court martial. The court convicted most of the defendants, including Talaat, Enver, and Jemal, who were sentenced to death in absentia.

The reports submitted to the Tribunal by four survivors of the massacres who lived through the events as children.

IV. The Turkish ArgumentsThe Tribunal has examined the Turkish arguments as set forth in the documents submitted to it.

The refusal of the Turkish government to recognize the genocide of the Armenians is based essentially on the following arguments: lower estimate of death toll; responsibility of Armenian revolutionaries; counter-accusations; denial of premeditation.

The number of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire in 1914 has been variously estimated at 2,100,000 by the Armenian Patriarchate; 1,800,000 by A. Toynbee; and about 1,300,000 by the Turks. In spite of different estimates of the number of victims, the Armenians and almost all the Western experts agree on the proportion; approximately two thirds of the population. The Turks claim that the consequences of the 'transfer' were on a much smaller scale, resulting in the disappearance of 20-25 percent of the population due to generally poor wartime conditions. The Turkish state also points out that losses were heavy on the Muslim side. This argument appears to overlook the fact that Armenians have almost entirely disappeared from Anatolia. The population of Turkey is currently about 45 million, of whom less than 100,000 are Armenians.

In order to shift responsibility away from itself, the Turkish government alleges that Armenians committed acts of sedition and indeed of treason in time of war. However, the Tribunal has found that the only armed actions undertaken within the Ottoman Empire were the Sasun revolt and the resistance of Van in April 1915.

A further argument advanced by the Turkish state is the accusation that it was the Armenians who supposedly committed genocide against the Turks. It is true that in 1917 (i.e. more than a year after the deportation and extermination of the Armenians was completed) a number of Turkish villages were annihilated by Armenian troops. The Tribunal considers that these acts, however blameworthy, cannot be considered as genocide. Furthermore, the Tribunal notes that these acts were committed some considerable time after the mass slaughter suffered by the Armenians.

Lastly, the Turkish state rejects the charge of premeditation, impugning the authenticity of the five telegrams sent by the Minister of the Interior, Talaat, which were certified as authentic by experts appointed by the Court at the trial of Soghomon Tehlirian at Berlin-Charlottenburg in 1921. Tehlirian was acquitted of the murder of Talaat in view of the crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Young Turk government. The German Ambassador, Wangenheim, for his part, left no doubt, as early as July 7, 1915 as to the premeditation of the events: 'these circumstances and the manner in which the deportation is being carried out are a demonstration of the fact that the government is indeed pursuing its goal of exterminating the Armenian race in the Ottoman Empire.' (Letter concerning the extension of the deportation measures to provinces not under threat of invasion by the enemy [No. 106 in the collectionDeutschland und Armenien, 1914-1918] in the Wilhelmstrasse archives and published by the Rev. Lepsius.)

In 1971, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights asked its Sub-Committee on the fight against discriminatory measures and the protection of minorities, comprising independent experts, to undertake a 'study of the question of the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide.'

In 1973 and 1975, the two interim reports which were submitted to the Sub-Committee by the special rapporteur contained a paragraph 30 which read as follows: 'In modern times, attention should be drawn to the existence of fairly abundant documentation relating to the

massacre of the Armenians, considered as the first genocide of the twentieth century.'

In the final report submitted to the Commission in 1979, the aforementioned paragraph 30 was omitted.

The Commission's Chairman observed that the omission had given rise to such a wave of protest that its effects were assuming proportions which had possibly not been anticipated by the author. He therefore invited the rapporteur, when putting the finishing touches to his report, to bear in mind this reaction and statements made by the Commission delegates following the omission

The special rapporteur never reported back to complete his mission and the Sub-Committee, in pursuance of Economic and Social Council Resolution 1983/33, appointed another special rapporteur with instructions to fully revise and update the study on the question of the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide.

The Tribunal has found that the Turkish delegation, in opposing the adoption of the above-mentioned paragraph 30, essentially advanced the following arguments:

that the facts alleged were a distortion of historical truth.

that the term genocide did not apply since the events concerned were not massacres but acts of war.

and lastly, that harking back to events which took place as long ago as the beginning of the century would merely serve to stir up ill feeling.

On the first two points, concerning the facts and the law, the Tribunal has examined the arguments submitted in the case before it and trusts that in so doing it has contributed to meeting the wish of the Commission for Human Rights that efforts should be made to enable the Sub-Committee to complete its task taking into consideration all the material which has been submitted to it.

On the third point, the Tribunal can only observe that the refusal to adopt paragraph 30,

quoted above, far from allaying concern, has given rise to passionate reaction.

In LawI. On the Rights of the Armenian PeopleThe Tribunal notes that the Armenian population groups which were the victims of the massacres and other atrocities which have been reported to it constitute a people within the meaning of the law of nations.

Today, this people has the right of self-determination in accordance with Article 1,S2 of the United Nations Charter and the provisions of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Peoples adopted in Algiers on July 4, 1976. It is incumbent upon the international community, and primarily, on the United Nations Organization, to take all necessary measures to ensure the observance of this fundamental right, including measures the prime object of which shall be to enable the effective exercise of that right.

The Tribunal wishes to stress the special obligations which are placed upon the Turkish state in this regard arising from the general rule of the law of nations as well as from individual treaties to which it has been party and which date back approximately one hundred years. In this connection, the Tribunal draws special attention to the fact that by virtue of Article 61 of the Treaty of Berlin, the aforementioned state entered into an obligation as early as 1878 to assign the Armenian people within the Ottoman Empire a regime guaranteeing its right to flourish in a climate of security under the supervision of the international community. The Tribunal also notes that promises of self determination which were made to the Armenian people at the time of the First World War were not kept, since the international community unduly permitted the disappearance of an Armenian state which in principle had been clearly recognized both by the Allied and associated Powers and by Turkey in the Treaty of Batum.

The fact that the right of this state to peaceful existence within recognized borders as a member of the international community has not been observed, no more than was the right of the Armenian population to exist peacefully within the Ottoman Empire, cannot however be considered as effectively extinguishing the rights of the Armenian people, or of relieving the international community of its responsibility toward that people.

The Tribunal records that the fate of a people can never be considered as a purely internal affair, entirely subject to the whims, however well intentioned, of sovereign states. The fundamental rights of this people are of direct concern to the international community, which is entitled and duty bound to ensure that these rights are respected, particularly when they are openly denied by one of its member states.

In this particular case, this conclusion is still further corroborated by the fact that, even before the right of peoples to self determination was explicitly affirmed by the United Nations Charter, the rights of the Armenian people had already been recognized by the states concerned under the supervision of representatives of the international community.

II. On the Charge of Genocidea) General rules applicable to charges of genocide

According to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 9, 1948, genocide is 'a crime under international law', 'whether committed in time of peace or in time of war' (Article I).

Genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such:a) Killing members of the group;

b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group. (Article II)e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

According to Article III:

The following acts shall be punishable:

a) Genocide;b) Conspiracy to commit genocide;c) Direct and public incitement to commit genocide;d) Attempt to commit genocide;e) Complicity in genocide.

Lastly, Article IV stipulates that persons guilty of one of the aforementioned acts shall be punished: 'whether they are constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private individuals.'

The Tribunal considers that these provisions must be accepted as defining circumstances in which genocide is to be punished in accordance with the law of nations, in spite of the fact that certain broader definitions exist.

This convention formally came into force on January 12, 1951 and was ratified by Turkey on July 31, 1950. It should not be inferred from this, however, that acts of genocide cannot be the object of an indictment in law if such acts were committed either before the convention came

into force or within the territory of a state which had not ratified the Convention. While it is true that the Convention places upon signatory states obligations to prevent or punish a crime which is not defined in any other instrument, it must nevertheless be judged to be declaratory of law inasmuch as it condemns genocide itself.

This declaratory force of the instrument arises from the wording of the Convention itself. In the preamble, the contracting parties 'recognize that throughout history, genocide has inflicted severe losses on humanity' and 'confirm' in Article I that genocide constitutes a crime in the law of nations. This confirmation necessarily implies that this crime existed before December 9, 1948. It is, moreover, generally acknowledged by international legal doctrine of states, which reflects the undeniable reality of a collective conscience of states. It is of little consequence that the term 'genocide' itself was only recently coined. The only point of relevance is that the acts which it describes have long been condemned.

Once such declaratory force is accepted, the Tribunal is not required to determine the precise date of origin of the rule proscribing genocide codified by the Convention. It is sufficient for the purposes of the Tribunal to establish that this rule was indisputably in force at the time when the massacres described to it were committed. Indeed, it emerges clearly from the deeds that have been done and the statements that have been arising from the Armenian question, however justifiable these may or may not be or have been for various reasons, that the 'laws of humanity' condemned the policy of systematic extermination pursued by the Ottoman government. The Tribunal wishes to stress in this regard that such laws, however pressing the need for their formalization at the present time, do not merely reflect imperative moral or ethical rules: they also express positive legal obligations which cannot be ignored by states on the pretext that they have not been expressed formally in treaties, as is confirmed by the example of the Martens clause in the area of the law of warfare. Moreover, the condemnation of crimes committed during the First World War bears out the belief of states that such crimes could not be tolerated legally even though no written rules explicitly forbade them. The Tribunal recalls in this connection that such condemnation was pronounced on crimes against humanity as well as war crimes; it should furthermore be emphasized that Article 230 of the Treaty of Sèvres expressly invoked the responsibility of Turkey in massacres perpetuated on Turkish territory. Certainly this treaty has not been ratified, and the obligation of punishment which it stipulated has therefore never operated; however, this fact does not detract from the clear manifestation afforded to us today by the content of that treaty that the states of that time were indeed conscious of the illegality of the crime which we now call genocide.

For these reasons, the Tribunal considers that genocide was already prohibited in law from the time of the first massacres of the Armenian population, since the 1948 convention served only to give formal expression, and indeed in a qualified formulation, to a rule of law which is applicable to the facts which formed the basis of the charge brought before this tribunal.

b) The Charge of Genocide of the Armenian People

The following observations would seem to be necessary on examination of the evidence which has been submitted to the Tribunal, the substance of which is reported below.

There can be no doubt that the Armenians constitute a national group within the definition of the rule outlawing genocide. This conclusion is all the more evident since they constitute a people protected by the right to self determination which necessarily implies that they also constitute a group, the destruction of which is outlawed by virtue of the rule pertaining to genocide.

There is no doubt regarding the reality of the physical acts constituting the genocide. The fact of the murder of members of a group, of grave attacks on their physical or mental integrity, and of the subjection of this group to conditions leading necessarily to their deaths, are clearly proven by the full and unequivocal evidence submitted to the Tribunal. In its examination of the case the Tribunal has focused primarily on the massacres perpetrated between 1915 and 1917, which were the most extreme example of a policy which was clearly heralded by the events of 1894-1896.

The specific intent to destroy the group as such, which is the special characteristic of the crime of genocide, is also established. The reports and documentary evidence supplied point clearly to a policy of methodical extermination of the Armenian people, revealing the specific intent referred to in Article II of the Convention of December 9, 1948.

The policy took effect in actions which were attributable beyond dispute to the Turkish or Ottoman authorities, particularly during the massacres of 1915-1917. The Tribunal notes on the one hand, however, that in addition to the atrocities committed by the official authorities, the latter also used malicious propaganda and other means to encourage civilian populations to commit acts of genocide against the Armenians. It is further observed that the authorities generally refrained from intervening to prevent the slaughter, although they had the power to do so, or from punishing the culprits, with the exception of the trial of the Unionists. This attitude amounts to incitement to crime and to criminal negligence, and must be judged as severely as the crimes actively committed and specifically covered by the law against genocide.

On the evidence submitted, the Tribunal considers that the various allegations (rebellion, treason, etc.) made by the Turkish government to justify the massacres are without foundation. It is stressed, in any event, that even were such allegations substantiated, they could in no way justify the massacres committed. Genocide is a crime which admits of no grounds for excuse or justification.

For these reasons, the Tribunal finds that the charge of genocide of the Armenian people brought against the Turkish authorities is established as to its foundation in fact.

c) The Consequences of the Genocide

The Tribunal recalls that, as is the case with all other crimes against humanity, genocide is by definition a crime to which no statute of limitations can apply by virtue of general international law, as confirmed by the Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutes of Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity, which was adopted by the United Nations General

Assembly on November 26, 1968.

All those responsible for the massacres, whether 'they are constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private individuals' are thus subject to penalties, which states are under an obligation to apply in order to observe the guarantees attached to the exercise of the enforcement of justice.

Apart from the question of penalties, genocide is furthermore a violation of the law of nations for which the Turkish state must assume responsibility. Its first duty arising from this position lies in a basic obligation incumbent upon it to admit the facts without seeking to dissemble and to deplore the commission of this act. This in itself would constitute minimal redress for the incalculable moral injury suffered by the Armenian nation.

The Tribunal wishes to draw special attention to the fact that international practice as applied to the Turkish state since the time of these events afford sufficient legal basis to establish that the identity and continuity of this state have not been affected by the upheavals in the country's history since the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. Neither its territorial losses nor the reorganization of its political system have been such as to detract from its continued identity as a subject of the law of nations. Consequently, it cannot be considered that successive Turkish governments since the constitution of a Kemalist republic are justified in refusing to assume a responsibility which remains with the state they represent in the international community.

The Tribunal further notes that nothing in the statements or conduct of the Armenian people or of the states sharing the responsibility of safeguarding its rights can be interpreted as implying their waiver of the blame attaching to those guilty of the genocide. Like its predecessors, the present Turkish government is therefore bound to assume this responsibility.

A crime of this nature violates obligations which are so essential to the international community that the authors of a recent draft Article on the responsibility of states have rightly described it as an 'international crime of state' within the meaning of the law on the responsibility of states, in other words, no longer within the purview of ordinary criminal law. As a result, and as is indeed confirmed by the special obligations of the international community toward the Armenian people, any member of this community has the right to call the Turkish state to account regarding its obligations, and in particular, to elicit official recognition of the genocide should this state persist in denying it, and is furthermore authorized to take any measure of aid and assistance on behalf of the Armenian people as provided by the law of nations and the Declaration of Algiers, without being accused in so doing of illicit interference in the affairs of another state.

Finally, it is incumbent upon the international community as a whole, and more especially through the United Nations Organization, to recognize the genocide and to assist the Armenian people to this end. Indeed, it cannot be considered entirely justified, neither in allowing a crime to be committed against one of its peoples which it is obligated to protect in

the same way as anyone of its states, nor in tolerating the wrongful denial of such a crime until today.

The Armenian genocide which took place during the First World War was the first act of its kind in a century during which genocide and the horror associated with it have, alas, become widespread.

The perpetration of such atrocities has not been confined to societies which certain might describe as underdeveloped. On the contrary, in some cases they have been committed by nations generally considered to be the most developed and the most scientifically advanced. In fact, the most significant example in the whole of the twentieth century involved the application of advanced technology and sophisticated organization in the genocide of the European Jews by the Nazis, a genocide which caused human suffering to a degree barely conceivable and which ultimately led to the extermination of approximately six million people.

In previous sessions, the Tribunal had had occasion to condemn genocides committed against the people of El Salvador (decision of February 11, 1981), the Maubere people of Eastern Timor (decision of June 21, 1981), and the Indian people of Guatemala (decision of January 31, 1983).

The Tribunal notes that one of the most serious consequences and one of the most disturbing effects of genocide - above and beyond the irreparable wrongs inflicted upon its immediate victims - is the degradation and perversion of humanity as a whole.

For These Reasons

in answer to the questions which put to it, the Tribunal hereby finds that:

the Armenian population did and do constitute a people whose fundamental rights, both individual and collective, should have been and shall be respected in accordance with international law;

the extermination of the Armenian population groups through deportation and massacre constitutes a crime of genocide not subject to statutory limitations within the definition of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of December 9, 1948. With respect to the condemnation of this crime, the aforesaid Convention is declaratory of existing law in that it takes note of rules which were already in force at the time of the incriminated acts;

the Young Turk government is guilty of this genocide, with regard to the acts perpetrated between 1915-1917;

the Armenian genocide is also an 'international crime' for which the Turkish state must assume responsibility, without using the pretext of any discontinuity in the existence of the state to elude that responsibility;

this responsibility implies first and foremost the obligation to recognize officially the reality of this genocide and the consequent damages suffered by the Armenian people;

the United Nations Organization and each of its members have the right to demand this recognition and to assist the Armenian people to that end.

Copyright © The Zoryan Institute for Contemporary Armenian Research and Documentation, Cambridge, Massachusetts and Toronto, Ontario, 1985. Printed with permission.

(A Crime of Silence, The Armenian Genocide: Permanent Peoples' Tribunal. Pierre Vidal-Naquet, preface, Gerard Libaridian, editor. London: Zed Books Ltd., 1985. French edition edited by Gerard Chaliand in collaboration with Claire Mouradian and Alice Aslanian-Samuelian. Paris: Flammarion, 1984.)

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives

April 24, 2019

Pelosi Statement Commemorating the Armenian Genocide

April 24, 2019

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement marking 104 years since the beginning of the Armenian Genocide:

“One hundred and four years ago, the Ottoman Empire began its horrific, systematic murder of more than 1.5 million innocent Armenian men, women and children. For over a century, the Armenian people have stood courageously against those seeking to rewrite history and deny the Armenian genocide.

“We have a moral obligation to remember these barbaric acts of ethnic cleansing and continue to acknowledge the truth of this dark stain on the history of the world. To honor the memory of those lost and the suffering of those who survived, we firmly and unequivocally denounce all attempts to devalue or minimize these heinous crimes.

“On this solemn occasion, all peace-loving people must continue to speak out against violence, bigotry, hatred and discrimination wherever and whenever it is found. Guided by this mission, we can work together to right the wrongs of history and build a future of hope, peace and freedom for all humankind.”

The Russian Federation - President Vladimir Putin

April 24, 2015

Friends, ladies and gentlemen,

I am grateful to President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan for the invitation to take part in today's memorial events.

We have sincere sympathy for the Armenian people, who went through one of the greatest tragedies in human history. More than 1.5 million peaceful people were killed and injured, and more than 600,000 were driven from their homes and suffered mass repression. Numerous priceless architectural monuments and sacred objects were destroyed and ancient books and invaluable manuscripts were burned.

The events of 1915 shook the entire world. Russia felt these events as its own grief. Hundreds of thousands, even millions of defenceless and homeless Armenians found shelter in the Russian Empire and were saved.

It was Russia's diplomatic efforts that secured international condemnation of the violence inflicted on the Armenian people. At the initiative of Sergei Sazonov, Russia’s foreign minister, Russia, France and Britain, as the French President recalled just now, made a joint statement in which they directly called these events a crime against humanity and civilisation.

Relations between the fraternal peoples of Russia and Armenia have always been characterised by particular spiritual closeness and mutual support. This was the case during the dramatic events of a century ago, during the Great Patriotic War, and during the devastating Spitak earthquake.

Today too, we share the Armenian people's sorrow.

Friends, I want to emphasise that hundreds of cities around Russia are holding more than 2,000 memorial events today. Not only members of the large Armenian community in Russia, which counts around three million people, are taking part, but so are tens of thousands of people of other ethnic backgrounds.

Russia remains resolute in what has always been its consistent view that there is and cannot be any justification for mass murder of any people.

Russia has signed and initiated a number of international legal acts that lay the foundations for modern international criminal law, including the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

The international community must do everything possible to ensure that these tragic events never happen again, so that all peoples can live in peace and harmony and not have to know the horrors that arise from religious enmity, aggressive nationalism, and xenophobia.

Sadly, we see that neo-fascism is once again rearing its head in many parts of the world, radical nationalists are seeking power, and anti-Semitism is on the rise. We also see signs of Russophobia. We need to ask ourselves why this is happening and what is the cause? In all of our actions in critically important parts of the world, we must think first of all about what will happen next, think about the consequences.

At the same time, as we remember the tragic events of past years, we should also look to the future with optimism, believe in the ideals of friendship, good-neighbourliness, and solidarity, learn goodness and harmony and learn to respect each other and respect each other's interests. This is the only way to make the world a better, more stable and safer place. Friends, we are with you.

Thank you for your attention.

Federal Republic of Germany - President Joachim Gauck

April 23, 2015

I would like to begin by expressing my thanks to you, Excellencies, for organising this service at the heart of the city of Berlin on behalf of your churches and for inviting us to be here tonight. My presence here is proof of the fact that the German state and its political leaders always feel a strong sense of commitment to coming to terms with the past in an honest, appropriate and self-critical manner.

At this service, ladies and gentlemen, we are commemorating the hundreds of thousands of Armenians who fell victim to planned and systematic murder a century ago.

Men, women, children and the aged were deported, sent on death marches, abandoned in the steppe and desert without any shelter or food, burned alive, hunted down and beaten to death, and shot dead indiscriminately.

This planned and calculated criminal act was meted out against the Armenians for one reason, and one reason only: because they were Armenians. A similar fate befell their fellow sufferers – Assyrians, Aramaeans and Pontian Greeks.

With our present day knowledge, and against the backdrop of the political and humanitarian horrors of recent decades, it is clear to us today that the fate of the Armenians exemplifies the history of mass annihilations, ethnic cleansing, deportations, even genocides that marred the 20th century in such a terrible way.

These crimes were committed in the shadows of wars. War also served to legitimise these barbaric acts. This is what happened to the Armenians in the First World War. This is what also happened elsewhere over the course of the last century. And this is what sometimes continues

to happen to many other religious and national minorities today. They were branded as spies, as the henchmen of foreign powers, as troublemakers threatening national unity, as enemies of the people or enemies by race, or as pathogens infecting the body politic.

We remember the victims so that they and their fate are not forgotten. We remember them for their own sake. Above all, in doing so we call to mind the inalienable dignity of every human being. While this dignity cannot be destroyed, there is unlimited potential for running roughshod over it by violating and crushing it underfoot.

We remember the victims so that they are once again given a voice, so that their story is told – a story that was supposed to vanish without a trace.

Yes, and we remember the victims also for our own sake. We can only preserve our humanity by ensuring that it is not only the victors and the memory of the living that determine history, but that those who were beaten, the missing, the betrayed and the annihilated, also have a voice.

Commemorating the victims would only be half of the act of remembrance if we failed to talk about perpetrators. There are no victims without perpetrators. The perpetrators, the then rulers of the Ottoman Empire and their henchmen – as essentially all perpetrators of racially, ethnically or religiously motivated mass murder – were convinced, to the point of fanaticism, that what they were doing was right.

The Young Turkish ideology saw in the concept of an ethnically homogeneous nation state with a uniform religion an alternative to the lost tradition of the coexistence of different peoples and religions in the collapsing Ottoman Empire. Division along ethnic lines, ethnic cleansing and expulsions often formed the darker side of the emergence of nation states at the beginning of the 20th century. However, ideologies preaching unity and purity often lead to exclusion and expulsion and, ultimately, to murderous acts. In the Ottoman Empire, this developed a genocidal dynamic to which the Armenian people fell victim.

We are currently right in the middle of a debate on which term most appropriately describes the events that took place one hundred years ago. But let us ensure that this debate is not boiled down to differences in terminology. What matters above all is – even after one hundred years – to recognise, deplore and mourn the systematic annihilation of a people in all of its terrible reality. If we fail to do this, we will lose sight of the compass that guides our actions – and also lose respect for ourselves.

If we achieve understanding in our assessment of history, if we call injustice by its name even if our people were guilty of such injustice, if we are united in our commitment to respecting rights and human rights in our daily lives, then we will manage to preserve the dignity of the victims and create a shared humane basis for coexistence at home and beyond borders.

We are not putting anyone alive today into the dock by remembering this. The perpetrators of this crime committed long ago are no longer with us, and their children and their children’s children cannot be found guilty. However, what the descendants of the victims are rightfully entitled to expect is that historical facts, and thus historical guilt, are recognised. It is part of the responsibility of those living today to feel a sense of commitment to respecting and protecting the right to life and human rights of each and every individual, and also of each and every minority.

In the case of the Armenians, we therefore follow no other principle than our deep rooted human experience, which teaches us that we can free ourselves from guilt by admitting it and that we cannot free ourselves from guilt by denying, suppressing or trivialising it. We in Germany have painstakingly, and often after shameful procrastination, learned to remember the crimes committed in the National Socialist period – above all the persecution and annihilation of Europe’s Jews. And, in so doing, we have also learned to differentiate between the guilt of the perpetrators, which must be recognised and identified unconditionally, and the responsibility of their descendants to engage in appropriate acts of commemoration.

It is utterly important and clearly justified to remember, also here in Germany, the murder of the Armenian people. Descendants of Armenians and Turks live here, and each have their own story to tell. It is important, however, for the sake of peaceful coexistence, for us all to follow the same objective principles when coming to terms with the past.

In this case, we Germans as a whole must also take part in this process insofar as we share responsibility, perhaps even guilt, in the genocide committed against the Armenians.

German military officers were involved in planning, and to an extent in carrying out, the deportations. Advice from German observers and diplomats, who had plainly recognised the destructive intent behind the actions taken against the Armenians, was overlooked and ignored. At the end of the day, what the German Reich wanted least was to damage relations with their Ottoman ally. Reich Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg, who was informed about the persecution of the Armenians in painstaking detail by a special envoy, remarked dryly in December 1915 that: "Our sole objective is to keep Turkey on our side until the end of the war, irrespective of whether Armenians are killed in the process or not." It pains us to hear this, but at the same time we recall that Germans too, most notably the highly dedicated Johannes Lepsius, made the suffering of the Armenian people known around the world with their publishing activities.

It was the medic Armin Theophil Wegner who captured the fate of the Armenians on camera and brought their plight to a German audience at his slide shows in Germany after the war. And it was the Austrian Franz Werfel who erected an artistic monument to the resistance of the Armenians against their planned destruction with his novel The Forty Days of Musa Dagh. This book was quickly banned in Germany following its publication in 1933. But it was read in the Jewish ghettos of Białystok and Vilnius – as an omen of what was soon to happen to the Jews. Both the censors of the Third Reich and the Jews therefore understood the book and the story it recounted entirely correctly.

When Adolf Hitler ordered the German army groups to attack Poland and explained his plans to his military commanders in his operation order of 22 August 1939, which urged them to "kill without pity or mercy, all men, women, and children of Polish descent or language", he expected the reaction to be one of collective disinterest, which is why he concluded with the rhetorical question: "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"

We are speaking about them! We are! Even today, one hundred years later, we are still talking about this – about this and other crimes against humanity and human dignity. We do this so that Hitler is not proved right. And we do this so that no dictator, no tyrant and no one who considers ethnic cleansing to be legitimate can expect their crimes to be ignored or forgotten.

Yes, we are still talking about uncomfortable facts of history, about a denial of responsibility and about past guilt. We do not do this in order to shackle ourselves to the bleakness of the

past, but rather in order to be watchful and to react in time when individuals and people are threatened by annihilation and terror.

It is good when we do this together, not separately according to denominations and religions or languages, and not according to ethnic and state borders. Today, we are thankful for each and every sign of remembrance and reconciliation from around the world. And I am especially thankful for each and every encouraging sign of understanding and rapprochement between Turks and Armenians.

No one must be afraid of the truth. There can be no reconciliation without the truth. Only together can we overcome what divided and continues to divide us. Only together will we be able to enjoy a bright future in this One World entrusted to us all.

Federal Republic of Germany - President of the Bundestag Norbert Lammert

April 23, 2015

The 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Massacre

On Friday, 24 April 2015 in the Bundestag, President Norbert Lammert classified the deportations and massacre of the Armenian people as a genocide. Due to their own experiences, he said, Germans can encourage others to face their history: “self-critical commitment to the truth is essential for reconciliation.” This involves admitting the shared responsibility of the German Reich for the crimes, he continued.

Introductory statement to the debate on the deportation and massacre of the Armenian people 100 years ago, 24 April 2015

Colleagues,

The next item on the agenda deals with a highly significant historical event with lasting consequences, not only for relations between the neighbouring countries of Turkey and Armenia. Our debate today in the Bundestag has already attracted a great deal of public attention through its inclusion on the agenda.

Genocide is a crime defined under international law as acts committed with the intent to “destroy in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group, as such”. What happened in the midst of the First World War in the Ottoman Empire, before the eyes of the world, was a genocide. It was not to be the last of the 20th century. This makes our obligation all the greater, out of respect for the victims and due to the responsibility we bear for the causes and effects, to neither suppress the memory of, nor play down, these crimes.

We Germans are in no position to lecture anyone about how they should deal with their past. Yet due to our own experiences, we can encourage others to face their history, even when it is painful: self-critical commitment to the truth is essential for reconciliation. This involves admitting the shared responsibility of the German Reich for the crimes committed a century ago. Although the leaders of the Reich were fully informed, they did not exert their influence; the military alliance with the Ottoman Empire was more important to them than intervening to save people’s lives.

The recognition of this shared guilt is vital for our credibility in the eyes of both Armenia and Turkey.

Beyond the facts, history demands interpretation, making it inevitably political. This conflict may be seen as lamentable, but it is unavoidable – and it needs to take place in Parliament. The unparalleled experiences of violence in the 20th century have ensured that we know there can be no real peace until the victims, their relatives and descendants experience justice: through remembrance of the events.

Today, too, people are the victims of persecution for political, ethnic and religious reasons, including thousands of Christians. By accepting well over a million refugees, Turkey is providing huge humanitarian assistance, which is too seldom honoured and puts some in Europe to shame. In no way whatsoever do we forget this willingness to take responsibility in the present when we call for an awareness of also taking responsibility for the country’s own past.

The current Turkish government is not responsible for what happened over 100 years ago, but it is responsible for what happens next. We pay tribute to the fact that they are endeavouring to reach out to descendants and neighbours at their own ceremony, and in particular we pay tribute to the many courageous Turks and Kurds who for many years have been working alongside Armenians towards addressing this dark chapter of their shared history in an honest way: writers, journalists, mayors, religious leaders. I am thinking of the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature Orhan Pamuk, of the journalist Hrant Dink, who paid for his commitment to historical truth with his life. They deserve our support. And they need it. Our debate today is intended to contribute to this.

His Holiness Pope Francis

April 12, 2015

Dear Armenian Brothers and Sisters,

A century has passed since that horrific massacre which was a true martyrdom of your people, in which many innocent people died as confessors and martyrs for the name of Christ (cf. John Paul II and Karekin II, Common Declaration, Etchmiadzin, 27 September 2001). Even today, there is not an Armenian family untouched by the loss of loved ones due to that tragedy: it

truly was "Metz Yeghern", the "Great Evil", as it is known by Armenians. On this anniversary, I feel a great closeness to your people and I wish to unite myself spiritually to the prayers which rise up from your hearts, your families and your communities.

Today is a propitious occasion for us to pray together, as we proclaim Saint Gregory of Narek a Doctor of the Church. I wish to express my deep gratitude for the presence here today of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, and His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX, Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenian Catholics.

Saint Gregory of Narek, a monk of the tenth century, knew how to express the sentiments of your people more than anyone. He gave voice to the cry, which became a prayer, of a sinful and sorrowful humanity, oppressed by the anguish of its powerlessness, but illuminated by the splendour of God's love and open to the hope of his salvific intervention, which is capable of transforming all things. "Through his strength I wait with certain expectation believing with unwavering hope that... I shall be saved by the Lord's mighty hand and... that I will see the Lord himself in his mercy and compassion and receive the legacy of heaven" (Saint Gregory of Narek, Book of Lamentations, XII).

Your Christian identity is indeed ancient, dating from the year 301, when Saint Gregory the Illuminator guided Armenia to conversion and baptism. You were the first among nations in the course of the centuries to embrace the Gospel of Christ. That spiritual event indelibly marked the Armenian people, as well as its culture and history, in which martyrdom holds a preeminent place, as attested to symbolically by the sacrificial witness of Saint Vardan and his companions in the fifth century.

Your people, illuminated by Christ's light and by his grace, have overcome many trials and sufferings, animated by the hope which comes from the Cross (cf. Rom 8:31-39). As Saint John Paul II said to you, "Your history of suffering and martyrdom is a precious pearl, of which the universal Church is proud. Faith in Christ, man's Redeemer, infused you with an admirable courage on your path, so often like that of the Cross, on which you have advanced with determination, intent on preserving your identity as a people and as believers" (Homily, 21 November 1987).

This faith also accompanied and sustained your people during the tragic experience one hundred years ago "in what is generally referred to as the first genocide of the twentieth century" (John Paul II and Karekin II, Common Declaration, Etchmiadzin, 27 September 2001). Pope Benedict XV, who condemned the First World War as a "senseless slaughter" (AAS, IX [1917], 429), did everything in his power until the very end to stop it, continuing the efforts at mediation already begun by Pope Leo XIII when confronted with the "deadly events" of 1894-96. For this reason, Pope Benedict XV wrote to Sultan Mehmed V, pleading that the many innocents be saved (cf. Letter of 10 September 1915) and, in the Secret Consistory of 6 December 1915, he declared with great dismay, "Miserrima Armenorum gens ad interitum prope ducitur" (AAS, VII [1915], 510).

It is the responsibility not only of the Armenian people and the universal Church to recall all that has taken place, but of the entire human family, so that the warnings from this tragedy will protect us from falling into a similar horror, which offends against God and human dignity.

Today too, in fact, these conflicts at times degenerate into unjustifiable violence, stirred up by exploiting ethnic and religious differences. All who are Heads of State and of International Organizations are called to oppose such crimes with a firm sense of duty, without ceding to ambiguity or compromise.

May this sorrowful anniversary become for all an occasion of humble and sincere reflection, and may every heart be open to forgiveness, which is the source of peace and renewed hope. Saint Gregory of Narek, an extraordinary interpreter of the human soul, offers words which are prophetic for us: "I willingly blame myself with myriad accounts of all the incurable sins, from our first forefather through the end of his generations in all eternity, I charge myself with all these voluntarily" (Book of Lamentations, LXXII). How striking is his sense of universal solidarity! How small we feel before the greatness of his invocations: "Remember, [Lord,]... those of the human race who are our enemies as well, and for their benefit accord them pardon and mercy... Do not destroy those who persecute me, but reform them, root out the vile ways of this world, and plant the good in me and them" (ibid., LXXXIII).

May God grant that the people of Armenia and Turkey take up again the path of reconciliation, and may peace also spring forth in Nagorno Karabakh. Despite conflicts and tensions, Armenians and Turks have lived long periods of peaceful coexistence in the past and, even in the midst of violence, they have experienced times of solidarity and mutual help. Only in this way will new generations open themselves to a better future and will the sacrifice of so many become seeds of justice and peace.

For us Christians, may this be above all a time of deep prayer. Through the redemptive power of Christ's sacrifice, may the blood which has been shed bring about the miracle of the full unity of his disciples. In particular, may it strengthen the bonds of fraternal friendship which already unite the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church. The witness of many defenceless brothers and sisters who sacrificed their lives for the faith unites the diverse confessions: it is the ecumenism of blood, which led Saint John Paul II to celebrate all the martyrs of the twentieth century together during the Jubilee of 2000. Our celebration today also is situated in this spiritual and ecclesial context. Representatives of our two Churches are participating in this event to which many of our faithful throughout the world are united spiritually, in a sign which reflects on earth the perfect communion that exists between the blessed souls in heaven. With brotherly affection, I assure you of my closeness on the occasion of the canonization ceremony of the martyrs of the Armenian Apostolic Church, to be held this coming 23 April in the Cathedral of Etchmiadzin, and on the occasion of the commemorations to be held in Antelias in July.

I entrust these intentions to the Mother of God, in the words of Saint Gregory of Narek:

"O Most Pure of Virgins, first among the blessed, Mother of the unshakeable edifice of the Church, Mother of the immaculate Word of God, (...)

Taking refuge beneath your boundless wings which grant us the protection of your intercession, we lift up our hands to you,

and with unquestioned hope we believe that we are saved".

(Panegyric of the Theotokos)

From the Vatican, 12 April 2015

Franciscus

Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada

April 19, 2006

Statement from Prime Minister on Day of Commemoration of Armenian Genocide

I would like to extend my sincere greetings to all of those marking this sombre anniversary of the Medz Yeghern.

Ninety-one years ago the Armenian people experienced terrible suffering and loss of life. In recent years the Senate of Canada adopted a motion acknowledging this period as "the first genocide of the twentieth century," while the House of Commons adopted a motion that "acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against humanity." My party and I supported those resolutions and continue to recognize them today.

We must never forget the lessons of history, nor should we allow the enmities of history to divide us. The freedom, democracy, and human rights enjoyed by all Canadians are rooted in our mutual respect for one another.

I join with you today in remembering the past and I encourage you to continue honouring your forefathers by building a bright future for all Canadians.

Sincerely,

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.Prime Minister of Canada

Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister of Canada

April 24, 2002

I am honored to extend my sincere greetings to all those participating in ceremonies to mark the 87th anniversary of the calamity suffered by the Armenian community.

Canadians share the sorrow of the Armenian community, which saw many of its members meet a tragic fate during the wars that marked the end of the Ottoman Empire. A large number of the survivors established roots in Canada and their contributions, as well as those of their descendants, to the building of our nation deserve recognition.

At this solemn time of remembrance, let us be reminded of the importance of working together to eliminate intolerance and fanaticism wherever it appears, and to promote reconciliation and cooperation among peoples.

Ottawa2002

(Signed)The Right HonorableJean Chrétien, Prime Minister of Canada

Konstantinos Stefanopoulos, President of Greece

July 10, 1996

Presidential Decree No. 162 (1)

Athens, July 10, 1996

Organizing of manifestations for the memorial day of the genocide of the Armenians by Turkey

The President of the Hellenic Republic

Taking under consideration:

1. The provision of article 2 of Law 2397/1996 (A'80) "April 24th is established as memorial day of the genocide of the Armenians by Turkey".

2. The provision of article 27 of law 2081/1992 (A'154).

3. The dating from 3.7.1996 opinions of the National Council of the Orthodox Armenians Diocese in Greece and the Armenian National Committee of Greece.

4. The fact that from the provisions of this decree no encumbrance occurs to the National Budget.

5. The 474/1996 and 192/1997 consultative responses of the State Council.

6. The DIDI44.1/21566/10.10.1996 Joint Decision of the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization (B'932), upon recommendation of the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Public Administration and decentralization, we decide:

Article 1April 24th is established as the memorial day of the genocide of the Armenians by Turkey (article 1 of Law 2397/1996 A'80).

Article 2The memorial manifestations include, holding of a memorial service at the site of the monument of the Armenian Genocide at Chrisostomou Smirnis square at the Municipality of Nea Smirni, at the Armenian Orthodox Church of Panagia in Xanthi, speeches and laying of wreaths by the General Secretary of the District and by representatives of the local self-government and the Armenian Community.

Article 3The program of the memorial manifestations is formed by decision of the local prefect, in collaboration with the National Council of the Orthodox Armenians Diocese in Greece.

We confide the publication and the execution of the present decree to the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization.

Konstantinos StefanopoulosThe President of the Republic

L. PapadimasThe Deputy Minister of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization

Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister of Canada

April 24, 1996

Prime Minister — Canada

I am honoured to extend my greetings and sincere best wishes to the members of Canada's Armenian Community on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Armenian tragedy of 1915.

Canada recognizes and deplores the fact that a great number of Armenians were killed during the wars which marked the end of the Ottoman empire and extends its sympathy to the Armenian Community. Following the war, numerous displaced Armenians came to Canada and their contribution, as well as that of their descendants, has greatly enriched Canadian society. It is my hope that the memories of the past will serve to remind us of the importance of tolerance and respect for the diversity of our people.

Please accept my best wishes on this occasion.

Jean Chrétien

Ottawa 1995

François Mitterrand, President of France

January 6, 1984

"It is impossible to erase the marks of the genocide with which you were struck. This must be inscribed in the memory of mankind and this sacrifice must simultaneously serve as a lesson to the young and as the will to survive."

Visiting the Isere*

The president of the Republic paid homage to the Armenian community

On Saturday, January 6, Mr. François Mitterrand paid a surprise visit to the Isere. The head of state visited an appliance manufacturing plant in Bourgoin-Jalieu, then, in Vienne, whose mayor is National Assembly President Mr. Louis Mermaz, he met with that town's Armenian community which had gathered to celebrate Armenian Christmas.

[paragraph omitted]

In Vienne, after a quick walk around the market which surrounds City Hall, Mr. Mitterrand

addressed the Armenian community gathered in the Mayoralty. The Armenian Cause has sometimes been "taken off track" because of violence, underlined the head of state, who considers that "there can be no misunderstanding between Armenians and France". "France is a land of welcome and hospitality" he said. "The sons of those who have suffered so much know well that they have been completely integrated into the French community. "Recalling the 1915 genocide, Mr. Mitterrand added: "It is impossible to erase the marks of the genocide with which you were struck. This must be inscribed in the memory of mankind and this sacrifice must simultaneously serve as a lesson to the young and as the will to survive, so that all will know throughout time that this people does not belong to the past, but is truly of the present and has a future. " "There can be no misunderstanding," he repeated alluding to the "few elements who, having generally come from abroad, want to practice towards France — whose sole responsibility is that of having been friendly — acts of violence, which make all of us suffer. This is not an acceptable method. I will never accept it, " he said.

J.-Y.L.

[Mr. Mitterrand's comments — which as of late morning Monday had not yet generated a Turkish reaction — are notable, because they mark the first time a French head of state has taken such a clear stand on the genocide of which the Armenians were the victims. However, they do not constitute a novelty in the French position. In theJournal Officiel of last July 11, Mr. Cheysson had, in a written response to a member of parliament, regretted "the Turkish government's refusal to recognize as genocide the deportations and massacres inflicted upon the Armenian community of the Ottoman Empire." The minister of external affairs had however added that "present day Turkey should not be considered responsible for the actions of the government of the Ottoman Empire against the Armenian community."]

Reactions. — The Committee for Defense of the Armenian Cause (CDCA) noted on the evening of Saturday, January 7 "with great satisfaction the personal support provided by the president of the Republic to the socialist group of the European Parliament which presented a proposal for a resolution on a political solution to the Armenian question." It recalled that "this resolution notably requests that the Council of Ministers of the EEC "declare the recognition of the 1915 genocide of the Armenian people and convince the government of Turkey of the urgency of instituting a Turco-Armenian political dialogue." The spokesperson for the Armenian National Movement (ANM) Mr. Ararat Toranian declared, via R.M.C. microphone: "For us this is eminently positive... This is a declaration which greatly touched us; this is the first time that a president of the Republic addresses himself so directly to our people. That having been said, the declaration speaks a great deal about genocide, but we regret that the author of this genocide, Turkey, is not named...."

Le Monde (French-language newspaper published in Paris), Tuesday, January 10, 1984, No. 12116.

*Isere is a region in the east-central part of France.

Donald J. Trump

April 24, 2019

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 24, 2019

Statement by President Donald J. Trump on Armenian Remembrance Day 2019

Today, we commemorate the Meds Yeghern and honor the memory of those who suffered in one of the worst mass atrocities of the 20th century. Beginning in 1915, one and a half million Armenians were deported, massacred, or marched to their deaths in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. On this day of remembrance, we again join the Armenian community in America and around the world in mourning the many lives lost.

On this day, we also honor and recognize the work of those who tried to end the violence, as well as those who sought to ensure atrocities like this would not be repeated, like human

rights activist and lawyer Raphael Lemkin. We recall the contributions of generous Americans who helped save lives and rebuild Armenian communities. As we honor the memory of those who suffered, we also draw inspiration from the courage and resiliency of the Armenian people who, in the face of tremendous adversity, built vibrant communities around the world, including in the United States.

We pledge to learn from past tragedies so as to not to repeat them. We welcome the efforts of Armenians and Turks to acknowledge and reckon with their painful history. And we stand with the Armenian people in recalling the lives lost during the Meds Yeghern and reaffirm our commitment to a more peaceful world.

Donald J. Trump

April 24, 2018

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 24, 2018

Statement by President Donald J. Trump on Armenian Remembrance Day 2018

Today we commemorate the Meds Yeghern, one of the worst mass atrocities of the 20th century, when one and a half million Armenians were deported, massacred, or marched to their deaths in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. We recall the horrific events of 1915 and grieve for the lives lost and the many who suffered.

We also take this moment to recognize the courage of those individuals who sought to end the violence, and those who contributed to aiding survivors and rebuilding communities, including the U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, who sought to end the violence and later raised funds through the Near East Relief to help the Armenian people. We note with deep respect the resilience of the Armenian people, so many of whom built new lives in the United States and have made countless contributions to our country.

As we honor the memory of those who suffered, we also reflect on our commitment to ensure that such atrocities are not repeated. We underscore the importance of acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past as a necessary step towards creating a more tolerant future.

On this solemn day, we stand with the Armenian people throughout the world in honoring the memory of those lost and commit to work together to build a better future.

Donald J. Trump

April 24, 2017

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 24, 2017

Statement by President Donald J. Trump on Armenian Remembrance Day 2017

Today, we remember and honor the memory of those who suffered during the Meds Yeghern, one of the worst mass atrocities of the 20th century. Beginning in 1915, one and a half million Armenians were deported, massacred, or marched to their deaths in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. I join the Armenian community in America and around the world in mourning the loss of innocent lives and the suffering endured by so many.

As we reflect on this dark chapter of human history, we also recognize the resilience of the Armenian people. Many built new lives in the United States and made indelible contributions to our country, while cherishing memories of the historic homeland in which their ancestors established one of the great civilizations of antiquity.

We must remember atrocities to prevent them from occurring again. We welcome the efforts of Turks and Armenians to acknowledge and reckon with painful history, which is a critical step toward building a foundation for a more just and tolerant future.

Barack Obama

April 22, 2016

Today we solemnly reflect on the first mass atrocity of the 20th century—the Armenian Meds Yeghern—when one and a half million Armenian people were deported, massacred, and marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman empire.

As we honor the memory of those who suffered during the dark days beginning in 1915—and commit to learn from this tragedy so it may never be repeated—we also pay tribute to those who sought to come to their aid. One such individual was U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, Sr., who voiced alarm both within the U.S. government and with Ottoman leaders in an attempt to halt the violence. Voices like Morgenthau’s continue to be essential to the mission of atrocity prevention, and his legacy shaped the later work of human rights champions such as Raphael Lemkin, who helped bring about the first United Nations human rights treaty.

This is also a moment to acknowledge the remarkable resiliency of the Armenian people and their tremendous contributions both to the international community as well as to American society. We recall the thousands of Armenian refugees who decades ago began new lives in the United States, forming a community that has enormously advanced the vitality of this nation and risen to prominence and distinction across a wide range of endeavors. At a moment of regional turmoil to Armenia’s south, we also thank the people of Armenia for opening their arms to Syrian refugees, welcoming nearly 17,000 into their country.

As we look from the past to the future, we continue to underscore the importance of historical remembrance as a tool of prevention, as we call for a full, frank, and just acknowledgment of the facts, which would serve the interests of all concerned. I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view has not changed. I have also seen that peoples and nations grow stronger, and build a foundation for a more just and tolerant future, by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past. We continue to welcome the expression of views by those who have sought to shed new light into the darkness of the past, from Turkish and Armenian historians to Pope Francis.

Today we stand with the Armenian people throughout the world in recalling the horror of the Meds Yeghern and reaffirm our ongoing commitment to a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous Armenia.

Barack Obama

April 23, 2015

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 23, 2015

Statement by the President on Armenian Remembrance Day

This year we mark the centennial of the Meds Yeghern, the first mass atrocity of the 20th Century. Beginning in 1915, the Armenian people of the Ottoman Empire were deported, massacred, and marched to their deaths. Their culture and heritage in their ancient homeland were erased. Amid horrific violence that saw suffering on all sides, one and a half million Armenians perished.

As the horrors of 1915 unfolded, U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, Sr. sounded the alarm inside the U.S. government and confronted Ottoman leaders. Because of efforts like his, the truth of the Meds Yeghern emerged and came to influence the later work of human rights champions like Raphael Lemkin, who helped bring about the first United Nations human rights treaty.

Against this backdrop of terrible carnage, the American and Armenian peoples came together in a bond of common humanity. Ordinary American citizens raised millions of dollars to support suffering Armenian children, and the U.S. Congress chartered the Near East Relief organization, a pioneer in the field of international humanitarian relief. Thousands of Armenian refugees began new lives in the United States, where they formed a strong and vibrant community and became pillars of American society. Rising to great distinction as businesspeople, doctors, scholars, artists, and athletes, they made immeasurable contributions to their new home.

This centennial is a solemn moment. It calls on us to reflect on the importance of historical remembrance, and the difficult but necessary work of reckoning with the past. I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view has not changed. A full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all our interests. Peoples and nations grow stronger, and build a foundation for a more just and tolerant future, by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past. We welcome the expression of views by Pope Francis, Turkish and Armenian historians, and the many others who have sought to shed light on this dark chapter of history.

On this solemn centennial, we stand with the Armenian people in remembering that which was lost. We pledge that those who suffered will not be forgotten. And we commit ourselves to learn from this painful legacy, so that future generations may not repeat it.

Barack Obama

April 24, 2014

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 24, 2014

Statement by the President on Armenian Remembrance Day

Today we commemorate the Meds Yeghern and honor those who perished in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. We recall the horror of what happened ninety-nine years ago, when 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire, and we grieve for the lives lost and the suffering endured by those men, women, and children. We are joined in solemn commemoration by millions in the United

States and across the world. In so doing, we remind ourselves of our shared commitment to ensure that such dark chapters of human history are never again repeated.

I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view has not changed. A full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all of our interests. Peoples and nations grow stronger, and build a foundation for a more just and tolerant future, by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past. We continue to learn this lesson in the United States, as we strive to reconcile some of the darkest moments in our own history. We recognize and commend the growing number of courageous Armenians and Turks who have already taken this path, and encourage more to do so, with the backing of their governments, and mine. And we recall with pride the humanitarian efforts undertaken by the American Committee for Syrian and Armenian Relief, funded by donations from Americans, which saved the lives of countless Armenians and others from vulnerable communities displaced in 1915.

As we honor through remembrance those Armenian lives that were unjustly taken in 1915, we are inspired by the extraordinary courage and great resiliency of the Armenian people in the face of such tremendous adversity and suffering. I applaud the countless contributions that Armenian-Americans have made to American society, culture, and communities. We share a common commitment to supporting the Armenian people as they work to build a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous nation.

Today, our thoughts and prayers are with Armenians everywhere, as we recall the horror of the Meds Yeghern, honor the memory of those lost, and reaffirm our enduring commitment to the people of Armenia and to the principle that such atrocities must always be remembered if we are to prevent them from occurring ever again.

Barack Obama

April 24, 2013

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 24, 2013

Statement by the President on Armenian Remembrance Day

Today we commemorate the Meds Yeghern and honor those who perished in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. Ninety-eight years ago, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. We pause to reflect on the lives extinguished and remember the unspeakable suffering that occurred. In so doing, we are joined by millions across the world and in the United States, where it is solemnly commemorated by our states, institutions, communities, and families. We also remind ourselves of our commitment to ensure that such dark chapters of history are not repeated.

I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view has not changed. A full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all of our interests. Nations grow stronger by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past, thereby building a foundation for a more just and tolerant future. We appreciate this lesson in the United States, as we strive to reconcile some of the darkest moments in our own history. We

recognize those courageous Armenians and Turks who have already taken this path, and encourage more to do so, with the backing of their governments, and mine.

The history and legacy of the Armenian people is marked by an indomitable spirit, and a great resiliency in the face of tremendous adversity and suffering. The United States is stronger for the contributions Armenian-Americans have made to our society, our culture, and our communities. In small measure we return that contribution by supporting the Armenian people as they work toward building a nation that would make their ancestors proud: one that cherishes democracy and respect for human liberty and dignity.

Today we stand with Armenians everywhere in recalling the horror of the Meds Yeghern, honoring the memory of those lost, and affirming our enduring commitment to the people of Armenia.

Barack Obama

April 24, 2012

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

April 24, 2012

Statement by the President on Armenian Remembrance Day

Today, we commemorate the Meds Yeghern, one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. In doing so, we honor the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who were brutally massacred or marched to their deaths in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire. As we reflect on the unspeakable suffering that took place 97 years ago, we join millions who do the same across the globe and here in America, where it is solemnly commemorated by our states, institutions, communities, and families. Through our words and our deeds, it is our obligation to keep the flame of memory of those who perished burning bright and to ensure that such dark chapters of history are never repeated.

I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915. My view of that history has not changed. A full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all of our interests. Moving forward with the future cannot be done without reckoning with the facts of the past. The United States has done so many times in our own history, and I believe we are stronger for it. Some individuals have already taken this courageous step forward. We applaud those Armenians and Turks who have taken this path, and we hope that many more will choose it, with the support of their governments, as well as mine.

Although the lives that were taken can never be returned, the legacy of the Armenian people is one of triumph. Your faith, courage, and strength have enabled you to survive and prosper,

establishing vibrant communities around the world. Undaunted, you have preserved your patrimony, passing it from generation to generation. Armenian-Americans have made manifold contributions to the vibrancy of the United States, as well as critical investments in a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous future for Armenia. The United States is proud of your heritage, and your contributions honor the memory of those who senselessly suffered and died nearly a century ago.

On this solemn day of remembrance, we stand alongside all Armenians in recalling the darkness of the Meds Yeghern and in committing to bringing a brighter future to the people of Armenia.

Barack Obama

April 23, 2011

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

April 23, 2011

Statement by the President on Armenian Remembrance Day

We solemnly remember the horrific events that took place ninety-six years ago, resulting in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. In 1915, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire.

I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed. A full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all our interests. Contested history destabilizes the present and stains the memory of those whose lives were taken, while reckoning with the past lays a sturdy foundation for a peaceful and prosperous shared future. History teaches us that our nations are stronger and our cause is more just when we appropriately recognize painful pasts and work to rebuild bridges of understanding toward a better tomorrow. The United States knows this lesson well from the dark chapters in our own history. I support the courageous steps taken by individuals in Armenia and Turkey to foster a dialogue that acknowledges their common history. As we commemorate the Meds Yeghern and pay tribute to the memories of those who perished, we also recommit ourselves

to ensuring that devastating events like these are never repeated. This is a contemporary cause that thousands of Armenian-Americans have made their own.

The legacy of the Armenian people is one of resiliency, determination, and triumph over those who sought to destroy them. The United States has deeply benefited from the significant contributions to our nation by Armenian Americans, many of whom are descended from the survivors of the Meds Yeghern. Americans of Armenian descent have strengthened our society and our communities with their rich culture and traditions. The spirit of the Armenian people in the face of this tragic history serves as an inspiration for all those who seek a more peaceful and just world.

Our hearts and prayers are with Armenians everywhere as we recall the horrors of the Meds Yeghern, honor the memories of those who suffered, and pledge our friendship and deep respect for the people of Armenia.

Barack Obama

April 24, 2010

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

April 24, 2010

Statement of President Barack Obama on Armenian Remembrance Day

On this solemn day of remembrance, we pause to recall that ninety-five years ago one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century began. In that dark moment of history, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire.

Today is a day to reflect upon and draw lessons from these terrible events. I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed. It is in all of our interest to see the achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts. The Meds Yeghern is a devastating chapter in the history of the Armenian people, and we must keep its memory alive in honor of those who were murdered and so that we do not repeat the grave mistakes of the past. I salute the Turks who saved Armenians in 1915 and am encouraged by the dialogue among Turks and Armenians, and within Turkey itself, regarding

this painful history. Together, the Turkish and Armenian people will be stronger as they acknowledge their common history and recognize their common humanity.

Even as we confront the inhumanity of 1915, we also are inspired by the remarkable spirit of the Armenian people. While nothing can bring back those who were killed in the Meds Yeghern, the contributions that Armenians have made around the world over the last ninety-five years stand as a testament to the strength, tenacity and courage of the Armenian people. The indomitable spirit of the Armenian people is a lasting triumph over those who set out to destroy them. Many Armenians came to the United States as survivors of the horrors of 1915. Over the generations Americans of Armenian descent have richened our communities, spurred our economy, and strengthened our democracy. The strong traditions and culture of Armenians also became the foundation of a new republic which has become a part of the community of nations, partnering with the world community to build a better future.

Today, we pause with them and with Armenians everywhere to remember the awful events of 1915 with deep admiration for their contributions which transcend this dark past and give us hope for the future.

Barack Obama

November 20, 2009

Regarding the past, I deeply appreciate your views on what is one of the great atrocities of the 20th century. As I said in my Remembrance Day message, my view of that history has not changed. My interest remains the achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgement of the facts. I believe that the best way to advance that goal is for the Armenian and Turkish people to address the facts of the past as part of their efforts to move forward. We will continue to vigorously support the normalization effort in the months ahead.

*January 19, 2008, Barack Obama on the Importance of US-Armenia Relations [Obama '08 Campaign Statement]:

I also share with Armenian Americans -- so many of whom are descended from genocide survivors - a principled commitment to commemorating and ending genocide. That starts with acknowledging the tragic instances of genocide in world history. As a U.S. Senator, I have stood with the Armenian American community in calling for Turkey's acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide. Two years ago, I criticized the Secretary of State for the firing of U.S.

Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, after he properly used the term "genocide" to describe Turkey's slaughter of thousands of Armenians starting in 1915. I shared with Secretary Rice my firmly held conviction that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence. The facts are undeniable. An official policy that calls on diplomats to distort the historical facts is an untenable policy. As a senator, I strongly support passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106), and as President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Genocide, sadly, persists to this day, and threatens our common security and common humanity. Tragically, we are witnessing in Sudan many of the same brutal tactics - displacement, starvation, and mass slaughter - that were used by the Ottoman authorities against defenseless Armenians back in 1915. I have visited Darfurian refugee camps, pushed for the deployment of a robust multinational force for Darfur, and urged divestment from companies doing business in Sudan. America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President.

**October 31, 2008, Barack Obama: Supporting US-Armenia Relations [Obama '08 Campaign Statement]:

The Armenian Genocide, carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulted in the deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians, and approximately 1.5 million of those deported were killed. Barack Obama believes we must recognize this tragic reality and strongly supports a U.S.-Armenian relationship that advances our common security and strengthens Armenian democracy.

Recognition of the Armenian Genocide: Barack Obama shares with Armenian Americans a principled commitment to ending genocide. That starts with acknowledging the tragic instances of genocide in world history. As a senator, Obama has stood with the Armenian American community in calling for Turkey's acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide. He criticized the Secretary of State two years ago for the firing of the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, after he used the term "genocide" to describe Turkey's slaughter of thousands of Armenians starting in 1915. Obama wrote that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence.

Barack Obama strongly supports passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106) and will recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Barack Obama

April 24, 2009

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press SecretaryFor Immediate Release

April 24, 2009

Statement of President Barack Obama on Armenian Remembrance Day

Ninety four years ago, one of the great atrocities of the 20th century began. Each year, we pause to remember the 1.5 million Armenians who were subsequently massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. The Meds Yeghern must live on in our memories, just as it lives on in the hearts of the Armenian people.

History, unresolved, can be a heavy weight. Just as the terrible events of 1915 remind us of the dark prospect of man's inhumanity to man, reckoning with the past holds out the powerful promise of reconciliation. I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed. My interest remains the achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts.

The best way to advance that goal right now is for the Armenian and Turkish people to address the facts of the past as a part of their efforts to move forward. I strongly support efforts by the Turkish and Armenian people to work through this painful history in a way that is honest, open, and constructive. To that end, there has been courageous and important dialogue among Armenians and Turks, and within Turkey itself. I also strongly support the efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalize their bilateral relations. Under Swiss auspices, the two governments have agreed on a framework and roadmap for normalization. I commend this progress, and urge them to fulfill its promise.

Together, Armenia and Turkey can forge a relationship that is peaceful, productive and prosperous. And together, the Armenian and Turkish people will be stronger as they acknowledge their common history and recognize their common humanity.

Nothing can bring back those who were lost in the Meds Yeghern. But the contributions that Armenians have made over the last ninety-four years stand as a testament to the talent, dynamism and resilience of the Armenian people, and as the ultimate rebuke to those who tried to destroy them. The United States of America is a far richer country because of the many Americans of Armenian descent who have contributed to our society, many of whom immigrated to this country in the aftermath of 1915. Today, I stand with them and with Armenians everywhere with a sense of friendship, solidarity, and deep respect.

Barack Obama

April 6, 2009

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA TO THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT

Human endeavor is by its nature imperfect. History is often tragic, but unresolved, it can be a heavy weight. Each country must work through its past. And reckoning with the past can help us seize a better future. I know there's strong views in this chamber about the terrible events of 1915. And while there's been a good deal of commentary about my views, it's really about how the Turkish and Armenian people deal with the past. And the best way forward for the Turkish and Armenian people is a process that works through the past in a way that is honest, open and constructive.

JOINT PRESS AVAILABILITY WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA AND PRESIDENT GUL OF TURKEY

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Christy Parsons, Chicago Tribune -- hometown -- hometown newspaper.

Q. Thank you, Mr. President. As a U.S. senator you stood with the Armenian-American community in calling for Turkey's acknowledgement of the Armenian genocide and you also supported the passage of the Armenian genocide resolution. You said, as President you would recognize the genocide. And my question for you is, have you changed your view, and did you ask President Gul to recognize the genocide by name?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, my views are on the record and I have not changed views. What I have been very encouraged by is news that under President Gul's leadership, you are seeing a series of negotiations, a process, in place between Armenia and Turkey to resolve a whole host of longstanding issues, including this one.

George W. Bush

April 24, 2008

THE WHITE HOUSEOffice of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release April 24, 2008

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

Armenian Remembrance Day

On this day of remembrance, we honor the memory of the victims of one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, the mass killings and forced exile of as many as 1.5 million Armenians at the end of the Ottoman Empire. I join the Armenian community in America and around the world in commemorating this tragedy and mourning the loss of so many innocent lives.

As we reflect on this epic human tragedy, we must resolve to redouble our efforts to promote peace, tolerance, and respect for the dignity of human life. The Armenian people's unalterable determination to triumph over tragedy and flourish is a testament to their strength of character and spirit. We are grateful for the many contributions Americans of Armenian heritage have made to our Nation. We welcome the efforts by individuals in Armenia and Turkey to foster reconciliation and peace, and support joint efforts for an open examination of the past in search of a shared understanding of these tragic events. We look forward to the realization of a fully normalized Armenia-Turkey relationship.

The United States is committed to a strong relationship with Armenia based on shared values. We call on the Government of Armenia to take decisive steps to promote democracy, and will continue our support for Armenia to this end. We remain committed to serving as an honest broker in pursuit of a lasting and peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

On this solemn day of remembrance, Laura and I express our deepest condolences to Armenian people around the world.

George W. Bush

April 24, 2007

Presidential Message: Honoring Memory of 1.5 Million Armenian LivesLost During Ottoman Empire

April 24, 2007

Each year on this day, we pause to remember the victims of one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, when as many as 1.5 million Armenians lost their lives in the final years of the Ottoman Empire, many of them victims of mass killings and forced exile. I join my fellow Americans and Armenian people around the world in commemorating this tragedy and honoring the memory of the innocent lives that were taken. The world must never forget this painful chapter of its history.

All who cherish freedom and value the sanctity of human life look back on these horrific events in sorrow and disbelief. Many of those who survived were forced from their ancestral home and spread across the globe. Yet, in the midst of this terrible struggle, the world witnessed the indomitable spirit and character of the Armenian people. Many of the brave survivors came to America, where they have preserved a deep connection with their history and culture. Generations of Armenians in the United States have enriched our country and inspired us with their courage and conviction.

Today, we remember the past and also look forward to a brighter future. We commend the individuals in Armenia and Turkey who are working to normalize the relationship between their two countries. A sincere and open examination of the historic events of the late-Ottoman period is an essential part of this process. The United States supports and encourages those in both countries who are working to build a shared understanding of history as a basis for a more hopeful future. We value the strong and vibrant ties between the United States and Armenia. Our Nation is grateful for Armenia's contributions to the war on terror, particularly for its efforts to help build a peaceful and democratic Iraq. The United States remains committed to working with Armenia and Azerbaijan to promote a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We are also working to promote democratic and economic reform in Armenia that will advance the cause of freedom and justice.

Laura and I express our deepest condolences to Armenian people around the world on this solemn day of remembrance. We stand together in our determination to build a more peaceful, more prosperous, and more just world.

GEORGE W. BUSH

George W. Bush

April 24, 2006

For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryApril 24, 2006

Presidential Message:

Today, we remember one of the horrible tragedies of the 20th century -- the mass killings and forced exile of as many as 1.5 million Armenians in the final days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915. This was a tragedy for all humanity and one that we and the world must never forget.

We mourn this terrible chapter of history and recognize that it remains a source of pain for people in Armenia and for all those who believe in freedom, tolerance, and the dignity and value of every human life. It is a credit to the human spirit and generations of Armenians who live in Armenia, America, and around the globe that they have overcome this suffering and proudly preserved their centuries-old culture, traditions, and religion.

We praise the individuals in Armenia and Turkey who have sought to examine the historical events of this time with honesty and sensitivity. The analysis by the International Center for Transitional Justice, while not the final word, has made a significant contribution toward deepening our understanding of these events. We encourage dialogues, including through joint commissions, that strive for a shared understanding of these tragic events and move Armenia and Turkey towards normalized relations.

Today, we look with hope to a bright future for Armenia. Armenia's Millennium Challenge Compact reflects our confidence and the importance we place in Armenia making progress on democratic reform and advancement of free markets. We seek to help Armenia bolster its security and deepen its inclusion in the Euro-Atlantic family. We remain committed to securing a peaceful and lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and hope the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan will take bold steps to achieve this goal.

On this solemn day of remembrance, Laura and I express our deepest condolences to the Armenian people. Our nations stand together, determined to create a future of peace, prosperity, and freedom for the citizens of our countries and the world.

GEORGE W. BUSH

George W. Bush

April 24, 2005

For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryApril 24, 2005

President's Statement on Armenian Remembrance Day<br.</br.

On Armenian Remembrance Day, we remember the forced exile and mass killings of as many as 1.5 million Armenians during the last days of the Ottoman Empire. This terrible event is what many Armenian people have come to call the "Great Calamity." I join my fellow Americans and Armenian people around the world in expressing my deepest condolences for this horrible loss of life.

Today, as we commemorate the 90th anniversary of this human tragedy and reflect on the suffering of the Armenian people, we also look toward a promising future for an independent Armenian state. The United States is grateful for Armenia's contributions to the war on terror and to efforts to build a democratic and peaceful Iraq. We remain committed to supporting the historic reforms Armenia has pursued for over a decade. We call on the Government of Armenia to advance democratic freedoms that will further advance the aspirations of the Armenian people. We remain committed to a lasting and peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We also seek a deeper partnership with Armenia that includes security cooperation and is rooted in the shared values of democratic and market economic freedoms.

I applaud individuals in Armenia and Turkey who have sought to examine the historical events of the early 20th century with honesty and sensitivity. The recent analysis by the International Center for Transitional Justice did not provide the final word, yet marked a significant step toward reconciliation and restoration of the spirit of tolerance and cultural richness that has connected the people of the Caucasus and Anatolia for centuries. We look to a future of freedom, peace, and prosperity in Armenia and Turkey and hope that Prime Minister Erdogan's recent proposal for a joint Turkish-Armenian commission can help advance these processes.

Millions of Americans proudly trace their ancestry to Armenia. Their faith, traditions, and patriotism enrich the cultural, political, and economic life of the United States. I appreciate all individuals who work to promote peace, tolerance, and reconciliation.

On this solemn day of remembrance, I send my best wishes and expressions of solidarity to Armenian people around the world.

George W. Bush

April 24, 2004

Armenian Remembrance Day

On this day, we pause in remembrance of one of the most horrible tragedies of the 20th century, the annihilation of as many as 1.5 million Armenians through forced exile and murder at the end of the Ottoman Empire. This terrible event remains a source of pain for people in Armenia and Turkey and for all those who believe in freedom, tolerance, and the dignity of every human life. I join with my fellow Americans and the Armenian community in the United States and around the world in mourning this loss of life.

The United States is proud of the strong ties we share with Armenia. From the end of World War I and again since the reemergence of an independent Armenian state in 1991, our country has sought a partnership with Armenia that promotes democracy, security cooperation, and free markets. Today, our Nation remains committed to a peace settlement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and is grateful for Armenia's continuing cooperation in the war on terror. By advancing understanding and goodwill, free nations can help build a brighter future for the world. Our country seeks to help Armenia expand its strategic relations with the United States and our European allies.

Generations of Armenian Americans have also strengthened our communities and enriched our Nation's character. By preserving their heritage, faith, and traditions, Armenian Americans enhance the diversity that makes America great.

I commend individuals in Armenia and Turkey who have worked to support peace and reconciliation, including through the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission, and call on Armenia and Turkey to restore their economic, political, and cultural ties. I also send warm wishes and expressions of solidarity to the Armenian people on this solemn day of remembrance.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Read from the White House Web site the official Presidential Message regarding Armenian Remembrance Day, 2004.

George W. Bush

April 24, 2003

Presidential Message: Armenian Remembrance Day, 2003

Today marks the anniversary of a horrible tragedy, the mass killings and forced exile of countless Armenians in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. Many Armenians refer to these appalling events as the "great calamity," reflecting a deep sorrow that continues to haunt them and their neighbors, the Turkish people. The suffering that befell the Armenian people in 1915 is a tragedy for all humanity, which the world should not forget. I join the Armenian-American community and Armenians around the world in mourning the horrendous loss of life.

I also salute our wise and bold friends from Armenia and Turkey who are coming together in a spirit of reconciliation to consider these events and their significance. I applaud them for rising above bitterness, and taking action to create a better future. I wish them success, building on their recent and significant achievements, as they work together in a spirit of hope and understanding.

As we remember those who perished and suffered, we salute the nation of Armenia, and Armenians everywhere. The United States is grateful for the contributions of Armenian Americans to our national life. Generations of Armenians have employed wisdom, courage, and centuries-old traditions to overcome great suffering and enrich their adopted American homeland.

The United States is proud to be a friend of Armenia, a young state with an ancient heritage. We are deepening our partnership to help achieve a secure, prosperous, and dignified future for the citizens of Armenia. The United States is committed to achieving a just and lasting

settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We will also continue to help Armenia as it strives to strengthen its democracy and market economy.

On behalf of the American people, I send solemn wishes to the Armenian people on this day of remembrance. Our nations stand together, determined to create a future of peace, prosperity, and freedom for the citizens of our countries, for our regions, and for the world.

SignedGEORGE W. BUSH

Read from the White House Web site the official Presidential Message regarding Armenian Remembrance Day, 2003.

George W. Bush

April 24, 2002

Today, we commemorate an appalling tragedy of the 20th century, the massacre of as many as 1.5 million Armenians through forced exile and murder at the end of the Ottoman Empire. These horrific killings left wounds that remain painful for people in Armenia, in Turkey, and around the world. I join the Armenian community in America and across the globe in mourning this horrendous loss of life.

Today is an occasion for the world to reflect upon and draw lessons from these terrible events. It is a day for recognizing that demonizing others lays the foundation for a dark cycle of hatred. Transcending this venomous pattern requires painful introspection about the past and wise determination to forge a new future based on truth and reconciliation. In this spirit, I look forward to Turkey restoring economic, political, and cultural links with Armenia.

The United States greatly values the contributions that Armenians make to our national life. With faith and courage, generations of Armenians have overcome great suffering and proudly preserved their centuries-old culture, traditions, and religion. The United States is also deeply grateful for Armenia's swift and decisive cooperation in the war against terrorism.

Just as the United States reached out to the Armenian people to provide shelter and freedom early in the last century, so did Armenia extend a supportive hand to the American people in the immediate aftermath of September 11. Our two peoples stand together in this fight in support of values that define civilization itself.

I am also very proud of America's strong support for a free Armenian state, whose citizens enjoy the fruits of peace and increasing prosperity. In the months to come, America will continue to increase its security cooperation with Armenia and with Armenia's neighbors to combat terrorism and pursue a lasting and just settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which will strengthen peace and stability in the Caucasus. The United States will also continue its strong support for Armenia's efforts to develop democratic and free market institutions,

and to deepen its integration into the Euro-Atlantic community.

On behalf of the American people, I send warm wishes and expressions of solidarity to the Armenian people on this solemn day of remembrance. Together, our nations look with hope and determination toward a future of peace, prosperity, and freedom.

George W. Bush

April 24, 2001

Today marks the commemoration of one of the great tragedies of history: the forced exile and annihilation of approximately 1.5 million Armenians in the closing years of the Ottoman Empire. These infamous killings darkened the 20th century and continue to haunt us to this day. Today, I join Armenian Americans and the Armenian community abroad to mourn the loss of so many innocent lives. I ask all Americans to reflect on these terrible events.

While we mourn the tragedy that scarred the history of the Armenian people, let us also celebrate their indomitable will which has allowed Armenian culture, religion, and identity to flourish through the ages. Let us mark this year the 1700th anniversary of the establishment of Christianity in Armenia. Let us celebrate the spirit that illuminated the pages of history in 451 when the Armenians refused to bow to Persian demands that they renounce their faith. The Armenian reply was both courageous and unequivocal: "From this faith none can shake us, neither angels, nor men, neither sword, fire or water, nor any bitter torturers." This is the spirit that survived again in the face of the bitter fate that befell so many Armenians at the end of the Ottoman Empire.

Today, that same spirit not only survives, but thrives in Armenian communities the world over. Many Armenian survivors and their descendents chose to live in the United States, where they found safety and built new lives. We are grateful for the countless ways in which Armenian Americans continue to enrich America's science, culture, commerce and, indeed, all aspects of our national life.

One of the most important ways in which we can honor the memory of Armenian victims of the past is to help modern Armenia build a secure and prosperous future. I am proud that the United States actively supports Armenia and its neighbors in finding a permanent and fair settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute. I hope that this year we will see peace and reconciliation flourish in the south Caucasus region between Armenia and all its neighbors. The United States welcomes the opportunity to support the courageous efforts by the Armenian people to overcome years of hardship and Soviet repression to create a prospering, democratic, and sovereign Republic of Armenia.

Let us remember the past and let its lessons guide us as we seek to build a better future. In the name of the American people, I extend my heartfelt best wishes to all Armenians as we observe this solemn day of remembrance.

Bill Clinton

April 24, 2000

April 24, 2000

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

THE WHITE HOUSEOffice of the Press Secretary(New York, New York)For Immediate Release

Today we remember a great tragedy of the twentieth century: the deportations and massacres of roughly one and a half million Armenians in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. I join Armenians around the world, including the Armenian-American community, in mourning the loss of those innocent lives. I also extend my sympathy to the survivors and their descendants for the hardships they suffered. I call upon all Americans to renew their commitment to build a world where such events are not allowed to happen again. The lesson we must learn from the stark annals of history is that we must forge a more humane future for the peoples of all nations.

Our own society has benefited immeasurably from the contributions of Armenian-Americans. They have enriched every aspect of American life, from science, to commerce, to the arts. For the past eight and a half years, the Armenian people have been engaged in an historic undertaking to establish democracy and prosperity in the independent Republic of Armenia. Their courage, energy and resourcefulness inspire the admiration of all Americans, and we are proud to extend our assistance to help realize the dream of a vital and vibrant Armenia. The United States fully supports the efforts of Armenia and its neighbors to make lasting peace with one another and to begin an era of security and cooperation in the Caucasus region. We encourage any and all dialogue between citizens of the region that hastens reconciliation and understanding.

On behalf of the American people, I extend my best wishes to all Armenians on this solemn day of remembrance.

Bill Clinton

April 19, 1999

The White HouseApril 19, 1999Office of the Press Secretary

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

This week marks the commemoration of one of the saddest chapters of this century: the deportations and massacres of one and a half million Armenians in the closing years of the Ottoman empire. We join with Armenian-Americans across the nation and with the Armenian community abroad to mourn the loss of so many innocent lives. Today, against the background of events in Kosovo, all Americans should recommit themselves to building a world where such events never occur again.

As we learn from the past, we also build for the future. In this country, Armenian-Americans have made great contributions to every field, from science, to commerce, to culture. Meanwhile, the people of Armenia, who suffered not only from the massacres, but the ravages of two world wars and the pain of seventy years of Soviet rule, at last have obtained their independence and their freedom. Armenia is pursuing democratic and market reforms, assuming its rightful place among the members of the Euro-Atlantic community of nations. We wish the people of Armenia - and all of their neighbors in the Caucasus region - success in their efforts to bring about the lasting peace and prosperity that they deserve. America will continue to support these efforts.

ON behalf of the American people, I extend my best wishes to all Armenians at this time of remembrance.

Bill Clinton

April 24, 1998

April 24, 1998 -- Armenian Remembrance Day

This year, as in the past, we join with Armenian-Americans throughout the nation in commemorating one of the saddest chapters in the history of this century, the deportations and massacres of a million and a half Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in the years 1915-1923.

This painful event from the past also serves as a powerful lesson for the future: that man's inhumanity to man must not be tolerated, and that evil cannot conquer. The Armenian people have endured, surviving the ravages of two World Wars and seven decades of Soviet rule. Throughout the world, and especially in this country, Armenians have contributed to the material, intellectual and spiritual lives of their adopted homes. Today's Armenians are building a free and independent nation that stands as a living tribute to all those who died.

The United States will continue working to preserve a free Armenia in a peaceful, stable and prosperous Caucasus region. In that spirit, I extend to all Armenians my best wishes on Remembrance Day in the fervent hope that those who died will never be forgotten.

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton

April 22, 1997

April 22, 1997 -- Armenian Remembrance Day

Each year on Remembrance Day, we join Armenian-Americans across our nation and the Armenian Community around the world in solemnly marking one of the darkest chapters in the history of the twentieth century: the massacre of untold thousands of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923. We remember the victims of that terrible time, some one and a half million innocent people who suffered deportation and death.

The Armenian people responded nobly to this tragedy. Holding fast to their heritage and their faith, Armenians established vibrant and prosperous communities throughout the world. The United States has benefited greatly from the contributions of the many Armenian-Americans who have played leadership roles in every aspect of our national life.

Over the decades of this century, Armenians around the world kept alive the vision of an independent Armenia, and in 1991 that dream became a reality. Today Armenia is a free and sovereign state, a living monument to the memory of those who died eighty-two years ago and a lasting pledge that such a tragedy never again will occur.

To preserve the historic establishment of a free Armenia, we must redouble our commitment to peace and stability in the Caucasus region. It is in this spirit of peace that I extend to all Armenians my best wishes as we solemnly observe Remembrance Day.

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton

April 24, 1996

April 24, 1996 -- Armenian Remembrance Day

Eighty-one years ago today, in the city of Constantinople, more than two hundred Armenian civic, political, and intellectual leaders were arrested, deported and subsequently executed. That day marked the beginning of one of this century's darkest moments.

I join with Armenians around the world, on this solemn day, in commemorating the senseless deportations and massacres of one and a half million Armenians that took place from 1915-1923 in the Ottoman Empire. Tragically, our century has repeatedly borne witness to man's senseless inhumanity to man. Together we mourn the terrible loss of so many innocent lives.

Despite this tragedy, your faith and courage helped you survive and prosper. You never lost sight of your Armenian heritage; you preserved it and passed it on through the generations. As a result, Armenian Americans have made immense contributions to America's prosperity, science, and culture. Your great spirit also kept alive the dream of an independent Armenia and helped to overcome Soviet rule. Today, that same spirit is helping to build a free and prosperous state in your homeland. Your contributions around the would, and now especially in Armenia, honor the memory of those who died unjustly in the massacres.

As we rededicate ourselves to the future of Armenia as a free and prosperous state secured by lasting peace with its neighbors, I extend to Armenians across the globe my heartfelt wishes for a meaningful observance.

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton

April 23, 1995

April 23, 1995 -- Armenian Remembrance Day

On this solemn day, I join with Armenians throughout the United States, in Armenia, and around the world in remembering the 80th anniversary of the Armenians who perished, victims of massacres in the last years of the Ottoman Empire. Their loss is our loss; their courage a testament to mankind's indomitable spirit.

It is this spirit that kept the hope of Armenians alive through the centuries of persecution. It is this spirit that lives today in the hearts of all Armenians -- in their church, in their language, in their culture. And, it is this spirit that underpins the remarkable resilience and courage of Armenians around the world. The Armenian American community -- now nearly one million strong -- has made enormous contributions to America. Now, with the emergence of an independent Armenia, the Armenian people are bringing the same determination to building democracy and a modern economy in their native land.

Even as we commemorate the past -- which we must never forget -- we commit ourselves today to Armenia's future as an independent and prosperous nation, at peace with its neighbors and with close ties to the West. That is why the United States has provided more that $445 million in assistance to alleviate humanitarian needs and support democratic and economic reform. I will do everything in my power to preserve assistance levels for Armenia.

I continue to be deeply concerned about the conflict in the region surrounding Armenia. The terrible effects of this war have been felt throughout the Caucasus: tens of thousand have died, more that a million have been displaced, economies have been shattered, and security threatened. The United States is committed to working with the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to encourage Armenia and Azerbaijan to move beyond their cease-fife to a lasting political settlement. I plan to nominate a Special Negotiator for Nagorno-Karabakh at the rank of Ambassador to advance those negotiations. And I pledge United States support of OSCE efforts to back that settlement with a peacekeeping force.

The U.S. also seeks to encourage the regional cooperation that will build prosperity and reinforce peace. I commend the recent decision of the Government of Turkey to open air corridors to Armenia, which will make assistance delivery faster, cheaper and more reliable. We had urged that it do so and hope this is a first step toward lifting other blockades in the region, initially for humanitarian deliveries and then overall. Open borders would help create the conditions needed for economic recovery and development, including construction of a Caspian oil pipeline through the Caucasus to Turkey, which is a key to long-term prosperity in the region.

The Administration's efforts -- assistance in support of reform, reinforced efforts toward peace settlement, building broad regional cooperation and encouraging the development of a Caspian oil pipeline through the Caucasus to Turkey -- represent the key building blocks of U.S.

policy to support the development of an independent and prosperous Armenia.

On this 80th anniversary of the Armenian massacres, I call upon all people to work to prevent future acts of such inhumanity. And, as we remember the past, let us also rededicate ourselves to building a democratic Armenia of prosperity and lasting peace.

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton

April 24, 1994

April 22, 1994 -- Armenian Remembrance Day

On this solemn day, I join Armenians from around the world in remembering the victims of the 1915 massacres in the Ottoman Empire. The effects of that tragedy have profoundly touched all of us, and together we mourn the terrible loss of so many innocent lives.

Yet even in the face of this devastating event, the rich and vibrant Armenian culture has continued to thrive. Demonstrating remarkable resilience and courage, Armenian Americans have made enormous contributions to our development and success as a country. Now, with the creation of a new and independent Armenia under President Ter-Petrosyan's leadership, the Armenian people are bringing the same determination to creating a democracy and a modern economy in their native land. Recalling the brave spirit of those who died in the violence of 1915, these important efforts honor their lasting legacy.

As we rededicate ourselves to building an Armenia of great prosperity and lasting peace, I extend best wishes to all for a meaningful observance.

Bill Clinton

George Bush

April 20, 1990

April 20, 1990 -- Armenian Remembrance Day

Throughout this century, the United States has had a special, enduring relationship with the Armenian people. Armenians around the world share with their friends in the United States a love of freedom, and as proud people they have a strong commitment to the preservation of

their heritage and culture.

Their history, though marked by a number of tragedies, nonetheless reflects their faith and the strength and resilience of their tradition. Those tragedies include the Earthquake of 1988 and, most prominently, the terrible massacres suffered in 1915-1923 at the hands of the rulers of the Ottoman Empire.

The United States responded to the victims of the crime against humanity by leading international diplomatic and private relief efforts.

The Armenian-American community now numbers nearly one million people. Those who emigrated to the United States, and their descendants, continue to make significant contributions to the betterment of our country in many fields of endeavor.

On this seventy-fifth anniversary of the massacres, I wish to join with Armenians and all peoples in observing April 24, 1990 as a day of remembrance for the more than a million Armenian people who were victims. I call upon all peoples to work to prevent future acts of inhumanity against mankind, and my comments of June 1988 represent the depth of my feeling for the Armenian people and the sufferings they have endured.

George Bush

Ronald Reagan

April 22, 1981

"Like the genocide of the Armenians before it, and the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it — and like too many other such persecutions of too many other peoples — the lessons of the Holocaust must never be forgotten."

Proclamation 4838 of April 22, 1981

Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust

by the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

The Congress of the United States established the United States Holocaust Memorial Council

to create a living memorial to the victims of the Nazi Holocaust. Its purpose: So mankind will never lose memory of that terrible moment in time when the awful specter of death camps stained the history of our world.

When America and its allies liberated those haunting places of terror and sick destructiveness, the world came to a vivid and tragic understanding of the evil it faced in those years of the Second World War. Each of those names -- Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Dachau, Treblinka and so many others -- became synonymous with horror.

The millions of death, the gas chambers, the inhuman crematoria, and the thousands of people who somehow survived with lifetime scars are all now part of the conscience of history. Forever must we remember just how precious is civilization, how important is liberty, and how heroic is the human spirit.

Like the genocide of the Armenians before it, and the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it -- and like too many other such persecutions of too many other peoples -- the lessons of the Holocaust must never be forgotten.

As part of its mandate, the Holocaust Memorial Council has been directed to designate annual Day of Remembrance as a national, civic commemoration of the Holocaust, and to encourage and sponsor appropriate observances throughout the United States. This year, the national Days of Remembrance will be observed on April 26 through May 3.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby ask the people of the United States to observe this solemn anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camps, with appropriate study, prayers and commemoration, as a tribute to the spirit of freedom and justice which Americans fought so hard and well to preserve.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of April, in the year of our Lord Nineteen hundred and eight-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifth.

Ronald Reagan

Jimmy Carter

May 16, 1978

Reception Honoring Armenian AmericansRemarks at the White House Reception, May 16, 1978

The first thing I want to say is that it is an honor for Rosalynn and me to have you here in our home, which is also your home.

In preparation for the previous meeting that I had with your group in the Roosevelt Room in the West Wing, I went back and studied some of the history of the Armenian people. And I, again, am impressed with the tremendous contribution that you've made to our own Nation, the high examples that you've set in leadership, in music, arts, in business, in politics, in education, and in your sound political judgment in choosing to be Democrats, also in your very early support of me when I ran for President. Yours was the first group that had confidence in me, and I will always remember it. And your help for our party and our country is something that I appreciate very much.

As one of the oldest people in the world, you have, I think, struggled with great courage and tenacity to preserve your own identity, your own customs, and, too, in a very modest way, let the world come to appreciate what you've accomplished.

I feel close to you because you were the first Christian people, first Christian nation, and because of that, your deep religious beliefs, I doubt that any other people have ever suffered more. I know that through the early years of the foundation of your people's home, you suffered a great deal. But it's generally not known in the world that in the years preceding 1916, there was a concerted effort made to eliminate all the Armenian people, probably one of the greatest tragedies that ever befell any group. And there weren't any Nuremberg trials. There weren't any high public figures who recognized how much you and your families had to suffer.

Well, I feel very deeply that I, as President, ought to make sure that this is never forgotten, not only the tragedy of your history but also the present contributions that you make and the bright future that you have.

Jimmy Carter

Woodrow Wilson

May 24, 1920

"Whereas the people of the United States are deeply impressed by the deplorable conditions of insecurity, starvation, and misery now prevalent in Armenia."

66th Congress 2nd Session House of Representatives Document No. 791

Mandate For Armenia

Message from the President of the United States, requesting that the Congress grant the executive power to accept for the United States a mandate for Armenia

May 24, 1920. -- Read; referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and ordered to be

printed.

Gentlemen of the Congress:

On the fourteenth of May an official communication was received at the Executive Office from the Secretary of the Senate of the United States conveying the following preambles and resolutions:

Whereas the testimony adduced at the hearings conducted by the subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations have clearly established the truth of the reported massacres and other atrocities from which the Armenian people have suffered; and

Whereas the people of the United States are deeply impressed by the deplorable conditions of insecurity, starvation, and misery now prevalent in Armenia; and

Whereas the independence of the Republic of Armenia has been duly recognized by the Supreme Council of the Peace Conference and by the Government of the United States of America: Therefore be it

Resolved, That the sincere congratulations of the Senate of the United States are hereby extended to the people of Armenia on the recognition of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, without prejudice respecting the territorial boundaries involved: And be it further

Resolved, That the Senate of the United States hereby expresses the hope that stable government, proper protection of individual liberties and rights, and the full realization of nationalistic aspirations may soon be attained by the Armenian people: And be it further

Resolved, That in order to afford necessary protection for the lives and property of citizens of the United States at the port of Batum and along the line of the railroad leading to Baku, the President is hereby requested, if not incompatible with the public interest, to cause a United States warship and a force of marines to be dispatched to such port with instructions to such marines to disembark and to protect American lives and property.

I received and read this document with great interest and with genuine gratification, not only because it embodied my own convictions and feelings with regard to Armenia and its people, but also, and more particularly, because it seemed to me the voice of the American people expressing their genuine convictions and deep Christian sympathies, and intimating the line of duty which seemed to them to lie clearly before us.

I cannot but regard it as providential, and not as a mere casual coincidence that almost at the same time I received information that the conference of statesmen now sitting at San Remo for the purpose of working out the details of peace with the Central Powers which it was not feasible to work out in the conference at Paris, had formally resolved to address a definite appeal to this Government to accept the mandate for Armenia. They were at pains to add that they did this, "not from the smallest desire to evade any obligations which they might be expected to undertake, but because the responsibilities which they are already obliged to bear in connection with the disposition of the former Ottoman Empire will strain their capacities to the uttermost, and because they believe that the appearance on the scene of a power emancipated from the prepossessions of the old world will inspire a wider confidence and afford a firmer guarantee for stability in the future then would the selection of any European power."

Early in the conferences at Paris it was agreed that to those colonies and territories which as a consequence of the late war have ceased to be under the sovereignty of the States which formerly governed them and which are inhabited by peoples not yet able to stand by themselves under the strenuous conditions of the modern world there should be applied the principle that the well being and development of such peoples form a sacred trust of civilization, and that securities for the performance of this trust should be afforded.

It was recognized that certain communities formerly belonging to the Turkish Empire have reached a stage of development where their existence as independent nations can be provisionally recognized, subject to the rendering of administrative advice and assistance by a mandatory until such time as they are able to stand alone.

It is in pursuance of this principle and with a desire of affording Armenia such advice and assistance that the statesmen conferring at San Remo have formally requested this Government to assume the duties of mandatory in Armenia. I may add, for the information of the Congress, that at the same sitting it was resolved to request the President of the United States to undertake to arbitrate the difficult question of the boundary between Turkey and Armenia in the Vilayets of Erzerum, Trebizond, Van and Bitlis, and it was agreed to accept his decision thereupon, as well as any stipulation he may prescribe as to access to the sea for the independent State of Armenia. In pursuance of this action, it was resolved to embody in the Treaty with Turkey, now under final consideration, a provision that "Turkey and Armenia and the other High Contracting Parties agree to refer to the arbitration of the President of the United States of America the question of the boundary between Turkey and Armenia in the Vilayets of Erzerum, Trebizond, Van and Bitlis, and to accept his decision thereupon as well as any stipulation he may prescribe as to access to the sea for the independent State of Armenia:" pending that decision the boundaries of Turkey and Armenia to remain as at present. I have thought it my duty to accept this difficult and delicate task.

In response to the invitation of the Council at San Remo, I urgently advise and request that the Congress grant the Executive power to accept for the United States a mandate over Armenia. I make this suggestion in the earnest belief that it will be the wish of the people of the United States that this should be done. The sympathy with Armenia has proceeded from no single portion of our people, but has come with extraordinary spontaneity and sincerity from the whole of the great body of Christian men and women in this country by whose free-will offerings Armenia has practically been saved at the most critical juncture of its existence. At their hearts this great and generous people have made the cause of Armenia their own. It is to this people and to their Government that the hopes and earnest expectations of the struggling people of Armenia turn as they now emerge from a period of indescribable suffering and peril, and I hope that the Congress will think it wise to meet this hope and expectation with the utmost liberality. I know from unmistakable evidences given by responsible representatives of many peoples struggling towards independence and peaceful life again that the Government of the United States is looked to with extraordinary trust and confidence, and I believe that it would do nothing less than arrest the hopeful processes of civilization if we were to refuse the request to become the helpful friends and advisers of such of these people as we may be authoritatively and formally requested to guide and assist.

I am conscious that I am urging upon the Congress a very critical choice, but I make the suggestion in the confidence that I am speaking in the spirit and in accordance with the wishes of the greatest of the Christian peoples. The sympathy for Armenia among our people has sprung from untainted consciences, pure Christian faith, and an earnest desire to see Christian people everywhere succored in their time of suffering, and lifted from their abject subjection and distress and enabled to stand upon their feet and take their place among the free nations

of the world. Our recognition of the independence of Armenia will mean genuine liberty and assured happiness for her people, if we fearlessly undertake the duties of guidance and assistance involved in the functions of a mandatory. It is, therefore, with the most earnest hopefulness and with the feeling that I am giving advice from which the Congress will not willingly turn away that I urge the acceptance of the invitation now formally and solemnly extended to us by the Council at San Remo, into whose hands has passed the difficult task of composing the many complexities and difficulties of government in the one-time Ottoman Empire and the maintenance of order and tolerable conditions of life in those portions of that Empire which it is no longer possible in the interest of civilization to leave under the government of the Turkish authorities themselves.

Woodrow Wilson, The White House, May 24, 1920.

United States Senate Resolution 150

December 12, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. RES. 150

Expressing the sense of the Senate that it is the policy of the United States to commemorate the Armenian Genocide through official recognition and remembrance.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 9, 2019

Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Markey, Ms. Warren, Mr. Peters, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Reed, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Udall, and Ms. Harris) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate that it is the policy of the United States to commemorate the Armenian Genocide through official recognition and remembrance.

Whereas the United States has a proud history of recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide, the killing of an estimated 1,500,000 Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, and providing relief to the survivors of the campaign of genocide against Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians;

Whereas the Honorable Henry Morgenthau, Sr., United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1913 to 1916, organized and led protests by officials of many countries against what he described as “a campaign of race extermination,” and, on July 16, 1915, was instructed by United States Secretary of State Robert Lansing that the “Department approves your procedure … to stop Armenian persecution”;

Whereas President Woodrow Wilson encouraged the formation of Near East Relief, chartered by an Act of Congress, which raised approximately $116,000,000 (more than $2,500,000,000 in 2019 dollars) between 1915 and 1930, and the Senate adopted resolutions condemning the massacres;

Whereas Raphael Lemkin, who coined the term “genocide” in 1944 and who was the earliest proponent of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, invoked the Armenian case as a definitive example of genocide in the 20th century;

Whereas, as displayed in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Adolf Hitler, on ordering his military commanders to attack Poland without provocation in 1939, dismissed objections by saying, “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”, setting the stage for the Holocaust;

Whereas the United States has officially recognized the Armenian Genocide—

(1) through the May 28, 1951, written statement of the United States Government to the International Court of Justice regarding the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and Proclamation No. 4838 issued by President Ronald Reagan on April 22, 1981; and

(2) by House Joint Resolution 148, 94th Congress, agreed to April 8, 1975, and House Joint Resolution 247, 98th Congress, agreed to September 10, 1984; and

Whereas the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–441) establishes that the prevention of atrocities is a national interest of the United States and affirms that it is the policy of the United States to pursue a United States Government-wide strategy to identify, prevent, and respond to the risk of atrocities by “strengthening diplomatic response and the effective use of foreign assistance to support appropriate transitional justice measures, including criminal accountability, for past atrocities”: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that it is the policy of the United States—

(1) to commemorate the Armenian Genocide through official recognition and remembrance;

(2) to reject efforts to enlist, engage, or otherwise associate the United States Government with denial of the Armenian Genocide or any other genocide; and

(3) to encourage education and public understanding of the facts of the Armenian Genocide, including the role of the United States in humanitarian relief efforts, and the relevance of the Armenian Genocide to modern-day crimes against humanity.

[Passed by unanimous consent]

United States House of Representatives Resolution 296

October 29, 2019

"This resolution states that it is U.S. policy to (1) commemorate the Armenian Genocide, the killing of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; (2) reject efforts to associate the U.S. government with efforts to deny the existence of the Armenian Genocide or any genocide; and (3) encourage education and public understanding about the Armenian Genocide."

H. Res. 296 Affirming the United States record on the Armenian Genocide.

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

October 29, 2019.

Whereas the United States has a proud history of recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide, the killing of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, and providing relief to the survivors of the campaign of genocide against Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians;

Whereas the Honorable Henry Morgenthau, United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1913 to 1916, organized and led protests by officials of many countries against what he described as the empire’s “campaign of race extermination”, and was instructed on July 16, 1915, by United States Secretary of State Robert Lansing that the “Department approves your procedure * * * to stop Armenian persecution”;

Whereas President Woodrow Wilson encouraged the formation of the Near East Relief, chartered by an Act of Congress, which raised $116,000,000 (over $2,500,000,000 in 2019 dollars) between 1915 and 1930, and the Senate adopted resolutions condemning these massacres;

Whereas Raphael Lemkin, who coined the term “genocide” in 1944, and who was the earliest proponent of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, invoked the Armenian case as a definitive example of genocide in the 20th century;

Whereas, as displayed in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Adolf Hitler, on ordering his military commanders to attack Poland without provocation in 1939, dismissed objections by saying “[w]ho, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”, setting the stage for the Holocaust;

Whereas the United States has officially recognized the Armenian Genocide, through the United States Government’s May 28, 1951, written statement to the International Court of Justice regarding the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, through President Ronald Reagan’s Proclamation No. 4838 on April 22, 1981, and by House Joint Resolution 148, adopted on April 8, 1975, and House Joint Resolution 247, adopted on September 10, 1984; and

Whereas the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–441) establishes that atrocities prevention represents a United States national interest, and affirms that it is the policy of the United States to pursue a United States Government-wide strategy to identify, prevent, and respond to the risk of atrocities by “strengthening diplomatic response and the effective use of foreign assistance to support appropriate transitional justice measures, including criminal accountability, for past atrocities”: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that it is the policy of the United States to—

(1) commemorate the Armenian Genocide through official recognition and remembrance;

(2) reject efforts to enlist, engage, or otherwise associate the United States Government with denial of the Armenian Genocide or any other genocide; and

(3) encourage education and public understanding of the facts of the Armenian Genocide, including the United States role in the humanitarian relief effort, and the relevance of the Armenian Genocide to modern-day crimes against humanity.

Attest:

Clerk.

[On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 405 - 11, 3 Present]

[Official vote results for House Resolution 296]

Dutch Parliamentary Resolution

June 6, 2019

House of Representatives of States General2018-2019 Meeting Year

32 623 VNr. 263

Current situation in North Africa and the Middle East

MOTION OF THE MEMBER VOORDEWIND C.S.

Proposed June 6, 2019

The Chamber,

after hearing the deliberation,

Whereas on the memorial day of the Armenian genocide, April 24, Turkish President Erdogan called the Armenian genocide a relocation measure that made sense because “Armenian gangs killed Muslims”;

Whereas this shows that Turkey is still refusing to face its own history;

Whereas the House of Representatives recognized the Armenian genocide and, with the unanimously adopted Rouvoet motion, instructed the government to constantly and emphatically raise the recognition of the Armenian genocide in the dialogue with Turkey;

Expresses disgust at the statements made by the Turkish President;

Calls on the government to distance itself from these judgments and to make this known to the Turkish government,

and proceeds to the order of the day.

VoordewindKarabulutVan der StaaijOmtzigtVan OjikDe Roon

Portugal Parliamentary Resolution

April 24, 2019

Portugal Parliamentary Resolution

Vote of Weigh No. 819 / XIII

In evocation of the victims of the Armenian genocide of 1915

The massacres perpetrated against the Armenian population began on April 24, as it was on that date in 1915 that the Ottoman authorities arrested and executed 250 Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople under the orders of the government of the “Young Turks”.

In the years during and after World War I it is estimated that 800,000 to 1.5 million people were killed as a result of the genocide. The systematic extermination by the Ottoman authorities directed towards Armenian minority in its territory is considered by the international community of historians the first genocide of 20th century. Massacres, forced labor, forced deportations and the death marches that led to the Syrian Desert, including women, children, elderly and the disabled, the victims of periodic robberies, rapes and massacres, marked a dark chapter in the history of mankind. The thousands who survived the atrocities committed were forced into religious conversion, sold into slavery, and those who escaped formed the dispersed world diaspora of Armenians.

Other ethnic and Christian ethnic groups, such as the Assyrians and Ottoman Greeks, were also persecuted by the Ottoman government and their treatment is considered by many historians as part of the same genocidal policy.

The main organizers of the genocide were sentenced to death or imprisonment for their crimes in Ottoman military tribunals (1919-1920), yet the sentences of these tribunals were never enforced.

This evocation contains a lesson for our time, because in view of the current level of nationalism, xenophobia and intolerance worldwide, it is essential to remember the abyss of the past. It is also through the culture of memory that the Assembly of the Republic reaffirms its commitment to upholding human rights and underlines the importance of strengthening dialogue among peoples, religions, cultures and civilizations.

Thus, the Assembly of the Republic, meeting in plenary, expressed its sympathy for the victims of the Armenian genocide of 1915, thus preserving memory as an essential element in reconciling peoples and defending the fundamental values of humanity. Palace of St. Benedict, April 24, 2019

Italy Chamber of Deputies

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April 10, 2019

TEXTS ATTACHED TO THE ORDER OF THE DAYof the session n. 160 of Wednesday April 10, 2019

MOTIONS CONCERNING THE RECOGNITION OF THE GENOCIDE OF THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE

The Chamber,

given that:

the Convention for the prevention and repression of the crime of genocide, ratified by Italy with the law March 11, 1952, n. 153, recognizes that genocide has inflicted grave losses on humanity in all historical periods;

the UN Subcommittee on Human Rights in 1973 acknowledged that the extermination of over one and a half million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in the years 1915-1917 was to be considered the first genocide of the twentieth century, under the aforementioned Convention;

more than twenty countries of the world have officially recognized the Armenian genocide;

the European Parliament, with the «Resolution on a political solution to the Armenian problem», adopted on June 18, 1987, recognized that the tragic events of 1915-1917 which occurred to the Armenians in the Ottoman territory constituted genocide and also held that the refusal by of the Turkish Government to recognize the genocide committed by the "Young Turks" represented an obstacle to Turkey's accession to the European Community;

with the resolution of March 12, 2015, concerning the "Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2013", in view of the 100th anniversary of the said genocide, the European Parliament asked all Member States to provide for its recognition (paragraph 77);

with the resolution of April 15, 2015 on the centenary of the Armenian genocide, the European Parliament, considering the importance of keeping alive the memory of the past and considering fundamental truths and memories for reconciliation among peoples, once again invited Turkey to recognize the Armenian genocide, "Thus paving the way for an authentic reconciliation between the Turkish people and the Armenian people". The European Parliament also invited Armenia and Turkey "to concentrate on an agenda that puts cooperation between peoples in the foreground" and "to proceed with the normalization of their relations, ratifying and implementing the protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations, opening the border and actively improving its relations, with particular reference to cross-border cooperation and economic integration;"

among the member countries of the European Union that followed the request of the European Parliament: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland did the same;

the Chamber of Deputies, with resolution n. 6-00148, approved on November 17, 2000, while recalling the aforementioned resolution of the European Parliament on the recognition of the Armenian genocide, confined itself to committing the Government to strive for the complete overcoming of every opposition between different peoples and minorities in the area;

His Holiness Pope Francis, on April 12, 2015, on the occasion of a solemn celebration in St. Peter's, recalled the massacre of the Armenians perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire considered "the first genocide of the 20th century". The Pontiff recalled what was already expressed in 2001 by Pope John Paul II, who, in a joint declaration with Patriarch Karekin II, had used the term "genocide" to define the massacre of the Armenian population that took place by the Ottoman Empire since 1915;

the recognition and memory of the persecutions and horrors that occurred in the twentieth century must constitute a perennial warning, so that Parliament is forever the bastion of human freedom and the dignity of the person according to the principles and provisions of the Constitution of the Republic,

engages the Government

1) to officially recognize the Armenian genocide and to give it international resonance.

(1-00139) «Formentini, Sabrina De Carlo, Delmastro Delle Vedove, Quartapelle Procopio, Boldrini, Colucci, Centemero, Carelli, Capitanio, Piccoli Nardelli, Molinari, D'Uva, Zóffili, Cecchetti, Coin, Bordonali, Ziello, Eva Lorenzoni, Bisa, Paolini, Colla, Gadda, Andrea Romano, Mollicone, Fiano, Gariglio, Moretto, Mor, Lepri, Lupi, Frassinetti, Carnevali, Fregolent, Occhionero ».

(March 11, 2019)

The Chamber,

given that:

April 24 is the day of commemoration in the world of the persecution of the Armenian people: a massacre perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1916 and which, fomented by racial and religious hatred, caused about 1.5 million deaths and deportations mass, with consequent uprooting of the Armenians from their original territories (today's Turkish Anatolia); a people forced to the diaspora, dispersed today in various communities on numerous continents;

to heal this wound and overcome a sad page of history, starting from 2009 the first attempts at détente between the Republic of Turkey and the Armenian Republic were activated, starting with the signing of the bilateral protocols of Zurich on October 10, 2009, aimed at normalization of relations between the two parties;

subsequently, some opening positions were recorded, such as the visit by the Turkish Foreign Minister Çavusoglu to Yerevan in December 2013 and Prime Minister Erdogan's declarations of condolence in April 2014 for the victims "of the events of the early twentieth century";

however, these early signs of relaxation were followed by a return to highly conflicting relationships; the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey has not registered improvements towards a greater structuring;

the request (in February 2015) by President Sargsyan to the President of the Parliament Sahakyan not to ratify the aforementioned Armenian-Turkish protocols signed in Zurich in 2009, up to the formal denunciation of the same protocols by Armenia in 2017, represent signals that do not help in the resumption of a desirable understanding;

to resolve a complex issue that has dragged on for years, it is necessary to encourage and promote a dialogue between the parties, also by conducting an in-depth historiographical research, to help reconstruct facts and responsibilities of the events of the First World War during the Ottoman Empire, to facilitate investigations and arrive at a shared truth, to re-establish a normalization of diplomatic relations, profitable for both parties, consistent with

the provisions of the aforementioned Zurich protocols on October 10, 2009, between the Republic of Turkey and the Armenian Republic;

it is necessary to resume the path that, albeit fragile, was marked by dialogue between the two countries, and still interrupted; a procedure that the European Parliament itself had indicated, with the approval by a large majority of a resolution (on the 1999 European Commission periodic report on Turkey's progress towards accession) that outlined the necessary steps to normalize relations between Turkey and the people Armenia, in particular where it pointed out in paragraph 21 (proposed by MEP Cohn-Bendit, president of the then EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee) the invitation to the Turkish Government "to start a dialogue with Armenia, in particular with a view to re-establishing itself normal diplomatic and commercial relations between the two countries and to remove the current blockade";

in line with the addresses indicated above, the Chamber of Deputies, with resolution n. 6-00148 approved November 17, 2000, committed the Government pro tempore to continue in the traditional role of Italy, aimed at favoring a dialogue between the parties and to "work for the complete overcoming of any opposition between different peoples and minorities in the area in order to create the conditions, in respect of the territorial integrity of the two States, for the peaceful coexistence and the correct protection of human rights",

commits the Government:

1) to support, both bilaterally and multilaterally, the need for reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia, favoring all useful initiatives aimed at resuming dialogue between the two countries, promoting a mentality of peace and harmony among peoples, respecting the different religious, political and cultural identities;

2) to encourage the two countries to complete the procedure for ratifying the Zurich protocols of 2009, aimed at restoring and normalizing diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia and developing bilateral relations, beneficial to both parties;

3) to take action, also in the competent European offices, to propose the constitution of a mixed commission of historians, with the aim of favoring a common effort for a thorough historiographical research of the events of 1915-16, about the responsibilities of the massacres against the Armenians, of Christians and other confessions, a necessary condition to arrive at a shared truth as much as possible.

(1-00172) "Valentini, Orsini, Occhiuto".

(April 9, 2019)

Unofficial Translation

Dutch Parliamentary Resolution

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February 22, 2018

House of Representatives of States General2 2017-2018 Meeting Year

34,775 VNr. 56

Adoption of the budget statements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (V) for the year 2018

MOTION OF THE VOORDEWIND C.S.

Proposed February 22, 2018

The Chamber,

after hearing the deliberation,

Whereas the opinion of the CAVV and the EFTA (External Public Advisor) states that the government and parliament can recognize a genocide and that this is important;

Declares that the Chamber recognizes the Armenian genocide (for the sake of completeness, this also concerns the Assyrians, the Pontic Greeks and Arameans who have also fallen victim to this genocide),

and proceeds to the order of the day.

VoordewindTen BroekeVan HelvertSjoerdsmaVan OjikKarabulutVan RaanKrolVan der StaaijBaudet

House of Representatives of States General2 2017-2018 Meeting Year

34,775 VNr. 57

Adoption of the budget statements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (V) for the year 2018

MOTION OF THE VOORDEWIND C.S.

Proposed February 22, 2018

The Chamber,

after hearing the deliberation,

Noting that many countries have sent representatives at government level to attend the commemoration of the Armenian genocide in Yerevan, such as at the 100th commemoration in 2015, but that the Netherlands has not previously been represented at government level;

Noting that the House of Representatives had already adopted the Rouvoet et al. motion (21 501-20, no. 270) in 2004 and the Voordewind et al. (34,000 V, no. 64) in 2015, calling on the government to discuss the Armenian genocide;

Considering that the Dutch government should also play an exemplary role in this area;

Calls on the government, at the next commemoration of the Armenian genocide in Yerevan, in April 2018, to have a Dutch representative at the governmental level participate, and then to attend every anniversary of the genocide commemoration,

and proceeds to the order of the day.

Czech Republic Parliament Resolution

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April 25, 2017

Czech Parliament Resolution on the Armenian Genocide

Proposed by Parliamentarian Robin Bönisch on April 25th, 2017.

“The Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic condemns the crimes against humanity committed against the Jews, Roma and Slavs in the territories conquered by the Nazis during the Second World War; condemns the Armenian Genocide and genocides of other ethnic and religious minorities which took place within the boundaries of the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, as well as genocidal acts committed in other parts of the globe, and calls on the international community to effectively halt human and civil rights violations in the world as well as resolve disputes through peaceful means.”

Germany Parliament Resolution

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June 2, 2016

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Unofficial Translation

Motion by the parliamentary groups of CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union), SPD (Social Democratic Party), and BUNDNIS 90/DIE GRUNEN (The Green Party)

Remembrance and commemoration of the genocide of the Armenians and other Christian minorities in the years 1915 and 1916

The Bundestag is requested to adopt the following motion:

I. The German Bundestag notes:

The German Bundestag pays tribute to the victims of expulsion and massacres, which were committed against the Armenians and other Christian minorities of the Ottoman Empire and which began over a century ago. It deplores the actions of the former Young Turk government, which led to an almost complete annihilation of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Members of other Christian ethnic groups, especially Aramean/Assyrian and Chaldean Christians, were affected by deportations and massacres as well.

By order of the Young Turk regime, the planned expulsion and extermination of over a million ethnic Armenians began in the Ottoman city of Constantinople on April 24, 1915. Their fate exemplifies the history of mass extermination, ethnic cleansing, expulsions, and yes, of genocides, which marked the 20th century in such a horrific way. We are aware of the uniqueness of the Holocaust, for which Germany bears guilt and responsibility.

The Bundestag regrets the inglorious role of the German Empire, which, as a principal ally of the Ottoman Empire, did not try to stop these crimes against humanity, despite explicit information regarding the organized expulsion and extermination of Armenians, including also

from German diplomats and missionaries. The commemoration of the German Bundestag is also an expression of particular respect for the probably oldest Christian nation on earth. The German Bundestag reaffirms its decision of 2005 (Printed matter 15/5689), which was dedicated to the commemoration of the victims as well as to the historical reappraisal of the events and which aimed at contributing to the reconciliation between Turks and Armenians. During the debate on the centenary commemoration day on April 24, 2015, in the German Bundestag, speakers of all parliamentary groups and in particular the Federal President, on the eve of the debate, condemned the genocide committed against the Armenians, commemorated the victims and called for reconciliation. The German Empire bears partial complicity in the events.

The Bundestag commits to the special historical responsibility of Germany. This includes supporting Turks and Armenians in overcoming old divisions and seeking paths of reconciliation and understanding. This reconciliation process has come to a halt in the past few years and urgently needs new impulses.

German Bundestag, Printed matter 18/8613 -- Translation by Abdulmesih BarAbraham & Miryam A. Abraham With its commemoration of the unimaginably cruel crimes, the German Bundestag honors not only their victims, but also all of those in the Ottoman Empire and the German Empire, who, over 100 years ago, under difficult circumstances and against the resistance of their respective government, devoted themselves to the rescue of Armenian women, children and men.

In order to deal with the history of ethnic conflicts in the 20th century, school, university, and political education in Germany need to re-analyze the expulsion and extermination of Armenians by including the issue in curricula and teaching materials and by passing it on to future generations. The federal states play a particularly important role in this process.

The German Bundestag also considers the commemoration of the Armenian victims of the massacres and displacement, while taking into account the German role and its presentation to fellow citizens of Turkish and Armenian origin, a contribution to integration and peaceful coexistence. The German Bundestag also welcomes the increasing number of initiatives and contributions in the field of science, civic society, art and culture in Turkey, which aim at the reappraisal of the crimes against the Armenians and the reconciliation between Armenians and Turks.

The German Bundestag encourages the Federal Government to continue to pay attention to the commemoration and reappraisal of the expulsions and massacres of the Armenians of 1915. Furthermore, the German Bundestag welcomes any initiative aimed at boosting and supporting this concern.

Germany's own historical experience shows how difficult it is for a society to face the dark chapters of its own past. However, a honest appraisal of history is the most important basis for reconciliation within a society as well as with others. A distinction has to be made between the guilt of the perpetrators and the responsibility of those alive today. The remembrance of the past also reminds us to stay alert and to prevent that hatred and destruction threaten people and nations over and over again.

The German Bundestag recognizes the attempts undertaken since 2005 by the representatives of Armenia and Turkey to come together on issues of memory and the normalization of inter-state relations. Still, the relationship between the two states is contentious and marked by mutual distrust. Germany should help Turks and Armenians to come closer to one another. A constructive analysis of history is essential for a common understanding in the present and in the future.

The easing of tensions and the normalization of relations between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia are also important for the stabilization of the Caucasus region. In context of the EU neighborhood policy and due to its historical role in the German-Armenian-Turkish relationships, Germany sees itself in a particular responsibility in this regard.

II. The German Bundestag calls upon the Federal Government:

• to continue to contribute to a broad public discussion about the expulsion and almost complete annihilation of the Armenians in 1915/1916 as well as the role of the German Empire, based on the spirit of the debate of the German Bundestag on April 24, 2015 on the occasion of the centenary commemoration,

• to encourage the Turkish side to openly deal with the former expulsions and massacres in order to establish the necessary foundation for a reconciliation with the Armenian people,

• to continue to advocate historic reappraisal in order to achieve rapprochement, reconciliation and a forgiveness of historical guilt between Turks and Armenians,

• to continue supporting scientific, civic and cultural activities in Turkey and in Armenia, which serve the exchange and historic revision between Turks and Armenians, and to sponsor them within budgetary capacity,

• to actively support the reappraisal of historical events by Turkey and Armenia as a first step to reconciliation and the long overdue improvement of Turkish-Armenian relations by, for example, providing scholarships for scientists or support for civic society initiatives from both countries who are engaged in this context,

• to encourage Turkish and Armenian government representatives to pursue the normalization of the bilateral relations between both countries,

• to encourage the Turkish and the Armenian government to ratify the Zurich protocols signed in 2009, which stipulate a commission for the scientific study of the historic events, the resumption of diplomatic relations and the opening of the shared border,

• to advocate that the recently started preservation of the Armenian cultural heritage is continued and intensified in the Republic of Turkey,

• to continue to support, within budgetary possibilities, German initiatives and projects in science, civil society and culture which deal with the analysis of the events of 1915/1916.

Berlin, May 31, 2016

Volker Kauder, Gerda Hasselfeldt and Parliamentary Group Thomas Oppermann and Parliamentary Group Goring-Eckardt, Dr. Anton Hofreiter and Parliamentary Group

Justification

The annihilation of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during World War I was the largest and most serious calamity in the several thousand-year old history of the Armenian people. According to independent estimations, over a million Armenians fell victim to deportations and mass killings. Numerous independent historians, parliaments and international organizations consider the expulsion and extermination of Armenians a genocide. The commemoration of these expulsions and massacres in addition to religion and language is therefore a central part of the identity of these people.

The German Bundestag also commemorates the events in the context of the current remembrance of World War I. The German Empire was a principal military ally of the Ottoman Empire. The former government of the German Empire was informed about the persecution and murder of the Armenians, but remained inactive. The Federal Republic of Germany considers it a responsibility to promote the reappraisal of this crime and to keep its memory alive.

Contrary to the facts, Turkey denies to this day that the expulsion, persecution and murder of Armenians was based on systematic planning or that the mass extermination during the resettlement measures and the massacres committed were intended by the Ottoman government.

Overall, the extent of the massacres and deportations is still doubted in Turkey. However, there are also opposing tendencies. In 2008, there was reason to hope for a Turkish-Armenian rapprochement when the presidents of both countries jointly attended a soccer game and thus demonstrated their willingness for further discussions. The foreign ministers of both countries signed a common protocol in 2009, which, among others, stipulated the establishment of a commission that should investigate the history in a scholarly manner. But until today, neither of the two parliaments has adopted this protocol. A reconciliation between the two nations is only imaginable if the events that occurred 100 years ago are fundamentally clarified and the facts are not denied any longer. This requires that scholars and journalists in Turkey, who deal with the history of the expulsion and murder of Armenians, can work freely and without fear of reprisals. There are already numerous initiatives in Turkey which deal with the historic revision of the massacres. For some years, the issue has been discussed in the Turkish public in an increasingly controversial manner. These developments are to be welcomed as well as cross-border civil society projects that have been financially supported by the [German] Foreign Office for many years.

The German Empire, as principal military ally of the Ottoman Empire, was also involved in these operations. From the start, both the political and the military leadership of the German Empire was informed about the persecution and killing of Armenians. When the Protestant theologian Dr. Johannes Lepsius presented the results of the research he had carried out in Constantinople during July/August 1915 to the German Reichstag on October 5, 1915, the entire topic was placed under censorship by the German Imperial Government. His "Report on

the Situation of the Armenian People in Turkey", which he had directly sent to the members of the Reichstag in 1916, was also banned and confiscated by the German military censorship and handed over to the members of the parliament only after the end of World War I in 1919. Despite urgent petitions by many German personalities from science, politics and the churches, including by politicians such as Philipp Scheidemann, Karl Liebknecht or Matthias Erzberger, and prominent public figures from the Protestant and Catholic Church, such as Adolf von Harnack and Lorenz Werthmann, the German Imperial Government refrained from putting effective pressure on their Ottoman ally.

The files of the [German] Foreign Office, which are based on reports of German ambassadors and consuls in the Ottoman Empire, also document the planned implementation of the massacres and expulsions. They constitute the most important government record of the events of that time. The [German] Foreign Office already made these files available many years ago. In 1998, a complete set of the files on Microfiche was delivered to Armenia. Turkey subsequently also acquired a set.

Paraguay Congress Declaration

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October 29, 2015

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CONGRESS OF THE NATION

Honorable Chamber of Senators

DECLARATION

"THAT DECLARES THE INTEREST OF THIS HONORABLE CHAMBER OF SENATORS, AND RECOGNIZES THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE"

THE HONORABLE CHAMBER OF SENATORS OF THE NATION

DECLARES

Article 1 - The Senate of the Republic of Paraguay recognizes the Genocide suffered by the Armenian people in the period 1915-1923, committed by the Turkish-Ottoman Empire, when the centenary of this crime against humanity is commemorated this year.

Article 2 – So ordered.

Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia

Chamber of Senators

CHAMBER STATEMENT Nº.122 / 2014-2015

THE PLENARY OF THE CHAMBER OF SENATORS,

CONSIDERING:

That the Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia shares and is in solidarity with the Armenian people, for the struggle of their claims, the preservation of human rights, and the establishment of truth and justice.

That, the Camarinal Declarations are statements that express the official position of the Senate, on issues of national and international interest.

SO,

The Chamber of Senators in use of its powers established by the Political Constitution of the State, and Articles 164 and 165 of its General Regulations,

DECLARES:

Their firm commitment to human rights, truth and justice, and their solidarity and condemnation against all negationist policies regarding genocide and crimes against humanity suffered by the Armenian Nation.

It is given in the Chamber of Sessions of the Chamber of Senators of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia, on the twenty-seventh day of November of the year two thousand and fourteen.

Register, communicate and file.

Sen. Zonia Guardia Melgar

EXCERCISING PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF SENATORS

Willoughby City Council

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May 11, 2015

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20 NOTICE OF MOTION

20.1 Notice Of Motion: Condemnation Of The Genocide Of The Armenian, Greek And Assyrians Peoples

20 NOTICE OF MOTION 20.1 NOTICE OF MOTION: CONDEMNATION OF THE GENOCIDE OF THE ARMENIAN, GREEK AND ASSYRIANS PEOPLES

RESPONSIBLE OFFICER: DEBRA JUST – GENERAL MANAGER

AUTHOR: DEBRA JUST – GENERAL MANAGER

MEETING DATE: 11 MAY 2015

Purpose of Report

Councillor Hooper has indicated his intention to move the following Notice of Motion.

Motion

That:

A. Willoughby City Council recognises the genocide of the Armenian, Greek and Assyrians peoples by the then Ottoman Government between 1915 and1922 and condemns these and all other acts of genocide and crimes against humanity as the ultimate act of intolerance.

B. Willoughby City Council endorses the resolution of the NSW Parliament on 17 April 1997 that it:

1. recognises and condemns the Genocide of the Armenians by the then Ottoman Government between 1915 and 1922, and designated 24 April of every year thereafter as a day of remembrance of the 1.5 million Armenians who fell victim to the first genocide of the twentieth century;

2. recognises that Assyrians and Greeks were subjected to qualitatively similar genocides by the then Ottoman Government between 1915 and 1922;

3. reaffirms its condemnation of the genocide of the Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks, and all other acts of genocide as the ultimate act of intolerance;

4. recognises the importance of remembering and learning from such dark chapters in human history to ensure that such crimes against humanity are not allowed to be repeated;

5. acknowledges and pays tribute to the contribution of the Anzac servicemen who aided the survivors of the genocide; and

6. acknowledges the significant humanitarian relief contribution made by the people of New South Wales to the victims and survivors of the genocide.

General Manager’s Comments

A. Council notes that approximately 1.5 million Armenian, Greek and Assyrian people died during the period between 1915 and 1922. Over a number of years Willoughby City Councillors have demonstrated support for the recognition of the Armenian Community‟s commemorations of the genocide by attending annual memorial events.

B. Willoughby City Council notes the resolution of the NSW Parliament on 17 April 1997.

OFFICER'S RECOMMENDATION

That Council notes Clr Hooper’s notice of Motion.

Official Recognition of Armenian Genocide by Ealing Council

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December 14, 2010

Official Recognition of Armenian Genocide by Ealing Council

Yerevan, December 15. ArmInfo. At full Council meeting of 14th December 2010, Ealing Council voted by absolute majority to recognise the Armenian Genocide.

The motion moved by Ara Iskandarian, a Labour Councillor of Armenian descent, stated: "Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January 2011 is recognition of not only the suffering of those who died in the holocaust but also recognition of all the people who have suffered as a result of genocide.

The London Borough of Ealing is home to an Armenian Community of some several thousand and has hosted an Armenian population since shortly after the First World War. The borough has subsequently been seen as the centre of Armenian community life within the United Kingdom.

Many of the Borough's Armenian residents are the second and third generation descendants of survivors of the 1915 Armenian genocide in which one and half million innocent victims were murdered by the Ottoman Empire during the First World War.

Last April, the Armenian community of Ealing planted an apricot tree, by way of a simple memorial to the victims. Their intention was to place alongside the apricot tree an explanatory plaque reading:

"This Apricot Tree (Prunus Armeniaca) serves as a memorial to the one and half million victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide." The plaque has yet to be put up.

Council resolves:

"To again observe Holocaust Memorial Day as an acknowledgement of all the victims of genocide.

To categorically acknowledge and recognise the events of 1915 perpetrated against the Armenians as constituting genocide.

To include the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in subsequent Holocaust Memorial Days and related events within the borough.

To reconfirm this Council’s commitment to cohesion between communities, both locally and nationally, and its ongoing support for dialogue and reconciliation between the Turkish and Armenian communities.

To allow the unveiling of a commemorative plaque containing the above text and for it to be placed in the closest possible proximity to the apricot tree on Ealing Green."

The motion was carried with absolute majority.

Brazil Federal Senate Legislation

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May 21, 2015

FEDERAL SENATE

Office of Senator ALOYSIO NUNES FERREIRA

REQUIREMENT Nº550, OF 2015

In accordance with the provisions of Article 222 of the Internal Rules and in accordance with the traditions of the House, we call for a Moment of Solidarity with the Armenian people on the occasion of the Centennial of the Campaign to exterminate their population, in the following terms:

"The Federal Senate recognizes the Genocide of the Armenian People, whose centenary was commemorate on April 24, 2015. In paying homage to its victims and acknowledging the contribution of thousands of Brazilians who are descendants of refugee Armenians to Brazil's

economic, social and cultural institutions, points out that no genocide should be forgotten in order to avoid it recurrence."

I - insertion in a vote of solidarity;

II - presentation of solidarity to the Embassy of Armenia;

III - give this statement to the Presidency of the Republic and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On April 24, the centenary of the 1915 campaign during World War I to exterminate the Armenian population was commemorated. In dozens of cities of the Turkish-Ottoman Empire, where peaceful families of different ethnicities lived together, the entire Armenian male population was forcibly deported and slaughtered in valleys and waterways.

Entire families were tied up and thrown alive in the rivers, with one of its members shot dead, driving everyone else to drown. It is estimated that at least 1.5 million Armenians have been killed.

Part of the deportation took place in freight trains intended for the transport of livestock. In the hundreds of kilometers traveled by the female population, the majority on foot, most of the deportees died of starvation or disease and the others were executed. The reasons given for the massacre were mainly the alleged betrayal of the Armenians, who would have collaborated with the Russian army at the outset of the war, the need for racial cleansing to convert Turkey, then multiracial, into a uniformly Turkish nation, and the fact that Armenians were generally more educated and richer than the rest of the population.

Large numbers were killed. There were mass deportations to make it difficult to identify the persecuted and limit their ability to react or rely on outside help. Asphyxiation by gases, criminalization of victims and, very importantly, systematic denial, pressure and intimidation used against those who attempted to reconstruct historical events, in all this the Armenian genocide was sadly exemplary.

Notwithstanding their relevant differences, there is no doubt that the extermination of the Armenians was a forerunner in the twentieth century of the Jewish genocide. The extermination policy is still denied by the Turkish government. However, Kemal Ataturk himself, the father of the modern Turkish state, acknowledged in 1920 the existence of the massacre, calling it "a shameful act."

The Armenian genocide is recognized by a significant and growing number of countries. In South America, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay and Venezuela issued statements to that effect. Most European countries recognize the Armenian genocide and, recently, the European Parliament adopted a resolution along the same lines.

Germany, which historically maintains close relations with Turkey, and was reluctant to use the term "genocide," decided to do so last April to mark the 100th anniversary of that event. In the same period, Pope Francis acknowledged that the massacre of the Armenians "was the first genocide of the twentieth century."

It is estimated that in Brazil there are at least 100,000 descendants of Armenians, most of them in São Paulo. They are Brazilians whose ancestors had to leave their land to escape the

genocide. In Brazilian lands they were able to resume their lives, build families and contribute to the economic, social and cultural life of our country.

Regrettably, the Brazilian Government has not yet recognized the Armenian genocide. However, some states have already done so. In Brazil, the Legislative Assemblies of the States of Ceará and Parana have already recognized the Armenian genocide.

In 2015, the State of São Paulo establishes the date of April 24 as the Day of Recognition and Remembrance for the Victims of the Genocide of the Armenian People, integrating it into the official calendar of the State.

Sessions Room, on May 21, 2015.

Senator ALOYSIO N

His Holiness Francis and His Holiness Karekin II Common Declaration

June 26, 2016

The Holy SeeAPOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS

TO ARMENIA(24-26 JUNE 2016)

COMMON DECLARATIONOF HIS HOLINESS FRANCIS

AND HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN IIAT HOLY ETCHMIADZIN, REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

Etchmiadzin, Apostolic PalaceSunday, 26 June 2016

Today in Holy Etchmiadzin, spiritual center of All Armenians, we, Pope Francis and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II raise our minds and hearts in thanksgiving to the Almighty for the continuing and growing closeness in faith and love between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church in their common witness to the Gospel message of salvation in a world torn by strife and yearning for comfort and hope. We praise the Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for enabling us to come together in the biblical land of Ararat, which stands as a reminder that God will ever be our protection and salvation. We are spiritually gratified to remember that in 2001, on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the religion of Armenia, Saint John Paul II visited Armenia and was a witness to a new page in warm and fraternal relations between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church. We are grateful that we had the grace of being together, at a solemn liturgy in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome on 12 April 2015, where we pledged our will to oppose every

form of discrimination and violence, and commemorated the victims of what the Common Declaration of His Holiness John- Paul II and His Holiness Karekin II spoke of as "the extermination of a million and a half Armenian Christians, in what is generally referred to as the first genocide of the twentieth century" (27 September 2001).

We praise the Lord that today, the Christian faith is again a vibrant reality in Armenia, and that the Armenian Church carries on her mission with a spirit of fraternal collaboration between the Churches, sustaining the faithful in building a world of solidarity, justice and peace.

Sadly, though, we are witnessing an immense tragedy unfolding before our eyes, of countless innocent people being killed, displaced or forced into a painful and uncertain exile by continuing conflicts on ethnic, economic, political and religious grounds in the Middle East and other parts of the world. As a result, religious and ethnic minorities have become the target of persecution and cruel treatment, to the point that suffering for one's religious belief has become a daily reality. The martyrs belong to all the Churches and their suffering is an "ecumenism of blood" which transcends the historical divisions between Christians, calling us all to promote the visible unity of Christ's disciples. Together we pray, through the intercession of the holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, Thaddeus and Bartholomew, for a change of heart in all those who commit such crimes and those who are in a position to stop the violence. We implore the leaders of nations to listen to the plea of millions of human beings who long for peace and justice in the world, who demand respect for their God-given rights, who have urgent need of bread, not guns. Sadly, we are witnessing a presentation of religion and religious values in a fundamentalist way, which is used to justify the spread of hatred, discrimination and violence. The justification of such crimes on the basis of religious ideas is unacceptable, for "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace" (I Corinthians 14:33). Moreover, respect for religious difference is the necessary condition for the peaceful cohabitation of different ethnic and religious communities. Precisely because we are Christians, we are called to seek and implement paths towards reconciliation and peace. In this regard we also express our hope for a peaceful resolution of the issues surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh.

Mindful of what Jesus taught his disciples when he said: "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me" (Matthew 25: 35-36), we ask the faithful of our Churches to open their hearts and hands to the victims of war and terrorism, to refugees and their families. At issue is the very sense of our humanity, our solidarity, compassion and generosity, which can only be properly expressed in an immediate practical commitment of resources. We acknowledge all that is already being done, but we insist that much more is needed on the part of political leaders and the international community in order to ensure the right of all to live in peace and security, to uphold the rule of law, to protect religious and ethnic minorities, to combat human trafficking and smuggling.

The secularization of large sectors of society, its alienation from the spiritual and divine, leads inevitably to a desacralized and materialistic vision of man and the human family. In this respect we are concerned about the crisis of the family in many countries. The Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church share the same vision of the family, based on marriage, an act of freelygiven and faithful love between man and woman.

We gladly confirm that despite continuing divisions among Christians, we have come to realize more clearly that what unites us is much more than what divides us. This is the solid basis upon which the unity of Christ's Church will be made manifest, in accordance with the Lord's words, "that they all may be one" (John 17.21). Over the past decades the relationship

between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church has successfully entered a new phase, strengthened by our mutual prayers and joint efforts in overcoming contemporary challenges. Today we are convinced of the crucial importance of furthering this relationship, engaging in deeper and more decisive collaboration not only in the area of theology, but also in prayer and active cooperation on the level of the local communities, with a view to sharing full communion and concrete expressions of unity. We urge our faithful to work in harmony for the promotion in society of the Christian values which effectively contribute to building a civilization of justice, peace and human solidarity. The path of reconciliation and brotherhood lies open before us. May the Holy Spirit, who guides us into all truth (cf. John 16:13), sustain every genuine effort to build bridges of love and communion between us.

From Holy Etchmiadzin we call on all our faithful to join us in prayer, in the words of Saint Nerses the Gracious: "Glorified Lord, accept the supplications of Your servants, and graciously fulfil our petitions, through the intercession of the Holy Mother of God, John the Baptist, the first martyr Saint Stephen, Saint Gregory our Illuminator, the Holy Apostles, Prophets, Divines, Martyrs, Patriarchs, Hermits, Virgins and all Your saints in Heaven and on Earth. And unto You, O indivisible Holy Trinity, be glory and worship forever and ever. Amen".

Holy Etchmiadzin, 26 June 2016

His Holiness Francis His Holiness Karekin II

Church of the Brethren

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July 14, 2015

"We, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. ––Romans 12:5"

As members of the global body of Christ we are concerned with the destruction of Christian communities in regions where Christians are targeted as religious minorities. While we are deeply concerned about the persecution of religious minorities regardless of religion or tradition, we feel a distinct call to speak out on behalf of those who are brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. “So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

In the time following the 2014 Annual Conference “Resolution Responding to the Violence in Nigeria,” we have continued to be grieved by the ongoing destruction experienced by Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). Many members have been killed and displaced, churches have been burned, districts have been shut down, and the overall life of the church has been greatly hindered. Church leaders from EYN have described this violence as genocide and a threat to their existence in northeastern Nigeria.We also are alarmed by the rapidly diminishing Christian communities in places such as Iraq, Palestine, and Syria. The elimination of these ancient yet still vital Christian communities would not only be a human rights disaster and a loss for the peoples of the region, but also a tragic loss of historic Christian witness in the land where the church first took root. Rifts between Christian and Muslim communities in all of these contexts have played a key role in this diminishment, and tolerance and understanding between these groups has faltered with deadly consequences. As the World Council of Churches has stated:Quite rapidly, large areas of the Middle East and North Africa have succumbed to violent sectarian, ethnic, and tribal animosities, and the reform movement has been distracted by political radicalism and religious intolerance. This has led to a widespread humanitarian catastrophe. In this critical situation, the worldwide Christian community is enjoined to manifest its solidarity with all peoples in the Middle East who are struggling for just and peaceful societies, and, at the same time, affirms that the continued presence of Christians in this region is indispensable for plural and diverse communities, and commits itself to accompany all in the building of democratic civil societies.

Additionally, in this year commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, we reaffirm our commitment to stand with targeted minority groups across the world and call not only for increased awareness of their persecution, but for renewed efforts by the church and the international community to build solidarity and protect minority religious groups who are under threat.Whereas the New Testament commands all who follow Jesus Christ to acknowledge that we belong to each other as members of his body, the church, and encourages us to treasure the connection we enjoy as disciples of one Lord; andWhereas we believe that we are truly bound together in one faith and one baptism, even though Christian faith traditions, history, and practices differ in the many manifestations of the Christian church worldwide; andWhereas we have heard the pleas for help from Christian leaders in lands where the church is pressured politically and socially, suffers persecution, and is enduring violence and death; and

Whereas Christian, Muslim, and other religious communities have often become estranged and antagonistic toward one another, and this estrangement and antagonism has contributed to violent acts and conflicts that have, in different contexts, dangerously marginalized Christians, Muslims, and other religious groups; andWhereas our 1991 Annual Conference Statement “Peacemaking: The Calling of God’s People in History” calls us to “explore avenues of interfaith dialogue leading toward a visible expression of God’s plan for human unity” ; andWhereas we are called and enabled by the blessing of God to extend the love of Christ to those in need;Therefore, be it resolved that the Church of the Brethren, its congregations, and members shall take the following steps as each is able:1. Pray fervently for our sisters and brothers in Christ across the globe who are facing persecution, violence, and even death because of their religious beliefs and activities.2. Learn about the experience of Christians and churches in places of persecution and conflict around the world, particularly where Christian leaders have warned that the church is in danger of extinction. Northeast Nigeria, Syria, Iraq, Palestine and Israel currently face such a crisis.3. Extend expressions of Christian love and support to brothers and sisters in the faith in those lands as part of a denomination-wide effort.4. Commit to interfaith dialogues and peace initiatives in our communities and across the globe to promote religious tolerance, understanding, and peacebuilding between religious communities.5. Support advocacy efforts of the Christian church in places where it is in danger of disappearing. This effort will be facilitated through constituent contacts supported by the Office of Public Witness, with government leaders in the United States, other nations, the United Nations, and other international bodies.6. Develop relationships with members and leaders of Muslim and other religious communities in the United States so that mutual understanding can be enhanced, grievances and concerns can be shared, and joint advocacy and work can be pursued.7. Reach out with hospitality and welcome to those in our own communities who have entered the United States in search of refuge from persecution, violence, and threats to their lives and their faith.

Action of the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board: The Mission and Ministry Board at its meeting on Saturday, March 14, 2015, approved the Resolution on Christian Minority Communities and forwarded it to the 2015Annual Conference for adoption. Action of the 2015 Annual Conference: Annual Conference adopted the recommendation of Standing Committee that the “Resolution on Christian Minority Communities” be adopted.

Uniting Church in Australia

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July 12, 2015

28. ARMENIAN GENOCIDE (Christian Unity Working Group) That the Assembly1. acknowledge that the Armenian massacres and forced deportations of 1915-1923 constitute a Genocide;2. commend the NSW and SA governments in acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and encourage the Federal and other state governments to do the same;3. affirm the value of recognising a date on or near the anniversary of the Armenian genocide, as a day of observance and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide and request the National Consultant Christian Unity, Doctrine and Worship to prepare(a) a prayer to be provided for all congregations of the UCA for use on the day; and(b) in consultation with others, educational and liturgical resources for congregations to use.Rationale:

The Oxford Dictionary defines genocide as “the deliberate killing of a very large number of people from a particular ethnic group or nation.” An outline of the Armenians and the Armenian genocide follows.The Legend of the origins of Armenians goes back to Noah. The Legend has it that Hayk, the ancestor of the Armenians is the son of Torgom son of Tiras son of Gomer son of Japheth son of Noah. Hayk had an argument with Belus (Bel) and migrated with his group from Babylon to the North and settled in what became Armenia. The Land they settled in included current day Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Nakhichevan, parts of north-western Syria, part of south-western Georgia and the eastern half of Turkey.In 301 C.E., Armenia became the first Christian nation. In 405 C.E., Mesrop Mashdots, a monk, created the Armenian alphabet and consequently the Armenian language that the church used for centuries, and still uses. The Bible was translated into this new language. The Language itself was a Christian creation stressing equality and inclusiveness. In 451, while the rest of the Christian world was at the Council of Chalcedon, the Persians demanded that Armenia become Zoroastrian, but the king refused and sent his generals to fight the invading Persians. All the soldiers were killed and the king captured, but within a few years the different freedom fighters were able to drive the Persians out and the Armenian Church was able to continue.Between the 8th and 11th centuries the Seljuk Turks invaded the region, and in the late 13th and early 14th century they created the Ottoman Empire in Anatolia, which was an Armenian region, but because of the Roman, Persian and Arab conquests, had been under the rule of different empires. It had a diversity of cultures with a majority of Armenians. The Ottoman Empire grew and invaded Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa.Between 1894 and 1896, the Sultan ordered the killing of 200,000-300,000 Armenians, which was known as the Hamidian massacres. The Armenians, in trying to defend themselves, came together and formed a coalition of freedom fighters which was called the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF).Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, similar to other ethnicities, were considered second grade citizens. They were forced to wear different colours identifying their ethnicity. They were persecuted and marginalised. They were not allowed to occupy certain positions, and were not allowed certain jobs. They were not allowed education and many had gone to Russia or Georgia for their education. In 1908 the Young Turks took over the government, and introduced reforms. These reforms gave Armenians the opportunity for education and some of the positions they were denied in the past. Those educated abroad returned and the Armenian community prospered.The Young Turks government considered this development a threat to the Empire’s existence and on April 24, 1915, the day before the ANZACs attempted their invasion in Gallipoli, the Turkish government rounded up and arrested some 250 intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople. The genocide was carried out during and after World War I and implemented in two phases: the wholesale killing of the able-bodied male population through massacre and subjection of army conscripts to forced labour, followed by the deportation of women, children, the elderly and infirm on death marches leading to the Syrian desert.Driven forward by military escorts, the deportees were deprived of food and water and subjected to periodic robbery, rape, and massacre. The total number of people killed as a result has been estimated at 1.5 million. A further 1 million were displaced. The deserts of Syria are filled with the bones of dead women and children. The Syrian government has given the Armenian community a piece of land in the city of Deir Ezzor, which was the final concentration place for annihilating the Armenian deportation caravans, where a memorial to the victims of the genocide is built.Although religion was used in many instances and the phrase “Allah u Akbar” was heard when killing Armenians, this was a purely political decision. The government abused the religious difference to entice Turks to kill their Armenian neighbours. Many of the Muslim Turks,

however, decided to protect and help their Christian neighbours from the government troops who came to kill them.The governments of Great Britain, France and Russia at the time condemned the acts and considered them as crimes against humanity and civilisation. Churchill called it an unnamed crime, because the term genocide did not yet exist. Raphael Lemkin, a Polish Jewish jurist, coined the term genocide in 1943, and mentions in many of his writings that he was troubled by the Armenian mass murders as a young boy which made him work tirelessly to coin the term genocide and make sure the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide on December 9, 1948.Since then, Armenians have been working to encourage organisations and governments to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.The Armenian Genocide is accepted by the following:• World Council of Churches• Presbyterian Church (USA): On June 20, 2014, the Presbyterian Church (USA) adopted a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide and designated April 26, 2015 as the day for its 100th year observance. It also directed the church’s Mission Agency to prepare educational and liturgical resources for member churches in preparation for this event. This resolution was the first of its kind for a major American church body• Union for Reform Judaism• European Parliament• Council of Europe• Human Rights Association (Turkey)• European Alliance of YMCAs• Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal• Mercosur (a sub-regional bloc comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela with Chile, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru as associate countries.)• International Association of Genocide Scholars• Countries: Argentina; Armenia; Belgium; Bolivia; Canada; Chile; Cyprus; France; Germany; Greece; Italy; Lithuania; Lebanon; Netherlands; Poland; Russia; Slovakia; Sweden; Switzerland; Uruguay; Holy See; Venezuela.• German Bundestag on June 15, 2005 the German parliament passed a resolution that “honours and commemorates the victims of violence, murder and expulsion among the Armenian people before and during the First World War.” The German resolution also states “The German parliament deplores the acts of the Government of the Ottoman Empire regarding the almost complete destruction of Armenians in Anatolia and also the inglorious role of the German Reich in the face of the organised expulsion and extermination of Armenians which it did not try to stop. Women, children and elderly were from February 1915 sent on death marches towards the Syrian desert.” The German document is available at: http://dipbt.bundestag.de/dip21/btd/15/056/1505689.pdf. A translated copy of the document will be available on the Assembly website.• Regional governments in Spain, UK (Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland), Australia (New South Wales, South Australia), Syria, Iran, Brazil, Bulgaria and USA (43 States).• Barack Obama during his campaign said “My firmly held conviction [is] that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence. The facts are undeniable … as President; I will recognise the Armenian genocide.” After his election he has referred to it as the Մեծ Եղերն (great Calamity), and has mentioned that his personal views have not changed and can be found in the records, but he has never used the word genocide.Geoffrey Robertson, in his book An Inconvenient Genocide: Who Now Remembers the Armenians? mentions that today countries like Australia recognise the atrocities of what they have done to the indigenous people, because in 1915 the government of Great Britain was

appalled and condemned the massacres of the Armenians. The events of 1915 became a moral wakeup call to the great nations. It was the first genocide of the 20th century.The Armenian Congregation of the Uniting Church (Willoughby, NSW), currently the only Armenian congregation of the Uniting Church, supports this proposal.

Massachusetts Board of Rabbis

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June 11, 2015

A Statement by the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis

Contact: Rabbi Victor Reinstein, Chair, MBR Public Policy Committee (rabbi@neharshalom.org; 617-522-3618) and Rabbi Howard Jaffe, MBR President (rabbi@templeisaiah.net; 781-862-7160)The Massachusetts Board of Rabbis reaches out in solidarity and sorrow to Armenians everywhere on the one hundredth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. We acknowledge the pain carried through generations of a people decimated, the psychic scars transmitted, the truncated branches of family trees yet to regenerate. We hear the echoes of pleading voices long stilled that call us to remember, to learn, to witness. We call for universal recognition of what happened on the plains of Anatolia, the 1915-1923 atrocities carried out by the Ottoman government. Only truth shall be surety for the timeless cry of "Never Again."Details unfold as a scroll of lamentation, these we remember and pour our hearts out. We remember the hundreds of Armenian intellectuals, the writers, artists, doctors and lawyers, the communal and political leaders arrested and executed on April 24, 1915. We remember the desert death marches, the killing squads, and the concentration camps. We remember the one and a half million Armenians killed of some two million in their ancestral homeland prior to World War I, mourning the destruction and exile of an ancient people. We remember the use of trains for deportation to death, cattle cars packed with human beings, portent of genocide to come. We remember the heroic efforts of American Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, the missionaries and aid workers who cried out to the world for response. We remember the continuing denials and the shame of refusing to recognize what happened, to call it for what it was.We remember words that challenge silence and disallow denial. Words of witness by Ambassador Morgentau, laying bare the plan by its architect, Talat Pasha: "It is no use for you to argue..., we have already disposed of three quarters of the Armenians...; we have got to finish with them...." Igniting the flames of one genocide from the embers of another, Adolph Hitler, his memory be blotted out, cynically asked, "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?" We honor with pride and humility the work of Raphael Lemkin, a Polish Jew who did speak, who coined the word "genocide" in 1943, his long held anguish for Armenians merging in the midst of the Holocaust with anguish for his own people.We take to heart Elie Wiesel's lament for the "double killing" of Armenians that happens through silence. Challenging Turkey to acknowledge what happened, it is our challenge, as well. Recognition of another's suffering and willingness to describe it accurately should never be a matter of political expediency. The prevention of future genocides rests with our willingness to acknowledge those of the past. As the Holocaust should not be subsumed within the Second World War, neither should the Armenian Genocide be subsumed within the First World War. We call on Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Heirs to the Ottomans, Turkey's burden is also an opportunity to insure that what happened one hundred years ago will no longer define the relationship today between descendants of the victims and descendants of the perpetrators. We call on the United States to unequivocally recognize the Armenian Genocide, affirming our commitment to justice and giving meaning to annual expressions of condolence and sorrow. We call on Israel to unequivocally recognize the Armenian Genocide, giving voice to the moral legacy of its own emergence from the ashes of the Holocaust.

Toward healing among communities and peoples: We call on the American Jewish community through its official organizations to unequivocally recognize the Armenian Genocide, to apologize for past reticence, to reach out from heart to heart.We call on local Jewish communities to learn about the Armenian Genocide and to reach out to their Armenian neighbors, building friendship and cooperation. We call on all people to refrain from manipulating past horrors to demonize members of any people or faith today, Christian, Muslim, or Jew.In the midst of Anatolia where the Biblical Mount Ararat rises, Noah's ark found rest, a dove with its olive branch still waiting to alight. To give rest to the dead and peace to the living, a rainbow promise of never again, the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis calls for universal recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

World Council of Churches

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June 10, 2015

10 June 2015 World Council of Churches EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Etchmiadzin, Armenia 8-13 June 2015 Doc. No. 27 rev

During the centenary year of the Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Empire, the executive committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) is meeting in this country on 8-13 June

2015, hosted by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, to honour the martyrs and victims of the genocide. We visit the genocide memorial to remember them and to pray in the name of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. And we celebrate the life of the Armenian nation and the witness of the Armenian church.

The executive committee recalls the Minute on the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide adopted by the WCC 10th Assembly in 2013 in Busan. This important action by the 10th Assembly followed many other occasions on which the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA) had called for recognition of the Armenian genocide by the United Nations (UN) and by member states, dating back to the 1979 session of the UN Human Rights Commission. The WCC has played a key role over many years in accompanying the Armenian church in speaking out and working for recognition of the genocide, and for appropriate responses to the genocide’s continuing impacts on the Armenian people.A minute adopted at the 6th Assembly of the WCC held in 1983 in Vancouver acknowledged that “The silence of the world community and deliberate efforts to deny even historical facts have been consistent sources of anguish and growing despair to the Armenian people, the Armenian churches and many others.” While some continue their efforts to deny or minimize these historical events, the executive committee is greatly encouraged by His Holiness Pope Francis’ public recognition on 12 April 2015 of the mass killing of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians as genocide. We stress that there is a duty on the international community to remember the victims of genocide, in order to heal these historical wounds and to guard against similar atrocities in the future.The WCC, with its many member churches, has participated in several events marking the centenary, including the official commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and canonization of the martyrs in Yerevan, Armenia, on 21-25 April. The WCC and its member churches will continue to participate in the ongoing centennial commemorations this year by the Armenian diaspora, including with the Armenian Church Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, on 18-19 July. The Executive Committee thanks the many member churches and ecumenical partners around the world that have observed or will observe this ongoing centenary in their own contexts, and that have spoken in recognition of the genocide and in commemoration of its victims. Through these commemorations, we acknowledge that these tragic events occurred, and that they must be named by their right name.The Armenian genocide was accompanied in the same historical and political context by genocidal acts against other – mostly Christian – communities of Aramean, Chaldean, Syrian, Assyrian and Greek descent, which have blighted history at the beginning of the 20th century.Denial, impunity and the failure to remember such events encourage their repetition. Those who deny or attack the life and dignity of a sister or brother undermine and destroy the humanity of both the victim and themselves. These centennial commemorations should mark the passing of the time when governments remain reluctant to name what occurred one hundred years ago as genocide. We urge all governments to abandon this reluctance.In this centenary year, we call the international community, the WCC’s member churches and all people of faith and good will to remembrance, and to re-commit to the prevention of genocide and all crimes against humanity.Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)

President of the Conference of European Churches

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April 24, 2015

For many years the CEC has recognised and spoken about the horrific atrocities perpetuated upon the Armenian people under the Ottoman Empire, beginning in 1915. My predecessor but one, the Revd Jean-Arnold de Clermont so spoke on the 90th anniversary, ten years ago.

In 2013 the CEC again made an important Statement through its Governing Board.The Churches of Europe represented in the CEC, Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Old Catholic, Anglican, Protestant, majority, minority and ethnic minority communities again stress the importance of the commemoration of the catastrophic events of those days and the need for honest recognition of the atrocities. Reconciliation for the future is essential. But it can only be based on truth.Between 1915 and 1922, some 1.5 million Armenians were massacred and thousands more were displaced or deported from their homeland in present day Turkey. The Armenian Diaspora today, scattered throughout the world, represents the greatest effect of the genocide as more than six million Armenians now live outside Armenia. Even after one hundred years, the Armenian Genocide still has serious implications for the Armenian people, as well as the international community. Most survivors of the Armenian Genocide have passed away, yet the Armenian people continue to demand recognition and reparation for the suffering and injustice inflicted upon their ancestors. Churches in the Conference of European Churches

(CEC) have addressed the issue of the Armenian Genocide through the European Court of Human Rights in the past.The Conference of European Churches, through the Church and Society Commission produced an important Discussion Paper in 2004 on the relation between the European Union and Turkey, raising important questions for the future discussions of Turkey and the EU.Just a few days ago the European Parliament by a large majority adopted a resolution to formally join the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in a spirit of European solidarity and justice – it also called on the European Union Council and Commission to similarly join. Both the World Council of Churches and its Commission on International Affairs have raised the need for United Nations recognition. The Vancouver Assembly of the WCC – at which I was present – said: “The silence of the world community and deliberate efforts to deny even historical facts have been consistent sources of anguish and growing despair to the Armenian people, the Armenian Church and many others.” We also honour the other 600,000 Christians of Aramean, Chaldean, Assyrian and Greek descent, including Catholics and Protestants, who were also massacred along with their Armenian brothers and sisters. The role of the world’s churches in enabling the Armenian churches to speak out and work towards the recognition of the first genocide of the 20th century has been recognised by the Armenian Church over the years. At this special time of commemoration we also join our Armenian brothers and sisters in the canonization of the Victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. In this sacred liturgy we shall raise their souls to God in our Eastertide prayers and supplications in the apostolic words of St Paul to the Philippians as he aspires to the resurrection from the dead: I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:14)In this spirit the Conference of European Churches joins hands and prayers with the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian people here and in Diaspora.The Rt Revd Christopher Hill KCVO, DD, President of the Conference of European Churches

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

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April 24, 2015

On Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

In order to mark the centennial of the Armenian Genocide in 2015, to remember the suffering of the Armenian people, and to give thanks for their continuing witness, the Presbytery of Los Ranchos respectfully overtures the 221st General Assembly (2014) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to take the following measures to testify to this tragedy and to help ensure that no other peoples experience such suffering:

1. Urge congregations and individuals to a. recognize the Armenian Genocide, which claimed 1.5 million lives of Armenians from 1915 to 1923 and displaced more than one million more; b. express deep sympathy to the Armenian people and designate April 24th of every year hereafter as a day of remembrance of the 1.5 million Armenians who fell victim to the first genocide of the twentieth century; c. honor the provisions of American and international law and the role of American and international justice institutions in preventing the recurrence of similar mass killings, atrocities, and population removals and bringing the perpetrators of any such crimes to justice; and Furthermore, believing that the international recognition of this genocide is a necessary condition for the prevention of similar crimes that may occur in the future, the General Assembly:

2. Supports the designation of "genocide" for the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians and the expulsion of one million more from the Ottoman Empire during the period from 1915--1923, recognizing the systemic elimination of a population group as a crime against humanity in keeping with the 1947 Geneva Convention on Genocide.

3. Directs the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly to a. call upon President Obama and the Congress of the United States of America to recognize and condemn the deaths and expulsion of Armenians from the Ottoman Empire during the period from 1915--1923, as a genocide, and to communicate this resolution for that purpose; b. communicate this resolution to ecumenical partners and organizations nationally and internationally; c. ensure suitable time within the 222nd General Assembly (2016) to observe the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and to honor those organizations, countries, and individuals who assisted Armenian refugees, including the work of the Jinishian Memorial Program.

4. Directs the Presbyterian Mission Agency to a. encourage appropriate observance of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, designating Sunday April 26, 2015, as the 100 year anniversary commemoration day in Presbyterian churches including the preparation of educational and liturgical resources, drawing on the witness of prior assemblies and other historical records, and participation in travel, conferences, and other memorials to be made available on the web at least two months prior to 4/26/2015; b. encourage the United States to endorse the highest human rights standards for all agencies and actions of the United States government, including protection of minority and/or subjugated populations from genocide and ethnic cleansing; c. work cooperatively with other churches and communions in both advocacy and encouraging appropriate artistic, musical, and other cultural forms of remembrance.

His Holiness Pope Francis - Greeting & Homily

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April 12, 2015

GREETING OF THE HOLY FATHER AT THE BEGINNING OF CELEBRATION

Dear Armenian brothers and sisters,

Dear brothers and sisters.

On a number of occasions I have spoken of our time as a time of war, a third world war which is being fought piecemeal, one in which we daily witness savage crimes, brutal massacres and senseless destruction. Sadly, today too we hear the muffled and forgotten cry of so many of our defenceless brothers and sisters who, on account of their faith in Christ or their ethnic origin, are publicly and ruthlessly put to death -- decapitated, crucified, burned alive -- or forced to leave their homeland.

Today too we are experiencing a sort of genocide created by general and collective indifference, by the complicit silence of Cain, who cries out: "What does it matter to me? Am I my brother's keeper?" (cf. Gen 4:9; Homily in Redipuglia, 13 September 2014).

In the past century our human family has lived through three massive and unprecedented tragedies. The first, which is widely considered "the first genocide of the twentieth century" (John Paul II and Karekin II, Common Declaration, Etchmiadzin, 27 September 2001), struck your own Armenian people, the first Christian nation, as well as Catholic and Orthodox Syrians, Assyrians, Chaldeans and Greeks. Bishops and priests, religious, women and men, the elderly and even defenceless children and the infirm were murdered. The remaining two were perpetrated by Nazism and Stalinism. And more recently there have been other mass killings, like those in Cambodia, Rwanda, Burundi and Bosnia. It seems that humanity is incapable of putting a halt to the shedding of innocent blood. It seems that the enthusiasm generated at the end of the Second World War has dissipated and is now disappearing. It seems that the human family has refused to learn from its mistakes caused by the law of terror, so that today too there are those who attempt to eliminate others with the help of a few and with the complicit silence of others who simply stand by. We have not yet learned that "war is madness", "senseless slaughter" (cf. Homily in Redipuglia, 13 September 2014).

Dear Armenian Christians, today, with hearts filled with pain but at the same time with great hope in the risen Lord, we recall the centenary of that tragic event, that immense and senseless slaughter whose cruelty your forebears had to endure. It is necessary, and indeed a duty, to honour their memory, for whenever memory fades, it means that evil allows wounds to fester. Concealing or denying evil is like allowing a wound to keep bleeding without bandaging it!

I greet you with affection and I thank you for your witness.

With gratitude for his presence, I greet Mr Serzh Sargsyan, the President of the Republic of Armenia.

My cordial greeting goes also to my brother Patriarchs and Bishops: His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX, Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenian Catholics; and Catholicosates of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Patriarchate of the Armenian Catholic Church.

In the firm certainty that evil never comes from God, who is infinitely good, and standing firm in faith, let us profess that cruelty may never be considered God's work and, what is more, can find absolutely no justification in his Holy Name. Let us continue this celebration by fixing our gaze on Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, victor over death and evil!

________________________________________

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCISSaint John, who was in the Upper Room with the other disciples on the evening of the first day after the Sabbath, tells us that Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you!" and he showed them his hands and his side (Jn 20:19-20); he showed them his wounds. And in this way they realized that it was not an apparition: it was truly him, the Lord, and they were filled with joy.

On the eighth day Jesus came once again into the Upper Room and showed his wounds to Thomas, so that he could touch them as he had wished to, in order to believe and thus become himself a witness to the Resurrection.

To us also, on this Sunday which Saint John Paul II wished to dedicate to Divine Mercy, the Lord shows us, through the Gospel, his wounds. They are wounds of mercy. It is true: the wounds of Jesus are wounds of mercy. "With his stripes we are healed" (Is53:5).

Jesus invites us to behold these wounds, to touch them as Thomas did, to heal our lack of belief. Above all, he invites us to enter into the mystery of these wounds, which is the mystery of his merciful love.

Through these wounds, as in a light-filled opening, we can see the entire mystery of Christ and of God: his Passion, his earthly life -- filled with compassion for the weak and the sick -- his incarnation in the womb of Mary. And we can retrace the whole history of salvation: the prophecies -- especially about the Servant of the Lord, the Psalms, the Law and the Covenant; to the liberation from Egypt, to the first Passover and to the blood of the slaughtered lambs; and again from the Patriarchs to Abraham, and then all the way back to Abel, whose blood cried out from the earth. All of this we can see in the wounds of Jesus, crucified and risen; with Mary, in her Magnificat, we can perceive that, "His mercy extends from generation to generation" (cf. Lk 1:50).

Faced with the tragic events of human history we can feel crushed at times, asking ourselves, "Why?". Humanity's evil can appear in the world like an abyss, a great void: empty of love, empty of goodness, empty of life. And so we ask: how can we fill this abyss? For us it is

impossible; only God can fill this emptiness that evil brings to our hearts and to human history. It is Jesus, God made man, who died on the Cross and who fills the abyss of sin with the depth of his mercy.

Saint Bernard, in one of his commentaries on the Canticle of Canticles (Sermon 61, 3-5: Opera Omnia, 2, 150-151), reflects precisely on the mystery of the Lord's wounds, using forceful and even bold expressions which we do well to repeat today. He says that "through these sacred wounds we can see the secret of [Christ's] heart, the great mystery of love, the sincerity of his mercy with which he visited us from on high".

Brothers and sisters, behold the way which God has opened for us to finally go out from our slavery to sin and death, and thus enter into the land of life and peace. Jesus, crucified and risen, is the way and his wounds are especially full of mercy.

The saints teach us that the world is changed beginning with the conversion of one's own heart, and that this happens through the mercy of God. And so, whether faced with my own sins or the great tragedies of the world, "my conscience would be distressed, but it would not be in turmoil, for I would recall the wounds of the Lord: 'he was wounded for our iniquities' (Is 53:5). What sin is there so deadly that it cannot be pardoned by the death of Christ?" (ibid.).

Keeping our gaze on the wounds of the Risen Jesus, we can sing with the Church: "His love endures forever" (Ps 117:2); eternal is his mercy. And with these words impressed on our hearts, let us go forth along the paths of history, led by the hand of our Lord and Saviour, our life and our hope.

The Virginia Council of Churches

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October 16, 2014

The Virginia Council of Churches at its 70th Annual Meeting, November 6, 2014 approves resolution calling for the commemoration of the 100th anniversary to the Armenian Genocide. The Council commends this resolution to all its member congregation that they share this resolution with their congregations.

Resolution for Virginia Council of Churches

October 26, 2014

WHEREAS, 2015 marks the centennial of the commencement of the Armenian Genocide, in which more than 1.5 million Armenians were exterminated by the Ottoman Turkish government; and

WHEREAS, this centrally planned and systematically executed crime against an ethnic minority of Christians living on their ancestral homeland is regarded as the first genocide of the 20th century and the precursor to the Holocaust; and

WHEREAS, those who attempted to rescue the Armenians and provide humanitarian aid included Western missionaries of various Christian denominations, U.S. relief organizations, and brave individuals such as U.S. ambassador Henry Morgenthau, Sr.; and

WHEREAS, persecution of Christians in several parts of the world today concerns the Virginia Council of Churches and citizens of the Commonwealth, underscoring the Armenian Genocide's historical significance; and WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of Central Virginia and the people of Saint James Armenian Church--a member of the Virginia Council of Churches--represent an ancient Christian tradition, remain devoted brothers and sisters in Christ, and strive to inform Virginians of all faiths about the Armenian Genocide;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Virginia Council of Churches hereby recognizes the centennial of the Armenian Genocide; officially and expressly supports the efforts of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of Central Virginia; resolves to convene with leaders of the Virginia Council of Churches as well as the Interfaith Center for Public Policy and the Richmond Interfaith Council to participate in an ecumenical service on Saturday, April 18, 2015, organized by the Centennial Committee; and hereby calls upon all its member churches, during all services on Sunday April 19, 2015, to pray for the victims of the Armenian Genocide and for all those, past and present, who have fallen victim to violent acts based on hatred of a people, community or state because of gender, religion, race, nationality or ethnic identity.

The following prayer is suggested: Blessing: Armenian Genocide Prayer--April 18, 2015 Virginia Council of Churches, Richmond, Virginia

Heavenly Father, Creator of the Universe:

We ask your blessing on the people gathered here today, all of whom stand in the cause of witness, memory, and the ongoing struggle for justice.

We ask you to grant rest to the souls of all who perished in the genocides of the past and present--and especially to the million and a half souls lost, 100 years ago, in the Armenian Genocide. Remember the fallen, O Lord; cast your blessing on those who survived; and bestow your peace on their descendants.

On this most solemn occasion--the 100th year of remembrance of the Armenian Genocide--we painfully acknowledge that the world has not yet learned the vital lesson, and has not done enough, to expunge the plague of genocide.

And so we ask, Lord, that you will shine your light into the dark corners of the world, to expose cruelty and injustice wherever it afflicts innocent people--so that the genocides experienced by so many peoples will never be repeated anywhere on the face of this earth.

We pray that you will inspire our leaders with wisdom, compassion, and resolution in the face of evil. Our world today exists in a time of uncertainty; and in such a time, O God, we seek above all to know and perform your will. We pray that you will remember the precious sacrifices being made today in the name of faith and religious liberty; that you will shepherd

the downtrodden out of the darkness of tyranny; and that you will steer our entire world to a new dawn of peace, justice, and dignity--for all your children.

Finally, we thank you for the bounty and liberty of this great country of America. Bless this land and her people, Lord, so that she may continue to be a beacon of hope to our world.

For all of these things, may your name be praised from generation to generation.

Amen.

Union of American Hebrew Congregations

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November 7, 1989

This is the exact text of the Armenian genocide resolution passed unanimously by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations on November 7, 1989. TITLE: 1915 GENOCIDE OF OVER 1 MILLION ARMENIANS

The massacre of over 1.5 million Armenians beginning in 1915 by the Ottoman Turks and the subsequent exile of an additional 500,000 Armenians is one of the most shameful chapters of modern history.

Elie Wiesel, a past U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council chairman said, ‘Before the planning of the final solution, Hitler said, ‘Who remembers the Armenians.’ He was right. No one remembered them, as no one remembered the Jews. Rejected by everyone, they felt expelled from history.’

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Executive Council has unanimously agreed to include reference to the Armenian and other genocides to help illuminate or relate to the story of the holocaust.

We recognize that the Turkey of today is vastly different from the Ottoman Empire of 1915. Our respect for modern Turkey's traditions of pluralism should not deter us from learning the lessons of past mistakes.

The genocide is one of those instances of mass destruction which has both preceded and followed the holocaust to which the U.A.H.C. has drawn notice over the years, that their lessons might not be forgotten (among them Biafra and Cambodia).

Therefore, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations resolves to:

1. Commend the executive committee of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum for its announced decision to include reference to the Armenian and other genocides to the extent that they help illuminate or relate to the story of the holocaust.

2. Instruct the reform movement's Religious Action Center in Washington to encourage passage of S.J. Resolution 212, a joint resolution now before the U.S. Senate designating April 24, 1990 as ‘National Day of Remembrance of the 75th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.’

3. Educate our congregates as to the facts and the lessons of these tragic chapters of modern history.

World Council of Churches

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July 10, 1983

"The silence of the world community and the deliberate efforts to deny even historical facts have been consistent sources of anguish..."

Official Report VI Assembly World Council of Churches

Vancouver, Canada 24 July - 10 August 1983

5.11 Minutes on Public Issues of Continuing Concern to the WCC

Minutes on the Armenian genocide

1. During this assembly's discussion of violations of human rights our attention has been drawn to the historical reality and present threat of genocide to some peoples. Far too often these occurrences are passed over in silence. In certain current instances this is being used by groups to justify wholly unacceptable acts of violence.

2. In this context we have been reminded once again of the tragic massacre of one-and-a-half million Armenians in Turkey and the deportation of another half million from this historic homeland at the beginning of this century. The silence of the world community and the deliberate efforts to deny even historical facts have been consistent sources of anguish and growing despair to the Armenian people, the Armenian churches and many others.

3. The Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches has raised this concern in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights with reference to the latter's study of the Question of Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

4. The Assembly requests the General Secretary to provide information to the churches on this, and to continue to pursue the matter in appropriate contexts. Public recognition of those events is essential in order that they do not continue to engender violent acts of retribution, and that through remembering the history of the Armenian people other peoples might be spared a similar fate.

(David Gill, ed.,Gathered for Life: Official Report VI Assembly World Council of Churches, Vancouver, Canada, 24 July - 10 August 1983. Geneva: World Council of Churches and Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1983, pp. 165-6)

Denmark Parliamentary Resolution

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May 12, 2015

V 54 About the Armenian Genocide

By: Jacob Lund (S), Lone Loklindt (RV), Holger K. Nielsen (SF) and Lars Barfoed (KF)

Collection: 2014-15 (1st Collection)Status: Adopted

On proposals for adoption

Proposed:12-05-2015

Proposed adoption:

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the forced deportations, massacres and other assaults on Armenians that took place in eastern Anatolia in the period 1915-23, the Parliament emphasizes the importance of respecting the rights of all national, ethnic and religious minorities in the region. The Parliament expresses hope that reconciliation and normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations can be encouraged, calls on both governments to work towards this, and notes that a continued improvement in Turkey's respect for the country's ethnic, religious and national minorities could contribute to this.

Posted under:F 28 About the Armenian Genocide

Austria Resolution

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April 24, 2015

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JOINT DECLARATION

By leaders of the parliamentary groups, Mr. Andreas Schieder (SPÖ), Dr. Reinhold Lopatka (ÖVP), Heinz- Christian Strache (FPÖ), Dr. Eva Glawischnig-Piesczek (Greens), Waltraud Dietrich (Team Stronach), and Dr. Matthias Strolz (Neos)

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the genocide of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.

JOINT DECLARATION

This 24th of April marks the centennial of the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians committed by the Ottoman Empire. Against this background, we commemorate the victims of violence, murder and displacement, including tens of thousands of members of other Christian communities in the Ottoman Empire, such as those of the Aramaeans, Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Pontos Greeks.

Because of historical responsibility - the Austro-Hungarian monarchy was allied with the Ottoman Empire in the First World War - it is our duty to recognize and condemn the terrible events as genocide. It is also the duty of Turkey to face the honest treatment of dark and painful chapters of her past, and to recognize the crimes committed against the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide.

In times when international crises are an ever greater threat to the world and its values, it is imperative to take action against atrocities and persecution of people all over the world. The crimes committed against the Armenians a hundred years ago, which Pope Francis called "the first genocide of the 20th century," makes clear the need for a culture of memory. The awareness of our inviolable values of freedom, peace and human rights is inextricably linked to a worthy memory of the victims of violence, persecution, expulsion and mass murder.

The members of the groups are committed to consistently pursuing the tried and tested Austrian path of dialogue and reconciliation in the resolution of international conflicts. This holds also with regard to historical events, which drive a wedge between ethnic groups and states as in the case of Turkey and Armenia. On the part of Turkey it is necessary to bring a transparent processing of light into the darkness of the past.

In order to promote reconciliation, our intention is to actively support an examination of the historical events as well as their preparation by Turkey and Armenia as a first step towards reconciliation and the long overdue improvement of Turkish-Armenian relations both bilaterally and at the European level.

The Resolution adopted on April 15, 2015, in the European Parliament (European Parliament resolution of 15 April 2015 on the centenary of the Armenian genocide (2015/2590(RSP)) on the reconciliation of Turkey and Armenia is welcomed - without prejudice to the formal international legal assessment of the group members of the parties represented in the National Council.

Bulgaria National Assembly

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April 24, 2015

The extermination of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 – 1922 was identified with definite historical facts and authentic documents.

According to the humane traditions of the Bulgarian people and the obligations under the UN documents ratification, Bulgaria distinguishes the historical heritage of the Ottoman Empire and the heritage of the Republic of Turkey and welcomes the dialogue between Turkey and Armenia for a final commitment to historical truth.

The National Assembly pursuant to Article 86 para. 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria

DECIDED:

It recognizes the mass extermination of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and declares April 24 a Day of Remembrance of its victims.

European Parliament Resolution

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April 15, 2015

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948,

– having regard to its resolution of 18 June 1987 on a political solution to the Armenian question(1),

– having regard to its resolution of 12 March 2015 on the Annual report on human rights and democracy in the World 2013 and the EU policy on the matter(2),

– having regard to the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey and the Protocol on Development of Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey signed in Zurich on 10 October 2009,

– having regard to the statement made on 12 April 2015 by His Holiness Pope Francis,

– having regard to Rule 123(2) and (4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas 2015 marks the centennial of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire;

B. whereas an increasing number of Member States and national parliaments recognise the Armenian Genocide perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire;

C. whereas one of the main motivations for the European unification movement is the will to prevent the recurrence of wars and crimes against humanity in Europe;

D. whereas Turkey and Armenia have embarked on a process of diplomatic normalisation, signing protocols in 2009 in Zurich on establishing and developing relations;

E. whereas the importance of keeping alive the memories of the past is paramount, since there can be no reconciliation without truth and remembrance;

1. Pays tribute, on the eve of the centenary, to the memory of the one-and-a-half million innocent Armenian victims who perished in the Ottoman Empire; joins the commemoration of the centenary of the Armenian Genocide in a spirit of European solidarity and justice; calls on the Commission and the Council to join in the commemoration;

2. Recalls its resolution of 18 June 1987 in which inter alia it recognised that the tragic events that took place in 1915-1917 against the Armenians in the territory of the Ottoman Empire represent a genocide as defined in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948; condemns all occurrences of crimes against humanity and genocide, and strongly deplores any attempts at their denial;

3. Pays tribute to the memory of the innocent victims of all genocides and crimes committed against humanity; proposes that an International Remembrance Day for Genocides be established, in order to recall again the right of all peoples and all nations throughout the world to peace and dignity;

4. Stresses that the timely prevention and effective punishment of genocides and crimes against humanity should be among the main priorities of the international community and the European Union;

5. Welcomes the statements by the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoğlu, offering condolences and recognising atrocities against the Ottoman Armenians as a step in the right direction; encourages Turkey to use the commemoration of the centenary of the Armenian Genocide as an important opportunity to continue its efforts, including the opening of the archives, to come to terms with its past, to recognise the Armenian Genocide and thus to pave the way for a genuine reconciliation between the Turkish and Armenian peoples;

6. Commends the message delivered by His Holiness Pope Francis honouring the centenary of the Armenian genocide on 12 April 2015 in a spirit of peace and reconciliation;

7. Invites Turkey to respect and realise fully the obligations which it has undertaken to the protection of cultural heritage and, in particular, to conduct in good faith an integrated inventory of Armenian and other cultural heritage destroyed or ruined during the past century within its jurisdiction;

8. Invites Armenia and Turkey to use examples of successful reconciliation between European nations and to focus on an agenda that puts cooperation between peoples first; trusts that this will contribute to the historic reconciliation of the Armenian and Turkish people in a spirit of truth and respect; supports civil society initiatives between Turkey and Armenia working towards the normalisation of relations; urges Turkey and Armenia to proceed to a normalisation of their relations by ratifying and implementing, without preconditions, the protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations, by opening the border and by actively improving their relations, with particular reference to cross-border cooperation and economic integration;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of the Republic of Armenia, and the Government and Parliament of the Republic of Turkey.

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Chamber Resolution

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April 15, 2015

Resolution

The Chamber of Deputies,

- considering that the year 2015 marks the centenary of the Armenian genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire;

- considering that the European Parliament and a growing number of parliaments throughout the world, and in particular the Member States of the European Union, recognize the Armenian genocide as a genocide within the meaning of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948;

- recalling the resolution of the European Parliament of 15 April 2015 on the centenary of genocide In which the European Parliament reaffirms, inter alia, its recognition of the genocide;

- considering that the memory and the recognition of historical truth are essential factors in the construction of the future and in the efforts of each generation to avoid the repetition of the tragedies of the past;

- considering that the recognition of the crimes committed against the Armenians at the end of the Ottoman Empire as genocide would constitute an important and honorable national and European gesture for the Turkish Republic:

1. recognizes that the tragic acts perpetrated since 1915 against the Armenians established on the territory of the Ottoman Empire constitute a genocide;

2. in this year, which marks the centenary of the beginning of the genocide, pays tribute to the memory of one and a half million victims who lost their lives in the Ottoman Empire and joins the commemoration of the centenary of the Armenian genocide in a spirit of European solidarity and justice;

3. makes homage to the victims of all genocide and crimes against humanity and endorses the European Parliament's call for an international genocide commemoration day to recall the right of all peoples and nations of the world in peace and dignity;

4. welcomes the statements by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkey, and Ahmet Davutoglu, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, who addressed their condolences to the Ottoman Armenians and acknowledged the great suffering committed against them

5. encourages the authorities of the Turkish Republic to face the past;

6. encourages Armenia and Turkey to work towards a normalization of their relations, enabling reconciliation of the Armenian and Turkish peoples in a spirit of truth and mutual respect.

Dutch Parliamentary Resolution

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April 9, 2015

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House of Representatives of States General2014-2015 Meeting Year

34,000 VNr. 64

Adoption of the budget statements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (V) for the year 2015

AMENDED MOTION OF MEMBER VOORDEWIND C.S. TO REPLACE THAT PRINTED UNDER NO. 59

Proposed April 9, 2015

The Chamber,

after hearing the deliberation,

noting that the Rouvoet et al. (21 501-20, no. 270) concerning the issue of the recognition of the Armenian genocide in the dialogue with Turkey (for the sake of completeness, this also concerns the Assyrians, the Pontic Greeks and Arameans, who also fell victim to this genocide) was adopted House-wide in 2004;

Believes that it is very important that Turkey and Armenia reach a joint agreement on their history;

Considers that acceptance of mutual understanding of the events of 1915 is necessary in order to take a step forward in relations between the two countries;

Hopes that upcoming commemorative gatherings of 100 years of Armenian genocide, in the Netherlands and elsewhere, contribute to respect and acceptance between the communities involved;

Calls on the government, following on from the adopted Rouvoet et al. motion, bilaterally and at EU level, to continue to call on the Turkish government to give new impetus to Armenia and to seek reconciliation with the Armenian government,

And proceeds to the order of the day.

Sweden Parliament Resolution

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March 11, 2010

1 Proposal for Parliament Decision

1. The Parliament announces to the government its decision in reference to what is stated in the motion regarding Sweden recognizing the 1915 genocide against Armenians, Assyrians/Syrians/Chaldeans and Pontic Greeks.

2. The Parliament announces to the government its decision in reference to what is stated in the motion that Sweden should act within EU and UN for an international recognition of the 1915 genocide against Armenians, Assyrians/Syrians/Chaldeans and Pontic Greeks.

3. The Parliament announces to the government its decision in reference to what is stated in the motion that Sweden should act for Turkey to recognize the 1915 genocide against Armenians, Assyrians/Syrians/Chaldeans and Pontic Greeks.

2 Background

"Forum for living history is an authority which has the mission to -- with basis in the Holocaust - work with issues which concern tolerance, democracy and human rights. By illuminating the darkest pieces of the human history we want to affect the future."

So reads the description of an agency which works on mission by order of the Swedish Government and educates, among others, about the 1915 genocide. The lesson of history is one of the cornerstones of the present-day democracies where we have learned of our mistakes and by preventing repetition of earlier errors we strive for a better future.

However, a prevention of future missteps, especially if these are known from the history, can not be implemented if one does not openly recognizes committed errors. Thus, history revisionism is a dangerous tool for facilitating repetition of the dark pages of the history.

The 1915 genocide foremost engulfed Armenians, Assyrians/Syrians/Chaldeans and Pontic Greeks, but later came to also affect other minorities. It was the dream of a large Turanic Empire, Great Turan, which caused the Turkish leaders wanting to ethnically homogenize the remains of the decaying Ottoman Empire at the turn of the 19th century. This was achieved under the cover of the ongoing world war, when the Armenian, Assyrian/Syrian/Chaldean and Pontic Greek population of the empire were, almost entirely, annihilated. Researchers estimate that about 1,500,000 Armenians, between 250,000 and 500,000 Assyrians/Syrians/Chaldeans and about 350,000 Pontic Greeks have been killed or disappeared.

During the short period following the Turkish defeat in 1918 until the time when the Turkish nationalistic movement, under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal, the genocide was discussed openly. Political and military leaders stood on trial, accused for "war crimes" and "committed crimes against humanity". Several of them were found guilty and sentenced to the death or prison. During these trials horrible details about the persecution of the minorities in the Ottoman Empire were reveled. Thus, Turkey went through the same phase as the one Germany experienced after the Second World War. However, the process was short-lived. The emergence of the Turkish nationalistic movement and the dissolution of the Sultanate resulted in the discontinuation of the trials and the majority of the accused were set free. Almost, the entire remaining Christian population - Armenians, Assyrians/Syrians/Chaldeans, and Pontic Greeks - were expelled from areas they had inhabited for over thousands of years.

3 UN Genocide Convention 1948, the European Parliament and Official Recognitions

Raphael Lemkin, the Polish-Jewish lawyer who coined the term "genocide" during the 1940s and was the father of the UN Convention of Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, was fully aware of the 1915 genocide and the failure of the international community

to intervene. His revision of the definition was adopted in the UN Convention which reads as follows:

Article 2) In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

- Killing members of the group;

- Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;

- Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;

- Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;

- Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

Furthermore, it is established that the present-day UN Convention from 1948 is not a new legislation, but merely a ratification of existing international laws on "crimes against humanity" which were stated in the Sèvres Treaty, Article 230 (1920). Even more important is the fact that the UN Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, adopted on November 26, 1968, in power since November 11, 1970, which ratifies its retroactive an non-prescriptive nature. Of this very reason, both massacres in the Ottoman Empire and the Holocaust are cases of genocide in accordance to the UN Convention, in spite the fact that both occurred before the Convention was established.

During the history of UN two larger studies/reports have been conducted on the crime of genocide. The first was the so-called Ruhashyankiko Report, from 1978, and the second was the Whitaker Report, conducted by Benjamin Whitaker in 1985 (Economic and Social Council Commission on Human Rights, Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Thirty-eighth session, Item 4 of the provisional agenda, E/CN.4/Sub.2/1985/6). The 1915 genocide is mentioned in several places in as an example of committed genocides during the 20th century. The report was voted on in the Subcommittee of the UN Committee for Human Rights with the voices 14 against 1 (4 abstentions) in August, 1985. On June 18, 1987, the European Parliament officially recognized the Armenian genocide. Since 1965, that is, the 50th anniversary of the genocide, several countries and organizations have officially recognized the 1915 genocide, among others Uruguay (1965), Cypress (1982), Russia (1995), Greece (1996), Lebanon (1997), Belgium (1998), France (1998), Italy (2000), The Vatican (2000), Switzerland (2003), Argentina (2003), Canada (2004), Slovakia (2004), Netherlands (2004), Poland (2005), Venezuela (2005), Germany (2005), Lithuania (2005), and Chile (2007).

4 The Research on the 1915 Genocide and Swedish Knowledge

Second to the Holocaust, the 1915 genocide is regarded as the most studied case in the modern time. Today a broad and interdisciplinary consensus exists among an overwhelming majority of genocide scholars who regard the massacres in the Ottoman Empire during World War I as genocide and which is referred by the scholars as the "genocide prototype" (while the Holocaust is called the "genocide paradigm"). The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), an independent world leading and interdisciplinary authority within the area,

has in several occasions ratified a consensus in this matter, namely: June 13, 1997, June 13, 2005, October 5, 2007 and April 23, 2008. The resolution from July 13, 2007 reads as follows:

WHEREAS the denial of genocide is widely recognized as the final stage of genocide, enshrining impunity for the perpetrators of genocide, and demonstrably paving the way for future genocides;

WHEREAS the Ottoman genocide against minority populations during and following the First World War is usually depicted as a genocide against Armenians alone, with little recognition of the qualitatively similar genocides against other Christian minorities of the Ottoman Empire;

BE IT RESOLVED that it is the conviction of the International Association of Genocide Scholars that the Ottoman campaign against Christian minorities of the Empire between 1914 and 1923 constituted a genocide against Armenians, Assyrians, and Pontian and Anatolian Greeks.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Association calls upon the government of Turkey to acknowledge the genocides against these populations, to issue a formal apology, and to take prompt and meaningful steps toward restitution.

ON June 8, more than 60 world leading genocide experts signed an appeal directed to the members of the Parliament where they dismissed the claims about disunity among scholars regarding the 1915 genocide. The research must continue and both Turkey and the world must secure the possibilities for an open, independent and undisturbed atmosphere, among others by Turkey having to give full access to its archives as well as allowing similar discussions without scientist, authors, journalists and publishers risking prosecution for having commented on the reality of the genocide.

New research at Uppsala University witnesses also about a genuine Swedish knowledge of the 1915 genocide. Swedish Foreign Ministry and General Staff Head Quarters were fully informed about the ongoing annihilation through reports which the Swedish Ambassador Per Gustaf August Cosswa Anckarsvärd and the Swedish Military Attaché Einar af Wirsén (both stationed in Constantinople) sent to Stockholm. Among others one can read the following:

* Anckarsvärd, July 6, 1915: "Mr. Minister, The persecutions of the Armenians have reached hair-raising proportions and all points to the fact that the Young Turks want to seize the opportunity, since due to different reasons there are no effective external pressure to be feared, to once and for all put an end to the Armenian question. The means for this are quite simple and consist of the extermination of the Armenian nation."

* Anckarsvärd, July 22, 1915: "It is not only the Armenians, but also the Turkish subjects of Greek nationality who at the present are subjected to severe persecutions... According to Mr. Tsamados [Greek chargé d'affaires]it [the deportations] can not be any other issue than an annihilation war against the Greek nation in Turkey..."

* Anckarsvärd, September 2, 1915: "The six so-called Armenian vilayets seem to be totally cleansed from, at least, its Armenian-Catholic Armenians... It is obvious that the Turks are taking the opportunity to, now during the war, exterminate the Armenian nation so that when the peace comes no Armenian question longer exists."

* Wirsén, May 13, 1916: " The health situation in Iraq is horrifying. Typhus fever claims numerous victims. The Armenian persecutions have to a large degree contributed to the

spreading of the disease, since the expelled [Armenians] in hundred thousands have died from hunger and deprivation along the roads."

* Anckarsvärd, January 5, 1917: " The situation would have been different if Turkey had followed the advice of the Central Powers in letting them organise the question of provisioning etc...Even worse than this is, however, the extermination of Armenians, which, perhaps, could have been prevented if German advisers had in time received authority over the civilian administration as the German officers actually practise over army and navy."

* Envoy Ahlgren, August 20, 1917: "The high prices continue to climb... There are several reasons:... and finally the strong decreasing of labour power, caused partly by the mobilisation but partly also by the extermination of the Armenian race".

In his memoirs "Memories from Peace and War" (1942), Wirsén dedicated an entire chapter to the genocide. In "The Murder of a Nation", Wirsén writes that:

"Officially, these [the deportations] had the goal to move the entire Armenian population to the steppe regions of Northern Mesopotamia and Syria, but in reality they aimed to exterminate the Armenians, whereby the pure Turkish element in Asia Minor would achieve a dominating position.... The annihilation of the Armenian nation in Asia Minor must upset all human feelings. The way in which the Armenian issue was solved was hair-raising."

In addition to these, there are numerous eyewitness accounts which missionaries and field workers such as Alma Johansson, Maria Anholm, Lars Erik Högberg, E. John Larson, Olga Moberg, Per Pehrsson and others published. Hjalmar Branting was the very first person, who long before Lemkin, used the term genocide ("folkmord") when he, on March 26, 1917, called the persecutions against the Armenians as "an organized and systematic genocide, worse than what we ever have seen in Europe".

A recognition of the 1915 genocide is not only important in order to redress the affected ethic groups and minorities which still live in Turkey, but also for the promotion of Turkey's development. Turkey can not become a better democracy if the truth about its past is denied.

The Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was murdered for having openly expressed himself regarding the genocide and several others have been prosecuted by the same infamous Paragraph 301. The latest changes of the law by the Turkish Government are purely cosmetic and do not imply any changes what so ever. It is said that history should be left to historians and we completely support that. However, it is the responsibility of the politicians to act in accordance to historic facts and historic research.

Furthermore, a Swedish recognition of the truth and a historic fact should not imply any hinder for either the reform work in Turkey or Turkey's EU negotiations. With basis in what we have stated above, we consider that Sweden should recognize the 1915 genocide against Armenians, Assyrians/Syrians/Chaldeans, and Pontic Greeks. This should the Parliament present as its consideration to the Government.

Furthermore, we do consider that Sweden should act internationally, within the framework for EU and UN, for an international recognition of the 1915 genocide against Armenians, Assyrians/Syrians/Chaldeans, and Pontic Greeks. This should the Parliament present as its consideration to the Government.

As long as countries such as Sweden does not confront Turkey with the truth and the facts which are at hand, Turkey can not go further on its path to an more open society, a better democracy and fully open up its possibilities for a membership in EU. Thus, Sweden should act for Turkey to recognize the 1915 genocide against Armenians, Assyrians/Syrians/Chaldeans, and Pontic Greeks. This should the Parliament present as its consideration to the Government.

Chile Senate Resolution

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June 5, 2007

Text of the Chile Senate ResolutionRecognizing the Armenian Genocide

(translated from Spanish)

Adopted June 5, 2007

Honorable Senate

Considering:

1. that 24th of April, 1915, in Constantinople, then the capital of the Turkish Empire, after the unjust arrest and later the disappearance of the entire leading class of the Armenian community, marks the beginning of a policy of systematic extermination of the Armenian population on the part of the imperial authorities;

2. that the brutal genocide, enacted between 1915 and 1923, resulted in the deaths of over 1.5 million Armenian citizens that lived in the lands of their ancestors for thousands of years;

3. that this reproachable action constituted the first ethnic cleansing of the 20th century and more than that or even any judgment or interpretation of it, signifies a flagrant violation of the human rights of that nation;

4. that in spite of the intent to erase the collective memory of mankind and of the loss of sensibility of the great powers to end those acts, the Armenians and their several organizations around the world have found that part of the international community may recognize the genocide in which they were victim to be doomed;

5. that such a recognition was granted in 1985 by the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities of the UN that clarified the Armenian case as a genocide;

6. that nations such as Uruguay, Argentina, Greece, Bulgaria, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Lebanon, Sweden, Switzerland, Holland, Venezuela, Lithuania, Canada and France have made their own resolutions like those also of the European Parliament;

7. that our nation has yet to be made to regret to permanently invoke the supremacy of Human Rights in international relations above whatever agreement or compromise regardless of how important it may be;

8. that consequently it constitutes an ethical and moral imperative that Chile makes a resolution along the lines of that from 1985 which recognizes that the Ottoman Empire committed a brutal genocide in Armenia against a defenseless people that now cry out for moral reparations from part of the international community and especially Turkey.

By virtue of these outlined issues, the Honorable Senate of the Republic decides1. To support the Armenian nation in condemning the genocide of its people and,2. To call on the government of Chile to adheres to the 1985 United Nations decision.

Argentina Law

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January 15, 2007

"Law passed by the Argentine Congress declaring April 24 "The day of action for tolerance and respect among people" in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide."

LAW 26,199

COMMEMORATIONSBUENOS AIRES, December 13, 2006BULLETIN OFICIALL, January 15, 2007

SUMMARYCOMMEMORATIONS-GENOCIDE-ARMENIA

TOPICCOMMEMORATIONS-GENOCIDE-ARMENIA

The Senate and Chamber of Deputies of the Argentine Nation gathered in Congress, etc. enact as law:

GENERALNUMBER OF ARTICLES THAT MAKE UP THE STANDARD: 5

• ARTICLE 1: Declare April 24 of every year as "Day of action for tolerance and respect among peoples," in commemoration of the genocide of which the Armenian people were victims and with the spirit of their memory being a permanent lesson on the steps of the present and the goals of our future.

• ARTICLE 2: To authorize all employees and officials of public organizations of Armenian origin to be given leave on April 24 of every year to be able to attend and participate in the activities that take place in commemoration of the tragedy that affected their community.

• ARTICLE 3: Authorize all students of Armenian origin who are developing their studies of primary or secondary level in establishments established by Article 1.

• ARTICLE 4: Invite the provincial governments to adhere to the provisions of this law. • ARTICLE 5: Communicate to the Executive Power.

Argentina Senate Special Statement

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April 19, 2006

SENATE OF THE NATION,

DECLARES:

Its most energetic repudiation and regret on April 24th on the occasion of the 91st anniversary of the genocide perpetrated against the Armenian people, which is commemorated every year, from its pain and tragedy, and a peace that stands as a universal example, at the same time that its homage and solidarity with the victims and relatives who suffered and suffer the consequences of such a deplorable fact.

It also deplores the systematic denial that obstructs the essential exercise of memory, generating impunity for the repetition of crimes, and urging the re-evaluation of the structure of international human rights law as an integrating framework for humanitarian action for the prevention of crimes against humanity.

GIVEN IN THE SESSIONS ROOM OF THE ARGENTINE SENATE, IN BUENOS AIRES, ON THE NINETEENTH DAYS OF THE MONTH OF APRIL OF THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND SIX.

Lithuania Assembly Resolution

December 15, 2005

Diet of the Lithuanian Republic

THE RESOLUTION

About a recognition of a genocide of the Armenian nation

Vilnius 2005-12-15

Diet of the Lithuanian Republic Marking the 90-anniversary of a genocide of the Armenian nation, Condemning a genocide of the Armenian nation accomplished by Turks in Ottoman

empire in 1915, Calls Turkish Republic to recognize this historic fact.

European Parliament Resolution

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September 28, 2005

"5. Calls on Turkey to recognise the Armenian genocide; considers this recognition to be a prerequisite for accession to the European Union;"

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Texts adopted by ParliamentWednesday 28 September 2005 - StrasbourgOpening of negotiations with TurkeyProvisional edition

P6_TA-PROV(2005)0350B6-0484, 0487, 0496, 0498, 0502 and 0505/2005

European Parliament resolution on the opening of negotiations with Turkey

The European Parliament,

-- having regard to its resolution of 15 December 2004 on the 2004 regular report and the recommendation of the Commission on Turkey's progress towards accession(1) and its previous resolutions on this subject adopted between 18 June 1987 and 15 December 2004,

-- having regard to its resolution of 6 July 2005 on the role of women in Turkey in social, economic and political life(2),

-- having regard to the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 17 December 2004,

-- having regard to the draft framework for the accession negotiations with Turkey, as presented by the Commission on 29 June 2005,

-- having regard to the decisions taken by the European Council on the start of the accession negotiations with Turkey,

-- having regard to its resolution of 21 April 2004 on Cyprus(3),

-- having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the Commission has concluded that Turkey has sufficiently fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria and has recommended that accession negotiations be opened,

B. whereas the European Council decided in 2002 that if Turkey fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria the European Union would open accession negotiations without delay,

C. whereas the European Parliament considered on 15 December 2004 that the opening of accession negotiations is to be recommended so long as it is agreed that in the first phase of the negotiations priority is given to the full implementation of the political criteria; that therefore the agenda of negotiations at ministerial level will start with the assessment of the fulfilment of the political criteria, especially in the area of human rights and full fundamental freedoms in both theory and practice, in the meantime opening up the opportunity to put other chapters on the agenda of the negotiations,

D. whereas on that occasion the European Parliament, whilst respecting the democratic will of the Greek Cypriot community, expressed its regret that it had not been able to reach a solution, and called on the Turkish authorities to maintain their constructive attitude in finding a settlement of the Cyprus question leading to an equitable solution, to be negotiated on the basis of the Annan plan and the principles upon which the EU is founded, and to effect an early withdrawal, pursuant to the relevant UN resolutions, of their forces in accordance with a specific timetable; whereas it expressed its belief that such a withdrawal of Turkish forces is a necessary step forward on the way to further easing tension, resuming dialogue between the parties and preparing for a lasting solution; whereas it called on the Turkish authorities to recognise the Republic of Cyprus; whereas it drew the attention of the Turkish authorities to the fact that the negotiations concerned are intergovernmental negotiations between Turkey on the one hand and the 25 Member States of the EU on the other, the Republic of Cyprus being one of those Member States; whereas it noted that the opening of negotiations obviously implies the recognition of Cyprus by Turkey,

E. whereas the European Parliament also invited the Turkish authorities to abolish all existing restrictions applying to ships flying the Cypriot flag and involved in trade relating to a Member State of the EU,

F. whereas the European Council concluded on 17 December 2004 that Turkey fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria sufficiently well to start the accession negotiations on 3 October 2005, provided that it brought into force six outstanding pieces of legislation and that it signed, in accordance with its own commitment, the protocol extending the Ankara Agreement to the ten new Member States, and whereas the European Union must abide by previous commitments,

G. whereas on 1 June 2005 Turkey brought into force the six outstanding pieces of legislation it was required to do,

H. whereas on 29 July 2005 Turkey signed the Protocol extending the Ankara Agreement to the ten new Member States but at the same time, along with the Protocol, released a statement saying that the signing, ratification and implementation of this protocol did not amount to any form of recognition of the Republic of Cyprus referred to in the Protocol,

I. whereas at the same time Turkey is continuing the embargo on vessels flying the Cypriot flag as well as vessels approaching from harbours in the Republic of Cyprus, denying them access to Turkish ports, and on Cypriot airplanes, denying them overflight rights and landing rights at Turkish airports,

J. whereas the Turkish authorities have also still not complied with demands regarding Armenian issues, as expressed by the European Parliament in its resolution of 18 June 1987(4),

K. whereas a democratic and economically stable Turkey would substantially benefit the whole of Europe,

L. whereas only by demonstrating readiness to embrace EU values through determined implementation and continued reform will Turkey be able to ensure the irreversibility of the process of reform and to gather the necessary support amongst the body of EU public opinion,

M. whereas the European Union's capacity to cope with enlargement is considered a prerequisite, as part of the Copenhagen criteria, and whereas, therefore, the European Union, for its part, must demonstrate that it is capable of political and institutional reform,

1. Notes that the Commission and the Council take the view that Turkey has formally fulfilled the last conditions for starting the accession negotiations on 3 October 2005, namely the bringing into force of the six outstanding pieces of legislation and the signing, in accordance with its own undertaking, of the protocol extending the Ankara Agreement to the ten new Member States; is of the opinion that, on these and other points, the implementation still has to be fulfilled;

2. Sincerely deplores the fact that Turkey has cast serious doubt on its willingness fully to implement all provisions of the Protocol by releasing at the same time, together with the Protocol, a statement saying that the signing, ratification and implementation of that Protocol does not amount to any form of recognition of the Republic of Cyprus referred to in the Protocol; reminds the Commission to provide Parliament with an answer from the Turkish Government as to whether the unilateral declaration is part of the ratification process in the Turkish Parliament;

3. Stresses that this unilateral declaration by Turkey does not form part of the Protocol and has no legal effect on Turkey's obligations under the Protocol, and should not be sent to the Grand National Assembly for ratification;

4. Reminds Turkey that by maintaining restrictions against vessels flying the Cypriot flag and vessels approaching from harbours in the Republic of Cyprus, in the form of denial of access to Turkish ports, and against Cypriot aircraft, by denying them overflight rights and landing rights at Turkish airports, Turkey is in breach of the Ankara Agreement and the related Customs Union irrespective of the Protocol, as this practice infringes the principle of the free movement of goods; calls, therefore, on Turkey fully to implement all the provisions of the Protocol;

5. Calls on Turkey to recognise the Armenian genocide; considers this recognition to be a prerequisite for accession to the European Union;

6. Calls on the Commission to make, by the end of 2006, a full assessment of the implementation of the extended Ankara Agreement, and stresses that failure in the implementation of this agreement will have serious implications for the negotiation process and could even lead to a halting of the negotiation process; demands, therefore, that the implementation of the Customs Union be amongst the first chapters to be dealt with in the accession negotiations in 2006;

7. Expresses once again, whilst respecting the democratic will of the Greek Cypriot community, its regret that it has not been able to reach a solution, and calls on the Turkish authorities to maintain their constructive attitude in finding a settlement of the Cyprus question leading to an equitable solution, to be negotiated on the basis of the Annan plan and the principles upon which the EU is founded, and to effect an early withdrawal, pursuant to the relevant UN resolutions, of their forces in accordance with a specific timetable; believes that such a withdrawal of Turkish forces is a necessary step forward on the way to further easing tension, resuming dialogue between the parties and preparing for a lasting solution; calls once again on all parties in Cyprus to resume the UN-led talks on a comprehensive settlement to the conflict;

8. Emphasises that a rapid normalisation of relations between Turkey and all EU Member States, including Turkey's recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, is a necessary component of the accession process; stresses that Turkey's recognition of the Republic of Cyprus can in no way be the subject of the negotiations; calls on the Turkish authorities to normalise relations between Turkey and all EU Member States and recognise the Republic of Cyprus as soon as possible, and stresses that failure to do so will have serious implications for the negotiation process and could even lead to a halting of the negotiation process;

9. Calls on the Council also to deliver on promises and to put an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community; calls on the Council, under the current UK Presidency, to make renewed efforts to reach agreement on the financial aid package and on trade facilitation regulations concerning the northern part of Cyprus in order that the EU honour its own commitments with respect to the Turkish Cypriot community; 10. Welcomes the adoption and entry into force on 1 June 2005 of six important pieces of legislation, a step which was established by the European Council in December 2004 as a condition for the opening of the negotiations; notes that concerns remain about certain elements of the laws adopted; is in particular concerned about the complaints made by the public prosecutor against Orhan Pamuk which are in breach of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and calls on the Turkish Government to guarantee freedom of opinion and to further reform the penal code with regard, in particular, to Article 301/1 thereof; also expresses its concern about Article 305 of the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalises 'acts against the fundamental national interest', and a regulation implementing the law on associations, which retains a number of restrictions, including a priori authorisation of foreign funding; notes that serious concerns also remain regarding the insufficient legal proposals regarding the functioning of religious communities (Law on Foundations);

11. Insists that the negotiating framework should reflect the political priorities referred to by the European Parliament in its various resolutions calling on Turkey to satisfy fully the following political criteria: stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for, and protection of, minorities; asks therefore for each session of the negotiations at ministerial level to be preceded by an assessment of the political criteria in

both theory and practice, thus exerting permanent pressure on the Turkish authorities to maintain the pace of the necessary reforms; considers, furthermore, that a full programme of clear targets, timeframes and deadlines should be fixed for the fulfilment of political criteria;

12. Calls on the Council to respect fully all elements of the framework for negotiations as laid down in the conclusions of the meeting of the European Council of 17 December 2004; emphasises in particular in this framework that the shared objective of the negotiations is accession, that these negotiations are an open-ended process, the outcome of which cannot be guaranteed in advance, and that, while taking account of all Copenhagen criteria, if the candidate State is not in a position to assume in full all the obligations of membership, it must be ensured that the candidate State concerned is fully anchored in the European structures through the strongest possible bond;

13. Calls on the Council and the Commission in this context to report annually to the European Parliament and the national parliaments of the EU Member States on the progress made by Turkey in fulfilling the political criteria, and to include in this report all verified cases of torture reported in that year and the number of Turkish asylum seekers accepted by the EU Member States during that year;

14. Urges the Commission, once the negotiations on the various chapters have started, to recommend, in the event of a serious and persistent breach of the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rights of minorities and the rule of law, and after consultation of the European Parliament, the suspension of negotiations, in line with the Treaty on European Union;

15. Notes that the budgetary impact of Turkey's accession to the EU can only be fully assessed once the parameters for the financial negotiations with Turkey have been defined in the context of the financial perspective from 2014 onwards; 16. Stresses that the Commission's recommendation to negotiate long transition periods, specific arrangements in areas such as structural policies and agriculture and permanent safeguards for the free movement of workers in the accession agreement should not have a negative impact on Turkey's efforts to align with the acquis;

17. Stresses that the opening of negotiations will be the starting point for a long-lasting process, which by its very nature is an open-ended process and does not lead 'a priori' and automatically to accession; emphasises, however, that the objective of the negotiations is Turkish EU membership, but that the realisation of this ambition will depend on the efforts of both sides; accession is thus not the automatic consequence of the start of the negotiations;

18. Emphasises that the Nice Treaty is not an acceptable basis for further decisions on the accession of any further new Member States and therefore insists that the necessary reforms be brought into force within the framework of the constitutional process;

19. Recalls that, in accordance with the conclusions of the Copenhagen European Council in 1993, the Union's capacity to absorb Turkey while maintaining the momentum of European integration is an important consideration in the general interest of both the Union and Turkey; supports the Commission in monitoring during the negotiations the Union's capacity to absorb Turkey, and therefore reminds the Commission of its demand, included in the last European Parliament resolution on Turkey's progress towards accession, adopted on 15 December 2004, to receive the follow-up to the impact study in 2005, which would provide useful information about this important aspect of the question;

20. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the President of the European Court of Human Rights and the Government and Parliament of Turkey.

Venezuela National Assembly Resolution

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July 14, 2005

The National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

President: Nicolas Maduro Moros

Resolution: Agreement by means of which this Assembly expresses to the Armenian people, to its government, and to the strong and growing Armenian-Venezuelan community the endorsement in its just and delayed humanitarian vindications

Official Gazette: No. 38.230 of 7/18/2005

Whereas

The first scientifically planned, organized and executed genocide in the history of humanity took place 90 years ago, perpetrated by the regime of the "Young Turks" and their ideology of "Panturkism", against the Armenian People, involving the extermination of almost two million people.

Whereas

Crimes of this nature must be denounced in order to prevent them from happening again, in order to restore to the victims their human and national rights and to condemn the perpetrators.

Whereas

This genocide deserves repudiation from the Turkish People and all the peoples of the world.

Whereas

The People and the State of Venezuela have continuously condemned terrorism and racial, ethnical, religious and political discrimination.

Whereas

The People and the State of Venezuela fight permanently against all types of terrorism, including State Terrorism.

Whereas

Due to political causes and interests, there is an ongoing attempt to change history through the negation of this genocide.

The National Assembly Resolves

First: To express to the Armenian People, to their government and to the strong Armenian-Venezuelan Community, support on their valid and delayed humanitarian aspirations of justice.

Second: To request the European Union to postpone Turkey's membership bid, until the recognition by Turkey of the Armenian Genocide.

Third: To designate a Committee in charge of delivering this resolution to the Armenian Parliament and to the Armenian Religious Authorities.

Fourth: To form the Parliamentary Group of Friendship to the Armenian People.

Given, signed, and sealed, in the Federal Legislative Palace, headquarters of the National Assembly, in Caracas, on the 14th day of the month of July of 2005. Year #195 of the Independence and 146th of the federation

Germany Parliament Resolution

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June 15, 2005

[English Translation from German]

German Bundestag Printed matter 15/5689 15th electoral period June 15, 2005

Motion by the parliamentary groups of SPD, CDU/CSU, BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN and FDPCommemorating the expulsion and massacre of the Armenians in 1915 -- Germany must make her contribution to the reconciliation between Turks and Armenians.

The Bundestag may resolve:

The German Bundestag honors and commemorates the victims of violence, murder and expulsion among the Armenian people before and during the First World War. The Bundestag deplores the deeds of the Young Turkish government in the Ottoman Empire which have resulted in the almost total annihilation of the Armenians in Anatolia. It also deplores the inglorious role played by the German Reich which, in spite of a wealth of information on the organized expulsion and annihilation of Armenians, has made no attempt to intervene and stop these atrocities.

The German Bundestag honors and commemorates the efforts made both by Turks and Germans who, working under difficult circumstances and conditions and against the resistance of their respective governments, have committed themselves in word and deed to saving Armenian women, men and children. It is particularly the memory and the work of Dr. Johannes Lepsius, who fought vigorously and effectively for the survival of the Armenian people, which is to be redeemed from oblivion and cherished and maintained to improve the relationship between the Armenian, the German and the Turkish people.

The German Bundestag is painfully aware from its own national experience how hard it is for every people to face the dark sides of its past. But it also believes that facing one's own history fairly and squarely is necessary and constitutes an important basis for reconciliation. This is true, in particular, within the European culture of remembrance to which belongs the open discussion of the dark sides of each national history.

Against this Background, the German Bundestag deplores the fact that a full discussion of these events of the past in the Ottoman Empire is still not possible today in Turkey and that scientists and writers who wish to deal with this aspect of Turkish history are being prosecuted and exposed to public defamation. However, the German Bundestag also sees positive signs that Turkey, to an ever-increasing degree, approaches this subject within the above European culture of remembering. Examples include:

- The Great Turkish Assembly has, for the first time, invited Turkish people of Armenian descent to discussions involving the crimes committed against the Armenians and the Turkish-Armenian relationship - A Turkish-Armenian women's dialog was held in Vienna - Initial contacts between Turkish and Armenian historians resulted in a first exchange of documents - Minister President Erdogan inaugurated Turkey's first Armenian museum in Istanbul with the

Armenian patriarch Mesrab and publicly suggested the establishment of a bilateral Turkish-Armenian panel of historians.

However, in this context, the German Bundestag perceives with great concern that the Armenian Conference of internationally renowned Turkish scientists, which was to be held in Istanbul from 25-27 May 2005, has been prevented by the Turkish Minister of Justice and that the positions taken by these scientists, which diverged from the government's opinion, were defamed as "a stab in the back of the Turkish nation". The proposal by Minister President Erdogan to set up a joint Turkish-Armenian commission of historians can only succeed if it is implemented on the basis of a free and public scientific discourse.

Germany, which has also made its contribution to the crimes against the Armenian people falling into oblivion, is now obliged to face her own responsibility. This responsibility involves supporting Turks and Armenians in seeking reconciliation and mutual understanding over the trenches of the past.

Both major churches in Germany, in particular, have for many years advocated the integration of the Armenians from Turkey. The Armenian communities which have settled here offer the opportunity of reconciliation and remembrance. Particularly in view of the large number of Turkish Muslims living in Germany, it is an important task to bring to mind the past and so to make the first steps toward reconciliation.

But dealing with these historical events also has an immediate significance for the present. Today, the normalization of the relations between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia is of paramount interest and importance for the future of the entire region. What is urgently needed is to establish trust-forming measures on both sides as defined in the OSCE principles. Turkey opening the borders to Armenia could, for instance, help to relieve Armenia's isolation and promote the taking up of diplomatic relations.

Due to its historic role in the Turkish-Armenian relations, Germany must assume a special responsibility as part of its neighborhood initiative of the EU. The aim must be to help normalize and improve the situation between Armenia and Turkey and so to help stabilize the Caucasus region.

One important contribution toward remembrance can be made by the German federal states. The duty of the information and education policy involves actions for facing the expulsion and annihilation of the Armenians as part of the whole history of ethnic conflicts in the 20th century, also in Germany.

The German Bundestag requests the Federal Government

- to help the Turks and Armenians to arrive at a settlement by remembering, reconciliation and forgiving historical guilt- to ensure that Parliament, Government and society in Turkey deal without reservation with their role in relation to the Armenian people in the past and in the present- to advocate the establishment of a commission of historians including Turkish, Armenian and international experts- to ensure that not only the archives of the Ottoman Empire on this issue are made accessible

to the general public, but also the copies of the German Foreign Office archives given by Germany to Turkey- to insist on the actual organization of the conference scheduled in Istanbul but postponed under governmental pressure- to press for freedom of opinion in Turkey, in particular with respect to the fate of the Armenians- to help Turkey and Armenia to normalize their interstate relationships.

Berlin, June 15, 2005

Franz Müntefering and parliamentary group Dr. Angela Merkel, Michael Glos and parliamentary group Katrin Göring-Eckardt, Krista Sager and parliamentary group Dr. Wolfgang Gerhard and parliamentary group

Reasons for the motion

Ninety years ago, on April 24, 1915, the Young Turkish movement controlling the Ottoman Empire ordered the Armenian cultural and political elite in Istanbul to be arrested, deported inland and for the most part murdered. This day has become the day of remembrance for Armenians throughout the world for the expulsion and massacre of the Armenian subjects of the Ottoman Empire which took place as early as the end of the 19th century and intensified during the First World War.

When the Ottoman Empire joined the war, the Armenian soldiers drafted into the Ottoman army were grouped into work battalions and most were murdered. Beginning in the spring of 1915, women, children and old people were sent on death marches through the Syrian desert. Those who had not died or been murdered on the way met this fate at the latest when they reached the inhuman camps in the desert near Deir ez Zôr. Massacres were also committed by units specially set up for this purpose. Resistance by high-ranking Turkish officials against this course of action, as well as criticism from the Ottoman parliament, was brutally suppressed by the Young Turkish regime. Many areas from which Christian Armenians had been expelled were later settled with Kurds and Muslin refugees from the Balkan wars. Members of other ethnic Christian groups, in particular Arameic/Assyrian and Chaldean Christians, but also certain Muslim minorities, were also affected by deportations and massacres.

According to independent estimates, more than 1 million Armenians fell victim to the deportations and mass murders. Many independent historians, parliaments and international organizations describe the expulsion and annihilation of the Armenians as genocide.

Until this day and contrary to the facts, the Turkish Republic as the legal successor of the Ottoman Empire denies that these atrocities had been well planned and organized and/or that the mass deaths during the resettlement treks and the massacres had been desired by the Ottoman government. The admitted severity of the actions against the Armenians has always been justified by the fact that many Armenians had fought on Russia's side against Turkey both in 1878 and in 1914/1915 and that there had supposedly been the danger that these Armenians would also have fallen into the back of the Ottoman Empire during WW I. Other Turkish defenses invoked the acts of violence committed by Armenians against Turks which occurred during the armed resistance to the Turkish resettlement measures. The terrorist

attacks by Armenians against Turks perpetrated right into the eighties of the twentieth century are also used as justification for the Turkish position.

In all, the true extent of the massacres and deportations is still belittled and largely disputed in Turkey today. This Turkish attitude stands in opposition to the idea of reconciliation which guides the common values of the European Union. Even today, historians in Turkey are not free in coming to terms with the history of deportations and murder of Armenians and, in spite of some relaxation in the previous criminal liability, still find themselves under great pressure.

The German Empire as the major military ally of the Ottoman Empire was also deeply involved in these events. Both the political and the military leadership of the German Empire had been aware of the persecution and murder of the Armenians right from the beginning. The files of the German Foreign Office resting on reports by the German embassy and consulates in the Ottoman Empire document the planned and organized execution of the massacres and deportations. In spite of urgent requests by many German personalities in science, politics and the churches, among these politicians like Philipp Scheidemann, Karl Liebknecht or Matthias Erzberger, and eminent persons of the protestant and catholic churches such as Adolf von Harnack and Lorenz Werthmann, the German Reich government failed to exert pressure on its Ottoman ally.

When the protestant theologian Dr. Johannes Lepsius presented the outcome of his research in Istanbul to the German Reichstag on October 5, 1915, the whole of the subject of the Armenians was censored by the German Reich government. In 1916, the German military censorship banned and confiscated Johannes Lepsius' "Report on the Situation of the Armenian People in Turkey". The copies of this documentation which Lepsius had sent directly to the delegates of the German Reichstag were intercepted by the authorities and not handed to the delegates until after the war in 1919.

This almost forgotten policy of repression by the German Reich demonstrates that this chapter of history still waits to be dealt with in a satisfactory manner here in Germany.

Argentina Senate Resolution

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April 20, 2005

Senate of the Nation

THE SENATE OF THE NATION DECLARES

1.Its tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide on the occasion of its commemoration on April 24, the 90th anniversary of the same, and to honor the commemorative acts that the Armenian Community of Argentina (ACA) will perform in our country during this April.

2. Its solidarity with the relatives of the victims of genocide committed against the Armenian people by the Turkish State between 1915 and 1923.

3. Its rejection of the systematic denial of the facts irrefutably documented by the authorities of several Turkish administrations.

4. Respects the active appreciation of the structure of international human rights law, as the resources of all humanity, for the exercise of memory and for the prevention of the repetition [of genocide].

GIVEN IN THE SESSIONS ROOM OF THE ARGENTINE SENATE, IN BUENOS AIRES, TO THE TWENTIETH DAY OF THE MONTH OF APRIL OF THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND FIVE.

Poland Parliament Resolution

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April 19, 2005

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Memo # 391819th April 2005

The Polish Parliament, on the basis of Art.33 of the rules of the Polish Parliament - after agreement with the Senior's MP Club, presents the draft of the following resolution:

On the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey during the 1st World War.

The resolution is motivated by the representative of the Presidium of the Polish Parliament.

SignedWladzimierz CimoszewiczParliament's President

Project

Resolution of the Polish ParliamentApril 19, 2005-07-13

Art 33 of the Sejm regulation

On the 90th anniversary of the genocide committed on the Armenians in Turkey during the 1st World War.

Sejm/Parliament/of the Republic of Poland pays its respects to the victims of the genocide committed on the Armenians in Turkey during the 1st World War.

The memory of the victims, the crime committed and the need to condemn it is a moral obligation for the whole of humanity, all nations and people of good will.

Netherlands Parliament Resolution

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December 21, 2004

The Second Chamber (House of Representatives) of the States General Assembly

Year 2004-200521 501-20 European Council

Nr. 270

MOTION OF THE MEMBER ROUVOET C.S.

Presented 21 December 2004

The Chamber,

on the advice of the deliberation,

Noting that the European Council, in the meeting on 16 and 17 December 2004 in Brussels, has decided the start of the accession negotiations with Turkey on 3 October 2005;

Noting that the European Council in its conclusion has settled that an intensive political and cultural dialogue will take place with Turkey, whereby civil society is also involved, in order to improve the reciprocal understanding by bringing together the people (conclusion 23);

Being of the opinion that herewith an honest acceptance of its own history of candidate member state is inextricably connected;

Asks the government within the framework of its dialogue with Turkey to continuously and expressly raise the recognition of the Armenian genocide;

and proceeds to the order of the day.

Slovakia National Council Resolution

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November 30, 2004

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PARLIAMENT [National Council} OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC III. The term

Number: 1754/2004

1341

RESOLUTION

OF THE PARLIAMENT OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC

11 November 2004

By MP František Miklošk on the draft opinion of the Slovak Republic on the opening of the European Union's accession negotiations with the Republic of Turkey (press 962)

Parliament of the Slovak Republic

Recognizes the Armenian genocide in 1915 during which hundreds of thousands of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire died. The Slovak Parliament considers this crime as a crime against humanity.

Pavol H r u š o s v ý v. r.

chairman

Of the Parliament of the Slovak Republic

Argentina Senate Declaration

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March 31, 2004

Bill Number: 571/04Type of Bill: DECLARACION

National SenateSecretary of ParliamentPublications Director

(S-0571/04)

Declaration

National Senate:

Declares:

1. -- In solidarity with the Armenian Community, the victims of the first genocide of the 20th century, to implement a new commemoration of the crime that ended the lives of more than 1.5 million Armenians by the Turkish State between the years 1915-1918.

2. -- To condemn all forms of human rights violations of people, and not to allow crimes against humanity to go unpunished.

Marcela F. Lescano - Diana Conti - Mario A. Losada -

Fundamentals

Mr. President:

After many years, this Honorable Body in accordance with the large number of parliaments including Uruguay, Brazil, France, Switzerland, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Bulgaria, Belgium, Russia, the European Parliament and many others, commemorate the date April 24, the beginning of the genocide against the Armenian People by the Turkish State in 1915.

Our Chamber has done this exercise every year since 1984, with the conviction that such an exercise of human rights to demand the end of impunity provides improvements in validating human rights. The silence, the denial, will cause genocide to happen again. The victims wait patiently for our voice--through of our actions as Legislators.

It is important to emphasize that the five conditions which were established in the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention, were analyzed and compared with the facts of the horror of the lives of these people. We have heard for several years, innumerable testimonies and recently, seen a large number of documentation about the cruel historical reality which has been released. Also a declaration was signed by 126 intellectuals and researchers of the Holocaust, including the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Elie Wiesel in the year 2000, that affirmed conclusively the fact of the extensive history of the Armenian Genocide and urged the democracies of the world to officially recognition it. We ask for, the endorsement of the present declaration.

Uruguay Law

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March 26, 2004

Day of Recognition for the Armenian Martyrs

Bill Number 17.752

Article 1-The day of April 24 is declared as the "Day of Recognition for the Armenian Martyrs" in homage to the victims of this national massacre in 1915.

Article 2-The National Broadcasting Service of Uruguay (SODRE), and also other radio and television services, have the duty on this date to allocate part of their programming to the recognition of this event.

The President of the Republic of Uruguay and the Secretary of the Press and Broadcastingunofficial translation

Argentina Law

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March 18, 2004

Project Number: 51/04

Project Type: BILL

National Senate

Secretary of Parliament

Directorate Publications

(S-0051/04)

BILL

The Senate and Chamber of Deputies...

Article 1 - Incorporate into school curriculum of the primary, secondary and university levels of the whole country, the theme referring to the Armenian Genocide, which should be developed at these levels by providing comprehensive information on what happened, as well as its dissemination and the strengthening, in the students, of linked values to peace, human dignity and human rights.

2nd Art. – Incrporate on the school calendar of primary, secondary and university levels across the country April 24 as the day to honor the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

3rd Art. - Communicate to the Executive.

Diana B. Conti.-

Mr. President

The bill that I submit to the consideration of my peers is part of an ideological line of strengthening values linked to the dignity of the person, justice and fundamental rights of the individual, in accordance with The precepts of international conventions and our proper legislation with respect to those rights.

Both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations as the basic code of coexistence of humanity, like the other instruments incorporated into our domestic law through paragraph 22 of article 75 of the Constitution, constitute the fundamental structure of international human rights law, a legal plexus that has become our axiological orientation with a view to the future, as well as recourse with which humanity counts to avoid relapse into collective mismanagement.

The genocide that the so-called "Young Turk regime" perpetrated in 1915 to the detriment of the Armenian people, as well as the mantle of silence that covered it for too long, challenge the conscience of humanity.

On that date, on 24 April, the authorities executed 2300 leaders of the Armenian community of Istanbul, without cause and for mere racial and religious prejudice, thus beginning the first genocide of the twentieth century.

However, the history of this criminal procedure goes back to the previous century. In effect, between 1894 and 1896 the repressive arm of the Ottoman Empire ordered procedures that cost the life to three hundred thousand Armenians. It was part of a national community that had organized to demand reforms that recognized their rights as a national minority.

But the persecution of state power in that part of the world did not stop there. In 1909 and shortly afterwards, during the First World War, the Turkish authorities proposed and achieved the systematic extermination of Armenians living in six provinces of Eastern Anatolia and Cilicia, completing these policies with the forced displacement of survivors, Thus exiled, they were deprived of their homes, goods and affects.

The historical truth - dug out by Armenians and investigators from other nationalities - sheds light on these unfortunate events and reveal that the Armenian genocide did not end in 1915 or 1918, as was once asserted, but continued after the first great conflagration.

Indeed, with the advent of Mustafa Kemal's power, the massacres of Armenians succeeded each other in a dismal record; The massacre of the city of Marash, at that time, whose prelude was the attack by the Kemalist forces on the French garrison stationed in the place, that yielded its positions and left the country, soon definitively determined that the Armenians, abandoned to their fate, were exterminated by the Turks.

Perhaps the final milestone in this history of intolerance was the heroic defense that the people made in 1920 of the brand new Republic of Armenia, which had been created in 1918, until it was finally sovietized.

With the fire of the city of Smyrna in 1922 and the death of Greeks and Armenians, this sad chapter closes in the millennial history of a people who do not abandon in their demand for justice.

The investigations of scholars and historical archives account for approximately 1,500,000 (one million five hundred thousand) victims of this extermination policy, which is the offense defined by the United Nations Convention on the Crime of Genocide 1948, which entered into force in 1951 and for which our country deposited the relevant instrument of ratification on 31 October 1963.

Although the Turkish government does not recognize these historical facts, the parliaments of our country and Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Russia, Sweden, Uruguay, as well as the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches have condemned the massacres of the Armenian population and characterized them as genocide. In the same vein, the National Assembly of Quebec, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and the Canadian Council of Churches have spoken.

Nor is it possible to ignore the fact that there is a large and socially active Armenian community in Argentina whose industriousness and values are expressed in its contributions to the cultural heritage of our country.

The sense of justice, deeply rooted in the culture and values of the Argentine people, could only be enervated if the indifference to the just yearning of these victimized people did not gave rise to collective memory. A genocide is undoubtedly a universal injustice and its etiology, nature and ways of preventing it and punishing it must be a constant concern of States.

The Armenian people and state demand that the truth be acknowledged, as well as the proper economic reparation, as an obligation that cannot be excused.

Finally, it should be noted that this project does not encourage any feeling of revenge or revenge against any member of the universal community of nations. It seeks only, for humanitarian reasons and with strict justice, to reaffirm the purpose of which facts of this nature should be denounced, thus avoiding painful relapses with a view to the future.

Taking into account the above arguments, it is necessary to incorporate the knowledge and dissemination of what happened to the Armenian people, in the period described, to the school curricula of all levels, as well as to institute April 24 as Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. This is so, inasmuch as these measures appear as the indicated resource to obtain the purposes of memorialization, diffusion and repair that have long been claimed.

Based on the above, I request from my peers the approval of this bill.

Argentina Senate Resolution

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August 20, 2003

Bill Number: 664/03

Type of Bill: Declaration

National Senate

Secretary of Parliament

Director of Publications

(S-664/03)

Declaration

The Honorable National Senate

It is declared

With deep sorrow we commemorate the 88th anniversary of the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians, perpetrated by the Turkish State between the years 1915 and 1923.

This is also a manifesto of much empathy repudiating the considerable crimes against humanity that are still unpunished.

Guillermo Raúl Jenefes.-

Reasons

Mr. President:

April 24 is the commemorative anniversary of the first genocide of the Twentieth Century committed by the Turkish government in a planned and premeditated way. 1.5 million Armenians were victims of the barbarity and the horror of the massacres and deportations by the hand of the Turks, who seized the lands and denied Armenians the right to live in their historic homeland.

The politics of destruction and the intent of total annihilation of a nation and the later fanaticism to erase the memory of the recent past--the Turkish Government went too far to try to convince the world of their innocence denying the genocide and the existence of the "Armenian Question".

Humankind did not monitor such dangers, and, together with indifference and oversight, this led to the repetition of genocidal acts. The international community is owed the admission of the responsibility of the perpetrators for what they have done, since it is an international crime of genocide and a violation of human rights.

The European Parliament, the United Nations Human Rights Commission and several countries have acknowledged the necessity of recognizing the Armenian Genocide, considering it an irrefutable, historical truth.

Mr. President, justice is the unique guarantee of human dignity; therefore I seek our equal the endorsement of the present bill.

Guillermo Raúl Jenefes.-

European Parliament Resolution

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February 28, 2002

"reiterates in this respect the position in its resolution of 18 June 1987 recognising the genocide upon Armenians in 1915 and calls upon Turkey to create a basis for reconciliation;"

"The recognition of the Armenian genocide by the European Parliament and by several Member States and the fact that the Turkish regime after the First World War had several of those responsible for the genocide severely punished ought to provide a basis for the EU to present constructive proposals to Turkey on the handling of the matter, e.g. by setting up a multicultural international committee of historians on the 1915 Armenian genocide."

EU relations with South Caucasus

Per GAHRTON (Greens/EFA, S)Report on the communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the European Union's relations with the South Caucasus, under the partnership and cooperation agreementsDoc.: A5-0028/2002Procedure : Consultation paperDebate : 27.02.2002Vote : 28.02.2002

Vote

MEPs approved a resolution calling on Council to develop a long-term common strategy with the countries of the South Caucasus following on from the partnership and cooperation agreements with Armenia, Azerbaidjan and Georgia, which entered into force on July 1999.

Noting the continuing political instability in the region, where efforts to settle disputes have failed to eliminate the danger of widespread conflict, as well as the acute humanitarian emergency, the resolution urges the Council to work as quickly as possible towards a common strategy over the long term in order to prevent violent conflict. It suggests that this framework could draw inspiration from the Stability Pact for the Balkans. Emphasis is placed on combating the smuggling of arms and drugs, environmental hazards, money laundering and trafficking in human beings.

There is a call for consideration to be given to appointing an EU special envoy to the South Caucasus.

MEPs call on the EU to encourage and give financial support to attempts at regional cooperation. The resolution nevertheless urges caution as regards the issuing of advice on economic matters.

At the same time, the resolution reminds the three countries of their obligations, as members of the Council of Europe, in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms and calls on them to take the measures needed to boost their efforts to fight corruption and promote the rule of law, media freedom and the free development of a civil society.

Parliament also wants the Armenian government to close down the Medzamor nuclear power station by 2004 as agreed.

Lastly, MEPs support close cooperation in economic and political areas with European institutions.

Press enquiries:Alexandre Stutzmann(Brussels) tel.(32-2) 28 43439e-mail : foreign-press@europarl.eu.int

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Session document

FINALA5-0028/2002

28 January 2002

REPORT

on the communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the European Union's relations with the South Caucasus, under the partnership and cooperation agreements (COM(1999) 272 -- C5?0116/1999 -- 1999/2119(COS)

Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy

Rapporteur: Per Gahrton

CONTENTS

PROCEDURAL PAGE

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

PROCEDURAL PAGE

By letter of 7 June 1999, the Commission forwarded to Parliament a communication on the European Union's relations with the South Caucasus, under the partnership and cooperation agreements (COM(1999) 272 -- 1999/2119(COS)).

At the sitting of 13 September 1999 the President of Parliament announced that she had referred the communication to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy as the committee responsible (C5?0116/1999).

The Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy appointed Per Gahrton rapporteur at its meeting of 23 September 1999.

The committee considered the Commission communication and the draft report at its meetings of 27 March and 3 December 2001 and 23 January 2002.

At the last meeting it adopted the motion for a resolution by 50 votes to 1, with 4 abstentions.

The following were present for the vote: Elmar Brok, chairman; Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, Geoffrey Van Orden and Christos Zacharakis, vice-chairmen; Per Gahrton, rapporteur; Ole Andreasen, Alexandros Baltas, Bastiaan Belder, André Brie, Michael Cashman (for Linda McAvan), Paul Coûteaux, John Walls Cushnahan, Véronique De Keyser, Andrew

Nicholas Duff (for Bob van den Bos), Olivier Dupuis (for Emma Bonino), Pere Esteve, Giovanni Claudio Fava (for Rosa M. Díez González), Jas Gawronski, Alfred Gomolka, Vasco Graça Moura (for José Pacheco Pereira), Marie Anne Isler Béguin (for Reinhold Messner), Joost Lagendijk, Catherine Lalumière, Alain Lamassoure, Armin Laschet, Jules Maaten (for Claudio Martelli), Hanja Maij-Weggen (for Gunilla Carlsson), Cecilia Malmström, Emilio Menéndez del Valle, Philippe Morillon, Pasqualina Napoletano, Raimon Obiols i Germà, Arie M. Oostlander, Reino Paasilinna (for Glyn Ford), Doris Pack (for Michael Gahler), Jacques F. Poos, Luís Queiró, Jannis Sakellariou, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Jacques Santer, Amalia Sartori, Ursula Schleicher (for Gerardo Galeote Quecedo pursuant to Rule 153(2)), Jürgen Schröder, Elisabeth Schroedter, Ioannis Souladakis, Ursula Stenzel, David Sumberg, Ilkka Suominen, Charles Tannock, Johan Van Hecke, Paavo Väyrynen, Demetrio Volcic, Karl von Wogau, Jan Marinus Wiersma, Matti Wuori.

The report was tabled on 28 January 2002.

The deadline for tabling amendments will be indicated in the draft agenda for the relevant part-session.

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

European Parliament resolution on the communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the European Union's relations with the South Caucasus, under the partnership and cooperation agreements (COM(1999) 272 -- C5?0116/1999 -- 1999/2119(COS))

The European Parliament,--having regard to the Commission communication on the European Union's relations with the South Caucasus, under the partnership and cooperation agreements (COM(1999) 272 -- C5?0116/1999),

--having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreements with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia,

--having regard to the Joint declaration of the European Union and the Republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, adopted in Luxembourg on 22 June 1999,

--having regard to the Council conclusions on South Caucasus of 27 February 2001 and subsequent statements in which the EU has declared its intention to reinforce its policy towards the South Caucasus,

--having regard to the Joint Communiqué issued after the meeting between the EU Troika and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in Luxembourg on 29 October 2001,

--having regard to the European Union Programme for the Prevention of Violent Conflicts, endorsed by the Gothenburg European Council,

--having regard to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, which is the only regional cooperation that includes the three countries of Southern Caucasus among its eleven member countries of the region,

--having regard to the recommendations adopted by the Parliamentary Cooperation

Committees EU - Armenia, EU - Azerbaijan and EU - Georgia,

--having regard to its resolution of 13 December 2000 on the implementation of the Common Strategy on Russia and in particular paragraph 41 thereof,

--having regard to its resolution of 13 December 2001 on the Commission communication on Conflict Prevention (COM(2001) 211 - C5-0458/2001),

--having regard to its earlier resolutions on developments in the South Caucasus,

--having regard to Rule 47(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

--having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (A5?0028/2002),

A.whereas the humanitarian and security situation in the entire Caucasus region calls for increased engagement by the EU, in cooperation with other actors at international level, including the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe,

B.whereas several armed conflicts have shaken the South Caucasus region, in particular the conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh and in Abkhasia, since the fall of the Soviet Union and these have led to flights of refugees and created break-away regions and territories, where serious crises are looming,

C.whereas some, but far from conclusive, progress has been achieved in attempts to resolve the conflicts; whereas despite very promising results during the Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations at Key West in April 2001, the follow-up talks planned for June 2001 in Geneva did not take place; whereas President Shevardnadze of Georgia has nominated a new negotiator for Abkhazia who seems to meet with approval in Georgia, Abkhazia and Russia; whereas the risk of fullscale wars involving the whole region still must be taken seriously,

D. whereas comprehensive international involvement is necessary in efforts to resolve conflicts and stabilise the region, both because outside powers de facto play important roles, which must be brought fully in line with these objectives, and because of the scale and type of the resources that need to be mobilised,

E.whereas mutual confidence in this region is essential as a primary basis for further cooperation and stabilisation,

F.whereas the peaceful resolution of all conflicts in the region is a precondition for the development of an effective framework for regional geopolitical stability, cooperation, the consolidation of democratic state structures and sustainable economic development,

G.whereas the extraction and transport of energy resources in and close to the region is the major geopolitical factor and must be organised in a way that benefits peaceful relations and cooperation between all concerned states; whereas it should also be ensured that the potential of these activities to foster a general economic upturn is harnessed and that this will serve the populations in their entirety,

H.whereas the EU should continue to play as much as possible an effective and constructive role in these regards, through its political dialogue with all relevant states, as a commercial partner and also as a provider of assistance, which since independence amounts to grant-

based aid of €286.13 million to Armenia, 333.90 million to Azerbaijan and 301.28 million to Georgia,

I.whereas considerable improvements are needed for the proper functioning of the democratic process in the states of the Southern Caucasus and for the practice of European standards of governance, of universal standards in respecting human rights and of civilised norms in promoting a free and independent media, components of civic society which, ten years after independence from the Soviet Union, fall short of what is required of states which are members of the Council of Europe,

J.whereas, in addition to these reasons for the EU to conduct an active policy, the need to address 'soft security' problems, such as the smuggling of arms and drugs, money laundering and trafficking of human beings and environmental hazards, like the Medzamor nuclear power plant situated in an earthquake region in Armenia, should also be seen as an important motive,

K.whereas the countries of South Caucasus expressed repeatedly their wish for a much more active EU role in the region and there should be a response to their desire to become deeper integrated in Europe,

L.whereas it is precisely the countries of the South Caucasus that could assume a key role as a bridge between Asia and Europe at the extreme edge of Europe after enlargement of the European Union,

M. whereas the EU is well placed to serve as a mediator, but only the countries of the South Caucasus themselves can take the courageous and decisive steps necessary to secure for themselves a brighter future,

N.whereas the approach to the complex web of conflicts and tensions in South Caucasus must comprise restabilisation of the entire region, given that the North Caucasus is a dangerous region of crisis and conflict in Russia and is for the time being largely inaccessible to international political involvement (i.e. OSCE, UN, EU); this being so, the EU definitely should promote and provide financial support for regional cooperation efforts between North-South and East-West,

1.Calls on the Council to work on comprehensive and long-term Common Strategies for the countries of the Caucasus and to implement them as swiftly as possible, and on the Commission to start preparing differentiated proposals;

2. Considers that these Common Strategies should be clearly focused, in line with the Council's conclusions on the Common Strategy instrument of 27 February 2000, notably on prevention of violent conflicts and the promotion of a framework for security and cooperation, both between the three countries of the region and between them and neighbouring countries;

3. Considers that this framework could draw lessons from the experience of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe and that it should facilitate the reestablishment of cross-border contacts between individuals, organisations, institutions and enterprises and enhance respect for the rights of minorities;

4. Takes the view that this Stability Pact definitely must be accompanied by specific measures to combat the illegal transfer of small arms and handguns and that the EU should develop and provide financial backing for initiatives and programmes to this end;

5. Proposes a Conference of the three states of the Southern Caucasus and the European Union in order to draw up a strategy for regional cooperation which promotes peace, human rights, democracy, social cultural development, economic growth and cooperation on shared environmental problems;

6. Reiterates to the Council its call for consideration of the possibility of appointing a EU Special Envoy for the South Caucasus who operates on behalf of the Council and Commission so as to increase the effectiveness of the EU's action in the region and contribute to the peaceful solution of ongoing conflicts, in collaboration with the UN and OSCE;

7. Believes that approaches to certain territorial disputes that seek to bridge the conflict-provoking polarisation between sovereignty and non-sovereignty should be encouraged;

8.Calls on the Council and the Commission to fully implement the EU Programme for the Prevention of Violent Conflicts in relation to South Caucasus; considers that the civilian peace corps in the framework of the Rapid Reaction Mechanism of the European Commission recommended by Parliament could help build confidence between different ethnic groups;

9. Notes that the EU has declared itself ready to enhance its contribution to conflict prevention and post-conflict rehabilitation, in the light of developments ; reminds the Commission and the Council of the necessity to see to that they have adequate resources available for this;

10. Recommends the Council to focus its political dialogue with the countries of South Caucasus on conflict resolution, the refugee question, regional cooperation, reconstruction, human rights, democracy and environment; calls for caution as regards the provision of advice on economic issues, bearing in mind the experience of privatisation in central and eastern Europe and its socio-economic consequences;

11. Proposes that the Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (PCA) with these countries be brought into line with each other in order to create a coordinated approach on the part of the EU on advisory and technical services and economic and administrative support; this alignment can lead to an institutional structure for co-ordination in the South Caucasus;

12. Reiterates its demand that Commission Delegations are opened in Armenia and Azerbaijan;

13. Reminds Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia of the obligations they have accepted by acceding to the Council of Europe and invites the three countries to respect these obligations, in particular in the area of human rights, including freedom of the media, religious freedom and respect for private life;

14.Reminds Armenia and Azerbaijan of their undertaking, made in the same context, to step up their efforts to find a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and related issues with the mediation of the Minsk Group; calls for the constructive engagement of the authorities in Stepankert in the peace process, and for them to refrain from all measures that might prejudice a future solution; calls upon Armenia to refrain from all measures in the occupied Azeri territories that might be interpreted as aiming at making the Armenian control permanent;

15.Calls on the neighbouring countries Russia, Iran and Turkey to contribute constructively to the peaceful development of the South Caucasus Region; in this respect especially calls upon Russia to fulfil commitments to downgrade its military presence and calls upon Turkey to take appropriate steps in accordance with its European ambitions, especially concerning the

termination of the blockade against Armenia; reiterates in this respect the position in its resolution of 18 June 1987 recognising the genocide upon Armenians 1915 and calls upon Turkey to create a basis for reconciliation;

16.Points to the still remaining devastating influence that corruption and major weaknesses in the rule of law have on political stability as well as on social and economic development prospects, including the capacity to attract foreign investment; however, recognises the different degrees of these problems in the three countries;

17. Underlines the importance of the existing European endeavour to reform and improve economic and political structures in the Southern Caucasus and asks priority for support in the field of internal security, establishment of the rule of law and border control;

18. Underlines that safeguarding the freedom of the media and allowing civil society to develop freely are not only necessary in order to respect democratic rights, but are also of vital importance for successful development of society in other regards;

19.Encourages initiatives for regional cooperation, especially the Black Sea Economic Cooperation; calls on the Commission to study possibilities of facilitating entry into the EU market of products from the region, drawing inspiration from the asymmetric trade preferences given to the countries of the Western Balkans;

20. Calls for a conference on investment and economic development in the Southern Caucasus by European institutions engaged in the region and in cooperation with banks and firms in the European Union with special emphasis on energy;

21. Calls on the Commission and Member States to elaborate proposals on increased cooperation in the cultural area and in education and science with the aim of halting the continuing brain drain and promoting citizenship based on tolerance;

22.Warmly appreciates and supports the aspiration of the countries of the region to belong to Europe and to cooperate closely in the economic, political and other fields with European institutions and organisations, including the European Union;

23. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Governments of the Member States, the Governments of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, the Governments of Russia, Turkey and the other member states of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the Governments of Iran and the USA.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Introduction: the calm before the storm?

The three countries of the southern Caucasus, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia have traditionally been bound by strong economic, social and cultural ties and, during the Soviet era, formed what was de facto a single region (albeit one where significant conflicts were suppressed). Today, the region is fragmented by border blockades, disconnected rail links, ethnic conflicts and the formation of breakaway territories. Democratic politicians and grassroots movements are waging an uneven battle against local clans and mafias and with outside economic and strategic interests. The risk of ethnic and territorial conflicts, both old (in South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Abkhazia) and new (in Adzharia, Meskhet-Yavakheti, Nakhichevan, the Lezghins etc.) flaring up again is great.

The Soviet planned economy has only partly been replaced by a normal market economy. Instead, as most political players acknowledge, widespread corruption flourishes, based on clan loyalties and mafia domination. All three countries have been affected by large-scale emigration, in particular Armenia, where estimates for the number of emigrants is put at between just under a million (government representatives) and about two million (human rights organisations and diplomats) of the country's official population of 3.7 m. Armenia won a war but seems to be in the process of losing the cease-fire, owing to the blockade imposed by Turkey and Azerbaijan. On the other hand, Azerbaijan has about a million internal refugees, and roughly a fifth of its territory is occupied by Armenian troops, which detracts from favourable economic factors (e.g. oil reserves). Georgia is in dispute with Russia on several fronts: military bases, energy supplies, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and the border with Chechnya. Russia has unilaterally introduced visa requirements (but not for South Ossetia or Abkhazia).

All three countries are multi-party democracies, but nowhere does democracy function perfectly. Their governments are accused by opposition parties of electoral fraud and human rights violations, and such accusations are to some extent borne out by international observers and local human rights organisations. The entire region is characterised by traditional male-domination which means that women do not occupy a prominent place in society, although this is not always so in Georgia.

The Russian influence is obvious, especially because of the close geographical, economic, cultural, ethnic and historical links between the southern Caucasus and adjacent parts of the Russian Federation. Russian is used as a lingua franca. Most south Caucasians who leave their home countries head for Russia. Few wish to break off relations with Russia, though sentiments range from Armenia's wish to have Russian military bases as protection against Turkey, through Azerbaijan's more relaxed stance, reinforced by the absence of Russian military bases, which fluctuates between thoughts of joining NATO and receiving a state visit from President Putin of Russia, to Georgia's conviction that Russian superpower manoeuvring is behind all the attempts to form breakaway states.

Geographical factors and the conflict situation also make Iran and Turkey important either as protagonists or as antagonists: Turkey supports Azerbaijan and thus poses a threat to Armenia; Iran provides Armenia with a way round the blockade and acts as a brake on any plans Baku might have for a Greater Azerbaijan including the millions of Azeris living in Iran. Another piece in the jigsaw is the US desire to get into this oil-rich region and build pipelines and transport links in an attempt to bypass Russia and its protégé, Armenia, and strengthen its own NATO ally, Turkey.

All in all, there is a major risk that the southern Caucasus's absence from world media headlines could be a case of 'the calm before the storm'. Under the seductive veneer of hospitality, high ambitions, idealistic hopes for the future and distinguished links with ancient cultures, no objective observer can fail to see serious social, economic and political crises. Several trouble spots are smouldering away and could flare up and produce fresh armed conflicts. The 'hangover' from de-sovietisation is far from over.

There is an obvious risk that the southern Caucasus could become the scene of conflicts between opposing superpower ambitions and foreign commercial interests, and there is a pressing need for democratic forces to provide help without pursuing their own interests.

Reasons for a special EU strategy for South Caucasus Within the European Union there is a growing awareness of the need to take a much greater interest in the southern Caucasus. In

December 2000, the European Parliament called on the Commission to draw up a coherent 'south-eastern dimension' policy for the Caucasus. It is stated in the conclusions adopted by the Council on 27 February following a visit by the EU troika to the three countries of the southern Caucasus that the European Union wishes to play a more active political role in the region - and these words must be translated into practice. Moreover, the meagre financial resources the European Union sets aside for the southern Caucasus were recently cited by the Council as an example of the geographical imbalances in EU expenditure in the sphere of external relations.

The region's importance warrants the adoption of a common strategy by the Union. Owing to the high degree of interdependence between the countries of the southern Caucasus, Russia and other countries bordering the Caspian Sea, the common strategy should be supplemented with a coherent policy for the wider region, i.e. a 'south-eastern dimension'.

The Union's interest in the southern Caucasus cannot of course be about pursuing ambitions concerned with military strategy or attempts to control other countries' natural resources and economic systems. There are, however, a number of legitimate reasons why the Union should have a common strategy for the southern Caucasus:

1. Peace. The region is a powder keg, so there is a need for innovative plans, and external pressure, for establishing a regional security structure. Although the OSCE (which is already in situ) is most likely to be the most appropriate body to oversee such activities, there are nevertheless a number of possible roles for the Union's non-military conflict-solving mechanisms. Joint OSCE-EU measures for controlling the border with the northern Caucasus, which are now under discussion, could be an appropriate component of further OSCE-EU cooperation.

2. Humanitarian grounds. Large sections of the region's population are living under the poverty line of USD 1 per day. There are thus strong grounds for providing development aid on purely humanitarian grounds.

3. Co-responsibility. The catastrophic developments in the region during the 1990s were not entirely self-inflicted. Social and economic collapse was closely linked to the so-called shock therapy. Several politicians in key positions in the region are now openly saying that the liberalisation policies were pursued too rapidly and accusing the World Bank, the IMF and other western agencies of giving bad advice. A study by the Centre for European Policy Studies describes the disastrous economic developments in the three countries during the 1990s as 'partly a result of liberalisation...caused by transition to a free market system'. Since the Union is a key player in the West's financial institutions, the EU may be said to have a certain co-responsibility that would warrant specific action to ensure a democratic, equitable and sustainable model of development in the southern Caucasus.

4. Democracy. Despite serious problems, there is a basis for the continued development of democracy in all three countries. An active civil society is evolving, in particular in Georgia. There is also a strong desire amongst the political elite to gain credit from the rest of the world for democratic conduct.

5. Trade. There is an obvious risk that the abundant fossil energy sources will create a Klondyke situation in which clans, mafias and foreign interests, in the absence of a stable peace and a properly functioning legal system, grab the natural resources without the large majority of the population deriving any benefit from them. In this regard, the Union could, by helping to ensure fair trade and clear ground rules, act as 'counsel' for the southern Caucasus

in the international scramble for natural resources.

6. Environment. The environmental situation in the southern Caucasus is alarming in some respects and causes cross-border problems in a number of cases, e.g. pollution of the Caspian and Black Seas. Of particular cause for concern is the Medzamor nuclear power station in an earthquake zone in Armenia, which the Union is demanding be closed by 2004 at the latest. If this is to be possible, alternative energy sources must be found, and these are something the Union should be able help develop on the basis of its own positive experiences of various forms of solar energy.

7. Ambitions. Very strong requests have been made by practically all players in the region for the European Union to become more involved than in the past. The Union is felt to be more impartial than other outside bodies. Moreover, the southern Caucasus is regarded as being part of Europe, something which has been confirmed by the three countries' membership of the Council of Europe.

What has the European Union done so far?

The three partnership and cooperation agreements between the European Union and Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia respectively entered into force on 1 July 1999. In a joint declaration by the three countries' presidents in Luxembourg on 22 June 1999, it was stated that 'the Partnership and Cooperation Agreements are intended to facilitate the gradual rapprochement of the South Caucasus Republics to a wider area of cooperation in Europe and neighbouring region'.

In 1995, the Commission adopted its initial communication on EU strategy for relations with the Tran Caucasian Republics (COM(1995) 205 - C4-0242/1996), containing proposals for a coordinated strategy for helping the three newly independent Tran Caucasian states with their transition to democracy and a market economy. In a resolution of 17 January 1997, the European Parliament, on the basis of a report by Mrs Carrèrre d'Encausse (A4-0279/1996) stated that the objective of the EU strategy should be to (a) consolidate the independence of the three States concerned; (b) work towards finding a negotiated solution to the political crises which affect the Caucasus... and taking account of possible interaction between various potential trouble spots; (c) promote democracy and civil society in the three States; (d) encourage the economic development of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia within the framework of a social market economy and respect for the environment.

The Commission's latest communication 'The European Union's relations with the South Caucasus under the Partnership and Cooperation Agreements' (COM(1999) 272) contains a follow-up to the developments in the region and a situation report on EU economic and humanitarian aid, food aid and possible advantages of implementing the agreements entered into.

The Commission communication states that, from the time the countries became independent until the end of 1998, the European Union provided EUR 845 m in grant aid (Inogate and Traceca not included), which was mainly in the form of emergency aid, food aid and rehabilitation aid in the conflict zones. A Centre for European Policy and Law has been set up under Tacis in order to foster implementation of international agreements, the strengthening of democratic institutions and regional cooperation. Moreover, partly as a result of the Green delegation's talks with President Aliyev, it has been possible to open an EU-funded Regional Environment Centre in Tbilisi.

What should the European Union do?

Peace: The South Caucasian Community The many conflicts of a political, ethnic and territorial nature have reached deadlock (though there are hopeful signs in the case of South Ossetia). None of the three breakaway regions, South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh, seem to be prepared to give up their demands for sovereignty. Neither of the two countries concerned, Azerbaijan and Georgia, is prepared to go further than a certain amount of self-government. Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh in particular reject any form of subordination to Tbilisi and Baku respectively. A traditional federal structure, with regional autonomy under a joint central government is rejected categorically in Sukhumi and Stepanakert. It may also be asked why the Soviet administrative hierarchy is to be allowed to decide which former Soviet territories are to be granted sovereignty by the international community, and which will not have that right. The compromise proposed is described by the term 'common state', but this is rejected by Tbilisi and Baku. What it is supposed to mean is not clear. President Kocharian, for instance, considers it self-evident that there should not be any common government for Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh in a common state. Nevertheless, there would be only one state representing them internationally (in the UN, OSCE etc). How that is to be organised is not clear.

The war has also created new ethnic and territorial realities. The three breakaway republics, but in particular Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh, have become ethnically homogeneous as a result of ethnic cleansing which has removed their Georgian and Azeri populations. Nagorno-Karabakh has also in practice annexed and 'Armenianised' the Lachin district and regards it, along with other Armenian-controlled, though formerly entirely Azeri, areas as being an integral part of its republic. Some of the parties involved speak of practical arrangements, e.g. leasing of rural areas/corridors for a fixed period or 'secure' routes. The 'winners' i.e. the breakaway republics and their backers (Russia and Armenia) are proposing 'pragmatic' solutions, for instance that communications (e.g. the Baku-Yerevan railway) be opened before a final peace settlement is reached, but the 'losers' (in particular the government in Baku) fears that this would deprive them of a means to exert pressure. The step-by-step method seems to be difficult to apply successfully without at least some idea of how things are meant to look in the end.

The conflict between certain regions' demands for sovereignty and the stiff opposition of the countries concerned, and of the international community, to 'separatism', can by resolved only within the context of cooperation based on the gradual development of cross-border contacts between individuals, organisations, institutions and businesses, and only if the administrative borders become less significant and the differences between the various tiers of administration are minimised. Within the European Union, there is a long list of concrete examples of structures which foster such cooperation (e.g. in Spain, the UK, Belgium, Italy, Ireland/Northern Ireland, etc).

The example with which the rapporteur is most familiar is that of the Nordic countries, in which five sovereign States, i.e. Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland (with various forms of trade and security ties) and three autonomous territories (Faeroe Islands, Greenland and the Åland Islands), and, to a certain extent, one nation without a precisely demarcated territory (the Sami), work together in the framework of a structure providing for wide-ranging cooperation, which has long included a common labour market, cross-border movement without the requirement for passports, a council of ministers and a parliamentary assembly, as well as a further fifty or so institutions fostering cooperation in different fields. Taken together, this has created an informal 'Nordic citizenship', which has rendered administrative borders less significant whilst giving all peoples and linguistic groups a certain amount of self-

determination.

The European Union ought to be able to take concrete steps to pass on knowledge of different models of regional cooperation that might be suitable for the southern Caucasus and help resolve the conflict-causing polarisation between sovereignty and non-sovereignty. The end result could be a South Caucasian Community.

The Union should also persist in its attempt to get specific regional projects underway, especially in the field of communications, including the projects referred to in the Commission communication: the Baku-Nakhichevan and Yerevan-Yulfa railways, a fibre-optic telecommunications network along the main rail axes, improved communications between Georgia and Russia. In spite of serious political problems (e.g. Armenia's reluctance to withdraw its troops from the southern railway, which Azerbaijan regards as a minimum step), the success of the Regional Environment Centre in Tblisi shows that projects in which all three countries cooperate, through EU mediation, can in fact get off the ground before the conflicts are finally resolved.

South Caucasus could be an arena for EU non-military conflict settlement measures. In particular, the civil peace corps advocated by the European Parliament could play a big part in overcoming the substantial mistrust that exists between the various ethnic groups, some of which will alas persist beyond eventual peace settlements. The Union should also help ensure strict arms controls and gradual, negotiated disarmament, possibly in the context of non-aligned arrangements.

An enlarged area of cooperation: Black Sea-Caucasus-Caspian Sea The substantial oil and gas deposits around the Caspian Sea are a long way from their main markets, which has resulted in the construction or planning of an extensive network of pipelines and other transport systems which pass partly or in their entirety through the countries of the southern Caucasus. Many people, including President Shevardnadze, talk optimistically of a new 'silk route' for transporting natural resources from Asia to Europe. Owing to unresolved conflicts and power politics, not all projects have been drawn up in the best way, and could instead in some cases exacerbate rather than mitigate conflicts. The Union's role in this 'big match' should primarily be to help bring about economically fair diversity so that all parts of the region reap the economic rewards and environmental risks, such as are caused by oil tankers in the Bosporus, are prevented.

Instead of a situation where different routes for pipelines etc. are proposed on the basis of power politics, it would of course be ideal if transport links were planned jointly with the involvement of all interested parties, e.g. in the context of enlarged Black Sea-Caucasus-Caspian Sea cooperation (the Black Sea-Caucasus-Caspian Political Forum) sponsored by the Black Sea Economic Council, in which the Union, by virtue of its enlargement to include a number of Black Sea countries, will automatically become involved. The need to safeguard diversity is further highlighted by recent reports that the US-sponsored Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (Turkish Mediterranean coast) oil pipeline project is rapidly gaining support. The choice of this route is obviously motivated by a desire to avoid crossing Armenian, Iranian or Russian territory. A reasonable overall solution to the pipeline issue cannot, however, have as a basis the objective of excluding certain countries, but should help to foster cooperation and integration. Besides, the availability of a number of alternative transport routes increases the security of supply to countries both inside and outside the region that are dependent on the transported resources.

Since Iran, Turkey and Russia are key players in the region, the European Union must help

ensure that they are involved constructively in such cooperation in a way which promotes peace, democracy and environmentally sustainable and socially just economic development. It is probably alas practically impossible to avoid intervention by the world power USA in the region's affairs. But the European Union's goal must be to seek to strengthen the three southern Caucasian states' genuine independence and counteract any form of 'neo-colonialism'.

As far as Russia is concerned, a southern variant of the northern dimension (Baltic Sea and Barents Sea) could be a good move. The northern Caucasus has obvious interests in common with the southern Caucasus. National borders must not be allowed, either now or in the future, to become a new iron curtain between Russia and the southern Caucasus. A south-eastern dimension, however, implies reciprocal efforts, which means for instance that Russia must act in compliance with human rights standards in Chechnya and refrain from acting in a way which destabilises neighbouring countries, e.g. Georgia (like cutting off energy supplies, unilaterally requiring entry visas except for breakaway regions).

Iran's significance in the region is one of many reasons for the Union to adopt a more independent policy towards the country, without looking over its shoulders to see what the USA is doing. Recently, Russia and Iran have moved rapidly closer towards each other on security policy (especially as a result of new arms deals) and, to a certain extent, as regards the allocation of the Caspian Sea oil reserves. There is every reason for preventing a situation in which Iran is committed solely to a Russo-Iranian axis, but excluded from efforts to find lasting multilateral solutions to problems in the region.

Turkey's status as a candidate for membership of the European Union presents the Union with special opportunities and reasons to help ensure increased Turkish flexibility as regards conflicts in the region, especially in relation to Armenia; this is true with regard both to the closed borders and to the stance on the 1915 genocide. The recognition of the Armenian genocide by the European Parliament and by several Member States and the fact that the Turkish regime after the First World War had several of those responsible for the genocide severely punished ought to provide a basis for the EU to present constructive proposals to Turkey on the handling of the matter, e.g. by setting up an multilateral international committee of historians on the 1915 Armenian genocide.

On the way to EU membership There exists amongst the political leaders of the three south Caucasian countries, as within the leadership of most opposition parties and grassroots movements, a strong feeling of European identity and a desire to become full members of the European Union in future. Work is already under way on aligning legislation with EU legislation, in particular in Georgia. It is not known how strong popular support for joining the European Union is. Nevertheless, it is important that the European Union states clearly that Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia are potential candidates for EU membership.

Specific EU aid and other programs in the southern Caucasus are extremely well received by the responsible politicians. Open criticism of EU conduct is unusual, although it has happened at interparliamentary meetings that the south Caucasian parties have refused to accept certain EU proposals that were felt to constitute excessive interference in their national integrity. In private, stronger criticism is voiced of the one-sidedness in the flow of advice and observations. The Union should do more, e.g. by organising south Caucasian cultural events in Member States, encouraging south Caucasians to comment on developments in the European Union, etc., to help create greater reciprocity and equality. The Union should also concentrate its political advice mainly on solving conflicts, on the environment, on democracy and on human rights. Economic and social developments in these countries are obviously relevant to

the attempts to achieve peace and stability, to the Union's attempt to improve living conditions by providing aid and to the opportunities for attracting desirable investments, in particular from businesses in the Union. It therefore stands to reason that economic and social issues should be part of the cooperation agenda for the partnership agreements with each one of the countries. In the political dialogue on economic issues and in all other respects, the Union must, however, carefully avoid making these countries take hasty decisions on privatisation or other 'shock therapy'-type measures of the kind that has already inflicted such great damage in most of the countries of the former Soviet Union. As far as trade policy is concerned, there are grounds for considering whether the Union should not regard the countries of the southern Caucasus as being amongst the least developed countries, so that they would then be covered by the 'everything-but-arms' policy.

It is also high time that the EU presence in Yerevan and Baku was upgraded so that they have the same status as the EU representation in Tblisi.

Stability Pact for the Caucasus Taken together, the above and other measures could result in a Stability Pact for the Caucasus, a term which is increasingly frequently used both by research institutes and by the political circles concerned, albeit without it always being clear what the precise substance of such a pact would be.

Canada Senate Resolution

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June 13, 2002

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Debates of the Senate (Hansard)

1st Session, 37th Parliament,Volume 139, Issue 124

Thursday, June 13, 2002

That this House calls upon the Government of Canada:

(a) to recognize the genocide of the Armenians and to condemn any attempt to deny or distort a historical truth as being anything less than genocide, a crime against humanity, and

(b) to designate April 24th of every year hereafter throughout Canada as a day of remembrance of the 1.5 million Armenians who fell victim to the first genocide of the twentieth century.

Common Declaration of His Holiness John Paul II and His Holiness Karekin II at Holy Etchmiadzin, Republic of Armenia

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September 27, 2001

COMMON DECLARATION

OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II

AND HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II

AT HOLY ETCHMIADZIN, REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

The celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the religion of Armenia has brought us together -- John Paul II, Bishop of Rome and Pastor of the Catholic Church, and Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians -- and we thank God for giving us this joyous opportunity to join again in common prayer, in praise of his all-holy Name. Blessed be the Holy Trinity -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- now and for ever.

As we commemorate this wondrous event, we remember with reverence, gratitude and love the great confessor of our Lord Jesus Christ, Saint Gregory the Illuminator, as well as his collaborators and successors. They enlightened not only the people of Armenia but also others in the neighbouring countries of the Caucasus. Thanks to their witness, dedication and

example, the Armenian people in A. D. 301 were bathed in the divine light and earnestly turned to Christ as the Truth, the Life, and the Way to salvation.

They worshipped God as their Father, professed Christ as their Lord and invoked the Holy Spirit as their Sanctifier; they loved the apostolic universal Church as their Mother. Christ's supreme commandment, to love God above all and our neighbour as ourselves, became a way of life for the Armenians of old. Endowed with great faith, they chose to bear witness to the Truth and accept death when necessary, in order to share eternal life. Martyrdom for the love of Christ thus became a great legacy of many generations of Armenians. The most valuable treasure that one generation could bequeath to the next was fidelity to the Gospel, so that, with the grace of the Holy Spirit, the young would become as resolute as their ancestors in bearing witness to the Truth. The extermination of a million and a half Armenian Christians, in what is generally referred to as the first genocide of the twentieth century, and the subsequent annihilation of thousands under the former totalitarian regime are tragedies that still live in the memory of the present-day generation. These innocents who were butchered in vain are not canonized, but many among them were certainly confessors and martyrs for the name of Christ. We pray for the repose of their souls, and urge the faithful never to lose sight of the meaning of their sacrifice. We thank God for the fact that Christianity in Armenia has survived the adversities of the past seventeen centuries, and that the Armenian Church is now free to carry out her mission of proclaiming the Good News in the modern Republic of Armenia and in many areas near and far where Armenian communities are present.

Armenia is again a free country, as in the early days of King Tiridates and Saint Gregory the Illuminator. Over the past ten years, the right of citizens in the burgeoning Republic to worship and practise their religion in freedom has been recognized. In Armenia and in the diaspora, new Armenian institutions have been established, churches have been built, associations and schools have been founded. In all of this we acknowledge the loving hand of God. For he has made his miracles visible in the continuing history of a small nation, which has preserved its particular identity thanks to its Christian faith. Because of their faith and their Church, the Armenian people have developed a unique Christian culture, which is indeed a most valuable contribution to the treasury of Christianity as a whole.

The example of Christian Armenia testifies that faith in Christ brings hope to every human situation, no matter how difficult. We pray that the saving light of Christian faith may shine on both the weak and the strong, on both the developed and developing nations of this world. Particularly today, the complexities and challenges of the international situation require a choice between good and evil, darkness and light, humanity and inhumanity, truth and falsehood. Present issues of law, politics, science, and family life touch upon the very meaning of humanity and its vocation. They call today's Christians no less than the martyrs of other times to bear witness to the Truth even at the risk of paying a high price.

This witness will be all the more convincing if all of Christ's disciples could profess together the one faith and heal the wounds of division among themselves. May the Holy Spirit guide Christians, and indeed all people of good will, on the path of reconciliation and brotherhood. Here at Holy Etchmiadzin we renew our solemn commitment to pray and work to hasten the day of communion among all the members of Christ's faithful flock, with true regard for our respective sacred traditions.

With God's help, we shall do nothing against love, but "surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, we shall lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and shall run with perseverance the race that is set before us" (cf. Heb 12:1)

We urge our faithful to pray without ceasing that the Holy Spirit will fill us all, as he did the holy martyrs of every time and place, with the wisdom and courage to follow Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Holy Etchmiadzin, 27 September 2001

His Holiness John Paul II

His Holiness Karekin II

Prayer of John Paul II Memorial of Tzitzernagaberd

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September 26, 2001

APOSTOLIC VOYAGE IN ARMENIA PRAYER VISIT

PRAYER OF JOHN PAUL II

Memorial of Tzitzernagaberd

Yerevan, 26 September 2001

The Holy Father:

O Judge of the living and the dead, have mercy on us!

Listen, O Lord, to the lament that rises from this place,

to the call of the dead from the depths of the Metz Yeghérn,

the cry of innocent blood that pleads like the blood of Abel,

like Rachel weeping for her children because they are no more.

Listen, Lord, to the voice of the Bishop of Rome,

echoing the plea of his Predecessor Pope Benedict XV,

when in 1915 he raised his voice in defence of

"the sorely afflicted Armenian people

brought to the brink of annihilation".

Look upon the people of this land

who put their trust in you so long ago,

who have passed through the great tribulation

and never failed in their faithfulness to you.

Wipe away every tear from their eyes

and grant that their agony in the twentieth century

will yield a harvest of life that endures for ever.

We are appalled by the terrible violence done to the Armenian people,

and dismayed that the world still knows such inhumanity.

But renewing our hope in your promise, we implore, O Lord,

rest for the dead in the peace which knows no end,

and the healing of still open wounds through the power of your love.

Our soul is longing for you, Lord, more than the watchman for daybreak,

as we wait for the fullness of redemption won on the Cross,

for the light of Easter which is the dawn of invincible life,

for the glory of the new Jerusalem where death shall be no more.

O Judge of the living and the dead, have mercy on us all!

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Resolution

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April 24, 2001

Recognition of the Armenian genocideDoc. 9056Written Declaration No. 320

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

Commemorating today the anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century -- the Armenian genocide -- and paying tribute to the memory of its victims;

Condemning all manifestations of the crime of genocide as crimes perpetrated against humanity;

Considering that the unequivocal repudiation of the acts of genocide is a necessary means to help prevent its recurrence;

Taking note of the fact that various European institutions, parliaments of a number of member countries of the Council of Europe have adopted resolutions and statements recognising the Armenian genocide, in the case of the National Assembly of France a law;

Considering that the recognition by the international community of the Armenian genocide will eventually allow the Turkish authorities a similar admission, and as a result will lead to improved relations between Armenia-Turkey, and thus, contribute to regional peace, security and stability,

The undersigned, members of the Assembly, appeal to all the members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to take the necessary steps for the recognition of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians at the beginning of the 20th century.

France Law

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January 29, 2001

Law no. 2001-70 of January 29, 2001, relating to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 1915:

The National Assembly and the Senate have adopted and the President of the Republic proclaims the following law:

France publicly recognizes the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

The present law shall be executed as a law of the state.

Done at Paris on January 29, 2001.

Italy Chamber of Deputies Resolution

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November 16, 2000

Resolution

The Italian Chamber of Deputies has observed that on November 15, 2000, the European Parliament approved by a large majority a proposal deriving from the Periodic Review on the progress made by Turkey towards admission to the European Union, a review completed by the European Commission in 1999. The Turkish government has been encouraged to intensify its efforts towards democratization, especially in the fields of criminal law reform, independence of the judiciary, freedom of expression, and the rights of minorities.

The Italian Chamber of Deputies has also observed that the recent resolution deals with questions concerning the Armenian people in three paragraphs of particular significance: "we urge recognition of the genocide inflicted upon the Armenian minority [within the Ottoman Empire] committed before the creation of the modern Republic of Turkey (paragraph 10); improvements of relations with Turkey's neighbors in the Caucuses, as proposed by the Turkish government itself (paragraph 20);" and, in support of the suggestions put forward in paragraph 21 by the Hon. D. Cohn-Bendit, President of the Bipartisan Parliamentary Commission on EU-Turkish Relations, "invites the Turkish government to open negotiations with the Republic of Armenia, restore diplomatic relations and trade between the two countries, placing an end to the blockade currently in place.

The Chamber of Deputies therefore urges the Italian Government, in concordance with the proposals described above, to pursue energetically the easing of all tensions between peoples and minorities in that area [i.e. the Caucasus], in order to create, with due observance of the territorial integrity of the two states, pacific coexistence and respect for human rights, thereby expediting a more rapid integration of Turkey within the European Community.

European Parliament Resolution

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November 15, 2000

"...Calls, therefore, on the Turkish Government and the Turkish Grand National Assembly to give fresh support to the Armenian minority, as an important part of Turkish society, in particular by public recognition of the genocide which that minority suffered before the establishment of the modern state of Turkey;..."

Turkey's progress towards accession

European Parliament resolution on the 1999 Regular Report from the Commission on Turkey's progress towards accession

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Turkey's application for accession to the European Union,

- having regard to its resolution of 3 December 1998 on the European Strategy for Turkey(1),

- having regard to the 1999 Regular Report from the Commission on Turkey's progress towards accession,

- having regard to its resolution of 2 December 1999 on the implementation of measures to intensify the EC-Turkey customs union(2),

- having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 764/2000 of 10 April 2000 regarding the implementation of measures to intensify the EC-Turkey Customs Union(3),

- having regard to its resolution of 6 September 2000 on measures to promote economic and social development in Turkey(4),

- having regard to its resolution of 7 September 2000 on the Turkish bombardment of northern Iraq(5),

- having regard to Rule 47(1) of the Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy,

A. recalling the decision taken on 13 December 1999 by the European Council meeting in Helsinki to grant Turkey the status of candidate country for accession to the European Union and to establish an accession partnership and a single financial framework with a view to helping Turkey's application to progress in accordance with the Copenhagen Criteria,

B. whereas, following the granting to Turkey of candidate country status, the Union must now, by common agreement with the Turkish Government, devise and implement in an appropriate manner a credible comprehensive strategy with a view to accession,

C. whereas accession negotiations cannot begin until Turkey complies with the Copenhagen criteria,

D. whereas a climate of mutual trust should be created between Turkey and the European Union so that Turkey does not perceive the Union as an 'exclusive Christian club' but as a community of shared values which embrace, in particular, tolerance for other religions and cultures, and whereas no formal cultural or religious conditions are attached to accession to the European Union,

E. whereas a clear and detailed programme will be an effective encouragement to accelerate reform in favour of protection of human rights and democracy, and will greatly strengthen the hand of those in the Turkish government, parliament, and civil society institutions who are keen to establish full respect for basic rights in their country,

F. noting the legislative changes carried out along the path towards democratisation since the 1995 constitutional reform and the establishment in the Turkish Grand National Assembly of the Conciliation Committee, which is responsible for reforming the constitution,

G. welcoming the signature by Turkey on 15 August and 8 September 2000 of four important UN conventions, on political, civil, social and cultural rights respectively, which must be ratified as soon as possible so that human rights and democratic pluralism may be guaranteed in that country,

H. emphasising that, despite the progress already achieved along the path towards democratisation, human rights and the situation of minorities must continue to be improved by the implementation of those conventions,

I. whereas, according to Lord Russell-Johnston, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the confirmation by Ankara of the sentence imposed on former Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan is not in conformity with the principles of democratic pluralism,

J. whereas Resolution 1250 of the UN Security Council called on the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities to begin negotiations in the autumn of 1999, and whereas no progress in that direction has been recorded, despite the encouraging contacts made under the aegis of the UN Secretary-General in December 1999 and in January 2000; regretting, on the contrary, the violation of the military status quo by Turkish occupation forces in the village of Strovilia since 1 July 2000,

K. whereas the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in 'Loïzidou v Turkey' (No 15318/89), handed down on 28 July 1998 and ruling in favour of the plaintiff, has still not been implemented,

L. whereas the election to the Presidency of the Republic of Mr Sezer, who has demonstrated his commitment to the rule of law, will make it easier for the necessary reforms to be successfully completed,

M. noting Turkey's place in the economy of Europe - it had a GDP of USD 185 billion in 1999 - and the links already established between Turkey and the European Union, with 53% of Turkish exports going to current Member States of the European Union and Turkey being the sixth largest importer of EU products,

N. whereas, in December 1999, the package of economic reforms demanded by the IMF with a view to introducing budgetary austerity and to curbing galloping inflation was approved by the Turkish Parliament,

O. encouraging the Turkish Government, on the one hand, to commit itself to carrying out structural reforms which, ranging from dismantling state subsidies to reorganising pensions and accelerating privatisation, must therefore strengthen the bases of a free market economy accessible to all and, on the other, to continue its efforts to adopt Community legislation,

P. recognising Turkey's important geostrategic position, having regard to its role within the Atlantic Alliance and its status of WEU associate member, but noting that geopolitical and strategic considerations must not be the decisive factors in negotiations about accession,

Q. welcoming the fact that Turkey has signalled its intention to commit military capabilities under the common European security and defence policy,

R. regretting and unequivocally condemning the recent incursion by the Turkish Air Force into Iraqi airspace when Kendakor was bombed on 15 August 2000,

S. endorsing the view set out in the Commission report that Turkey has undertaken a significant process of self-evaluation as regards the level of harmonisation of its legislation with the acquis communautaire and that it is the only candidate country to have joined the Customs Union,

T. welcoming the decision taken in this spirit on 5 July 2000 by the Turkish Parliament to include in the eighth five-year development plan the principles governing transposition of the acquis communautaire and to establish a Secretariat for the European Union responsible for coordinating the work required for such transposition,

U. emphasising, however, that a sustained effort is still needed to push through the current reform of the Turkish Civil Code, with particular regard to parental and women's rights,

V. expressing its concern about the bill seeking to make it possible to dismiss civil servants on ideological or religious grounds,

1. Welcomes the resumption of institutional activities and political dialogue in the Association Council, which met on 11 April 2000 after being suspended for three years, and welcomes in particular the recent implementation of the Association Council's conclusions with the

initiation of an analytical review of the acquis communautaire through the establishment of eight subcommittees entrusted with the task of setting priorities for incorporation of the acquis; notes with satisfaction that the first meetings of three of those subcommittees have been successful and trusts that the remaining subcommittees" meetings will be held by the end of this year;

2. Encourages the Turkish Government to step up its efforts to achieve democratisation, with particular regard to reform of the Penal Code, independence of the judiciary, freedom of expression, the rights of minorities and the separation of powers, and especially the impact of the role of the army on Turkish political life;

3. Calls on the Turkish Government and Parliament to ratify and implement the UN conventions on political, civil, social and cultural rights which it signed recently;

4. Encourages in this respect the Turkish Parliament and Government to incorporate in the government programme the report drawn up by the Secretariat of the Turkish Supreme Coordination Council for Human Rights; welcomes the Turkish Council of Ministers" adoption of this report on 21 September 2000 as a "reference and working document"; and calls for the section on cultural rights to be reinserted into the report, with specific measures to protect the rights of minorities being added thereto;

5. Looks forward to the early abolition of the State Security Courts and welcomes the adoption of the law suspending the prosecution of, and penalties imposed on, press and broadcasting offences;

6. Calls, initially, for an amnesty with a view to achieving a reform of the Penal Code in the medium term so that it complies with the universal principle of freedom of expression;

7. Views the recent decision by the Constitutional Court on the law offering a reprieve to those who have committed press offences as a step that reinforces the rule of law; encourages the competent authorities to take this opportunity to continue their reforms in this direction, knowing that this process will logically lead them to a fundamental reconsideration of Article 312 of the Penal Code;

8. Calls, after the many promises made to this effect, for the death penalty to be abolished as soon as possible as part of the reform of the Penal Code and, pending such abolition, for the current moratorium on executions to be maintained;

9. Recalls the importance it attaches to recognition of the basic rights of the cultural, linguistic and religious groups in Turkey, who make up the country's multifaceted population;

10. Calls, therefore, on the Turkish Government and the Turkish Grand National Assembly to give fresh support to the Armenian minority, as an important part of Turkish society, in particular by public recognition of the genocide which that minority suffered before the establishment of the modern state of Turkey;

11. Notes the decisions taken on 30 November 1999 to lift the state of emergency in the Province of Siirt and on 26 June 2000 in the Province of Van, and calls on the Turkish Government to lift the state of emergency in the other provinces of the south-eastern region as well; calls for a specific solution to be found for the Kurdish people, encompassing the requisite political, economic and social responses;

12. Urges the Turkish Government genuinely to redirect its policy with a view to improving the human rights situation of all its citizens, including those belonging to groups whose roots go back deep into the country's past, by putting an end to the political, social and cultural discrimination which they suffer, and in order to find, for those of Kurdish origin, a political solution which respects the territorial integrity of Turkey; calls also on the Turkish authorities to engage in a dialogue with the political representatives of the Kurdish community, especially the mayors of towns in the south-east of the country;

13. Demands the release of Leyla Zana, winner of the European Parliament Sakharov Prize, and of the former MPs of Kurdish origin imprisoned because of the views they hold;

14. Welcomes the Turkish Government's adoption in September 2000 of an action plan which aims to restore economic balance with a view to resolving regional disparities by committing appropriate resources, and to promote the reopening of hamlets and the reconstruction of villages so that their inhabitants may return to them, together with other measures aimed at boosting investment in the south-east;

15. Welcomes the decisions taken by the Helsinki European Council to set up a single financial framework, based on an appropriate level of resources, and an accession partnership; calls on the Council and Commission to implement those two decisions as soon as possible and to reassess the amount of the European Union's financial assistance to Turkey, which should meet the needs of the pre-accession strategy on the basis of previous European Council conclusions with particular reference to the issue of human rights as well as the issues referred to in paragraphs 4 and 9(a) of the Helsinki conclusions;

16. Calls on the European Council, in accordance with the provisions of the European Union's political dialogue with the associated countries, to take note of the Turkish Government's request to be involved in one way or another in the process of developing the common foreign and security policy and welcomes Turkey's determination to contribute to improving European capabilities within the framework of the common European security and defence policy; considers that any such contribution has to be preceded by a clearly stated policy of respect for the territorial integrity of Member States;

17. Welcomes the start of negotiations on confidence-building measures agreed on 31 October 2000 by the foreign ministers of both Turkey and Greece;

18. Calls on the Turkish Government, in accordance with Resolution 1250 of the UN Security Council, to contribute towards the creation, without preconditions, of a climate conducive to negotiations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, with a view to reaching a negotiated, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement which complies with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the recommendations of the UN General Assembly, as reaffirmed by the European Council; hopes that this will be possible during the fifth round of proximity talks which will begin on 10 November 2000 and that those talks will result in bilateral negotiations, under the aegis of the UN, which will enable substantial progress to be made;

19. Calls on the Turkish Government to withdraw its occupation forces from northern Cyprus;

20. Calls on the Turkish Government, as it has proposed, to improve its relations with all its neighbours in the Caucasus within the framework of a Stability Pact for the region;

21. Calls in this connection on the Turkish Government to launch a dialogue with Armenia aimed in particular at re-establishing normal diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries and lifting the current blockade;

22. Calls on the Turkish Government, in cooperation with the Commission, to pursue its efforts with a view to enhancing the implementation of the pre-accession strategy as regards the incorporation of the acquis communautaire, notably by improving the situation in fields such as the single market, agriculture, transport, the environment and administrative organisation;

23. Welcomes the Turkish Government's recent statement that the reform process, which covers the amendments to the Turkish Penal and Civil Codes, including parental and women's rights, would be stepped up during the coming year;

24. Calls on the Turkish Government to comply with previous and future decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and to consider the proposals made by the Council of Europe with regard to the training of judges and police officers;

25. Reminds Turkey also of the commitments it has given within the Council of Europe and calls on it to transpose Council of Europe instruments in particular so as to permit more effective monitoring of the application of political measures that are part of the accession partnership;

26. Takes the view that Turkey does not currently meet all the Copenhagen political criteria and reiterates its proposal for the setting up of discussion forums, consisting of eminent politicians from the European Union and Turkey as well as representatives of civil society, in order to promote political dialogue and help Turkey progress along the path towards accession; welcomes the initiative taken by the former President of Turkey, Mr Demirel, to establish a Europe-Turkey Foundation, which might also be involved in those forums;

27. Calls on the Commission to devise and implement additional programmes in the field of education, given the exceptionally high proportion of the population (50%) under 25, in order to help foster understanding of the basic principles of the shared values of Europe;

28. Calls on the Council and the Commission to find ways to improve the effectiveness of MEDA Programmes for democracy in Turkey with a view to strengthening civil society there, consolidating the democratic system and supporting free and independent media in that country;

29. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and to the Turkish Government and Grand National Assembly.

Vatican City Communiqué

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November 10, 2000

"...The Armenian genocide, which began the century, was a prologue to horrors that would follow. Two world wars, countless regional conflicts and deliberately organized campaigns of extermination took the lives of millions of faithful..."

Joint Communiqué of Pope John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin II

His Holiness Pope John Paul II, Bishop of Rome, and His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, give thanks to the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for enabling them to meet together on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Year 2000 and on the threshold of the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion of Armenia.

They also give thanks in the Holy Spirit that the fraternal relations between the See of Rome and the See of Etchmiadzin have further developed and deepened in recent years. This progress finds its expression in their present personal meeting and particularly in the gift of a relic of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, the holy missionary who converted the king of Armenia (301 A.D.) and established the line of Catholicoi of the Armenian Church. The present meeting builds upon the previous encounters between Pope Paul VI and Catholicos Vasken I (1970) and upon the two meetings between Pope John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin I (1996 and 1999). Pope John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin II now continue to look forward to a possible meeting in Armenia. On the present occasion, they wish to state together the following.

Together we confess our faith in the Triune God and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who became man for our salvation. We also believe in One, Catholic, Apostolic and Holy Church. The Church, as the Body of Christ, indeed, is one and unique. This is our common faith, based on the teachings of the Apostles and the Fathers of the Church. We acknowledge furthermore that both the Catholic Church and the Armenian Church have true sacraments, above all -- by apostolic succession of bishops -- the priesthood and the Eucharist. We continue to pray for full and visible communion between us. The liturgical celebration we preside over together, the sign of peace we exchange and the blessing we give together in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, testify that we are brothers in the episcopacy. Together we are jointly responsible for what is our common mission: to teach the apostolic faith and to witness to the love of Christ for all human beings, especially those living in difficult circumstances.

The Catholic Church and the Armenian Church share a long history of mutual respect, considering their various theological, liturgical and canonical traditions as complementary, rather than conflicting. Today, too, we have much to receive from one another. For the Armenian Church, the vast resources of Catholic learning can become a treasure and source of inspiration, through the exchange of scholars and students, through common translations and academic initiatives, through different forms of theological dialogue. Likewise, for the Catholic Church, the steadfast, patient faith of a martyred nation like Armenia can become a source of spiritual strength, particularly through common prayer. It is our firm desire to see these many forms of mutual exchange and rapprochement between us improved and intensified.

As we embark upon the third millennium, we look back on the past and forward to the future. As to the past, we thank God for the many blessings we have received from his infinite bounty, for the holy witness given by so many saints and martyrs, for the spiritual and cultural heritage bequeathed by our ancestors. Many times, however, both the Catholic Church and the Armenian Church have lived through dark and difficult periods. Christian faith was contested by atheistic and materialistic ideologies; Christian witness was opposed by totalitarian and violent regimes; Christian love was suffocated by individualism and the pursuit of personal interest. Leaders of nations no longer feared God, nor did they feel ashamed before humankind. For both of us, the 20th century was marked by extreme violence. The Armenian genocide, which began the century, was a prologue to horrors that would follow. Two world wars, countless regional conflicts and deliberately organized campaigns of extermination took the lives of millions of faithful. Nevertheless, without diminishing the horror of these events and their consequences, there may be a kind of divine challenge in them, if in response Christians are persuaded to join together in deeper friendship in the cause of Christian truth and love.

We now look to the future with hope and confidence. At this juncture in history, we see new horizons for us Christians and for the world. Both in the East and in the West, after having experienced the deadly consequences of godless regimes and lifestyles, many people are yearning for the knowledge of truth and the way of salvation. Together, guided by charity and respect for freedom, we seek to answer their desire, so as to bring them to the sources of authentic life and true happiness. We seek the intercession of the Apostles Peter and Paul, Thaddeus and Bartholomew, of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and all Saintly Pastors of the Catholic Church and the Armenian Church, and pray the Lord to guide our communities so that, with one voice, we may give witness to the Lord and proclaim the truth of salvation. We also pray that around the world, wherever members of the Armenian and the Catholic Church live side by side, all ordained ministers, religious and faithful will "help to carry one another's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ" (Gal 6: 2). May they mutually sustain and assist one another, in full respect of their particular identities and ecclesiastical traditions, avoiding to prevail one over another: "so then, as often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to our family in the faith" (Gal 6:10).

Finally, we seek the intercession of the Holy Mother of God for the sake of peace. May the Lord grant wisdom to the leaders of nations, so that justice and peace may prevail throughout the world. In these days in particular, we pray for peace in the Middle East. May all the children of Abraham grow in mutual respect and find appropriate ways for living peacefully together in this sacred part of the world.

Lebanon Parliament Resolution

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May 11, 2000

On the occasion of the 85th anniversary of massacres perpetrated by the Ottoman authorities in the year 1915, as a result of which 1.5 million Armenians fell victim, the Lebanese Chamber of Deputies recognizes and condemns the genocide perpetrated against the Armenian people and expresses its complete solidarity with demands of its Armenian citizens. Furthermore, it believes that the international recognition of this genocide is a necessary condition for the prevention of similar crimes that may occur in the future.

Sweden Parliament Report

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March 29, 2000

The Foreign Ministry writes in its report:

"An official statement and recognition of the Genocide of the Armenians is important and necessary. In 1985 the UN and the European Parliament established the fact that the Ottoman Empire had committed genocide against the Armenian people in the beginning of the 20th century. The Standing Committee [on Foreign Affairs] is of the opinion that the greater openness Turkey demonstrates, the stronger Turkey's democratic identity will be. It is therefore important that unbiased independent and international research on the genocide committed against the Armenian people be carried out. It is of great importance that an increasing openness and historical understanding of the events of 1915 and thereafter be developed. An improvement in this respect would also be of importance for the stability and the development in the whole Caucasus region."

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Resolution

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April 24, 1998

Commemoration of the Armenian genocide of 1915

Written Declaration No. 275

Doc. 8091

24 April 1998

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

1. The date of 24 April 1915 marked the beginning of the implementation of the plan to exterminate Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire.

2. Today we commemorate the anniversary of what has been called the first genocide of the 20th century, and we salute the memory of the Armenian victims of this crime against humanity.

Belgium Senate Resolution

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March 26, 1998

"...that the recognition of mistakes and crimes of the past is a precondition for reconciliation between peoples and that there cannot be peace without justice..."

26 March 1998

Belgian Senate

1997-1998 Session

Resolution 1-736/3 Concerning the 1915 Genocide of Armenians living in Turkey

The Senate,

Considering the numerous studies dedicated to the situation of the Armenian population in Turkey at the beginning of the 20th century;

Considering the UN convention on the prevention and punishment of genocide, which provides a definition of the concept of genocide;

Considering the judicial verdicts that have applied this term to describe the state of Armenians living in Turkey in 1915, more specifically the verdict of the 'tribunal de grande instance' in Paris on 21 June 1995;

Considering the resolution by the European Parliament on 18 June 1987 concerning a "political solution to the Armenian Question", wherein it is recognized that the Armenians living in Turkey in 1915 were the victims of a genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman government of the time;

Considering that there cannot be the slightest doubt over the historical evidence regarding the organized and systematic murder of the Armenians;

Considering that the recognition of mistakes and crimes of the past is a precondition for reconciliation between peoples and that there cannot be peace without justice, either in Armenia or elsewhere;

Furthermore considering that only through the recognition of crimes committed by previous regimes it is possible to distance oneself from their aims and strive politically for reconciliation;

Considering that the differences between the Turkish and Armenian nations continue to drag on and even today lead to the loss of human lives, to the eviction of ethnic groups and to numerous violations of human rights in that region;

Considering that the Turkish and Armenian peoples have no choice but to co-exist peacefully in the long term;

Considering the friendly ties and co-operation between, on the one hand, Turkey, Belgium and the European Union and, on the other hand, Armenia, Belgium and the European Union;

Remarking that the 1987 resolution by the European Parliament has not led the Turkish government to recognize the historic reality of the 1915 genocide;

Requests the Turkish government to recognize the historic reality of the genocide committed in 1915 by the last government of the Ottoman Empire;

Requests the parliaments of the member states of the European Union to contribute to the reconciliation between the Turkish and Armenian peoples;

Requests the European Union and its member states to lend their support to initiatives in all domains aimed at promoting a dialogue between the Armenian and Turkish peoples;

Asks the government to transmit this resolution to the prime minister of the Turkish government, to the chairman of the European parliament, to the chairman of the European Commission, to the chairmen of the parliaments of the member states of the European Union, as well as to the chairman of the parliament of the Republic of Armenia.

Lebanon Chamber of Deputies Resolution

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April 3, 1997

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Republic of LebanonChamber of Deputies

The Lebanese Chamber of Deputies

Feeling the pains and suffering that the Lebanese-Armenian people lived through between 1915 and 1923, similar to the suffering of the Lebanese people and the peoples of the region, which continues until today, resulting from the organized extermination acts against our peoples at the hands of the colonizer in the beginning of the century.

Whereas the 24th day of April of each year constitutes an occasion to mark this catastrophe embodied by the massacres committed against the Armenian people.

The Chamber of Deputies calls upon the people of Lebanon to declare their solidarity with the Armenian people on this day.

United States House of Representatives Resolution 3540

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June 11, 1996

104th Congress2nd Session

House Resolution 3540

An Act

Making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

...

LIMITATION OF ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY

SEC. 547. Not more than $22,000,000 of the funds appropriated in this Act under the heading "Economic Support Fund" may be made available to the Government of Turkey, except when it is made known to the Federal official having authority to obligate or expend such funds that the Government of Turkey has (1) joined the United States in acknowledging the atrocity committed against the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and (2) taken all appropriate steps to honor the memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide.

...

That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes, namely:

...

Passed the House of Representatives June 11, 1996.

Greece (Hellenic Republic) Parliament Resolution

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April 25, 1996

Hellenic Parliament Resolution 2397/1996

25 April 1996

The bill "For the establishment of the 24th of April as the day of commemoration of the genocide of Armenians by Turkey" was unanimously accepted in principle, in article and in its entirety in one discussion and is as follows:

The 24th of April is established as the day of commemoration of the genocide of Armenians by Turkey.

Article 1The 24th of April is defined as the day of commemoration of the genocide of Armenians by Turkey.

Article 2The character, content, bearer and manner of organization of the commemoration events are determined by a presidential decree that is issued with the proposal of the Ministries of the Interior, and of Public Administration and Decentralization, after taking into consideration the advice of the most recognized Armenian guilds and organizations.

Article 3The present law will be in effect after its publication in the Official Gazette of the Hellenic Government.

Russia Duma Resolution

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April 14, 1995

Resolution by the State Duma of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation*

April 14, 1995

Based on irrefutable historic facts which attest to the extermination of Armenians on the territory of Western Armenia from 1915 to 1922 and, in accordance with the following Conventions adopted by the United Nations:

Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, December 9, 1948;

Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, November 26, 1968;

Aspiring to restore the humanitarian traditions of the Russian State and,

Emphasizing that through the initiative of Russia, the Great European Powers already in 1915 characterized the actions of the Turkish Empire against the Armenian people as a "Crime Against Humanity" and,

Noting that the physical extermination of the fraternal Armenian people in its historic homeland aimed at destroying Russia;

The State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation:

Condemns the perpetrators of the extermination of Armenians from 1915 to 1922;

Expresses its deep sympathy to the Armenian people and recognizes April 24 as a day of remembrance for the victims of the Genocide.

Argentina Senate Resolution

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May 5, 1993

Number of Resolution: 1554/92

S-92-1554: Losada.

Resolution of Declaration

The Senate of the Nation

Declares:

Its complete solidarity with the Armenian community, which was the victim of the first genocide of the 20th century, in commemorating once again the anniversary of a crime against humanity that was to culminate with the death of 1,500,000 Armenians at the hands of the Turkish government between the years 1915 and 1917.

Likewise, it manifests its deep concern for the constant violations of human rights that have taken place in the autonomous region of Nagorno Karabakh against the majority Armenian population.

European Parliament Resolution

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June 18, 1987

"Believes that the tragic events in 1915-1917 involving the Armenians living in the territory of the Ottoman Empire constitute genocide within the meaning of the convention on the prevention and the punishment of the crime of genocide adopted by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1948."

European ParliamentResolution on a political solution to the Armenian questionDoc. A2-33/87

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution tabled by Mr. Saby and others on behalf of the

Socialist Group on a political solution to the Armenian question (Doc. 2-737/84),

-having regard to the motion for a resolution tabled by Mr. Kolokotronis on the Armenian question and the declaration of 24 April as Armenian Genocide Day (Doc, V 2-360/85),

-having regard to the report of the Political Affairs Committee (Doc. 2-33/87),

A. having regard to:

-the motion for a resolution by Mr. Jaquet and others on the situation of the Armenian people (Doc. 1-782/81),

-the motion for a resolution by Mrs. Duport and Mr. Glinne on behalf of the Socialist Group on a political solution to the Armenian question (Doc. 1-735/83), and

-the written question by Mrs. Duport on the Armenian question,

-the resolution of the Ministers with responsibility for Cultural Affairs, meeting within the Council of 13 November 1986 on the protection of Europe's architectural heritage, including that outside the territory of the Community.

B. convinced that recognition of the identity of the Armenian people in Turkey as an ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious minority follows on from recognition of its own history,

C. whereas the Armenian side regards these events as planned genocide within the meaning of the 1948 UN Convention.

D. whereas the Turkish State rejects the charge of genocide as unfounded,

E. whereas, to date, the Turkish Government, by refusing to recognize the genocide of 1915, continues to deprive the Armenian people of the right to their own history,

F. whereas the historically proven Armenian genocide has so far neither been the object of political condemnation nor received due compensation,

G. whereas the recognition of the Armenian genocide by Turkey must therefore be viewed as a profoundly humane act of moral rehabilitation towards the Armenians, which can only bring honor to the Turkish Government;

H. profoundly regretting and condemning the mindless terrorism by groups of Armenians who were responsible between 1973 and 1986 of several attacks causing death or injury to innocent victims and deplored by an overwhelming majority of the Armenian people,

I. whereas the obdurate stance of every Turkish Government towards the Armenian question has in no way helped to reduce the tension,

1. Believes that the Armenian question and the question of minorities in Turkey must be resituated within the framework of relations between Turkey and the Community; points out that democracy cannot be solidly implanted in a country unless the latter

recognizes and enriches its history with its ethnic and cultural diversity;

2. Believes that the tragic events in 1915-1917 involving the Armenians living in the territory of the Ottoman Empire constitute genocide within the meaning of the convention on the prevention and the punishment of the crime of genocide adopted by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1948; Recognizes, however, that the present Turkey cannot be held responsible for the tragedy experienced by the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire and stresses that neither political nor legal or material claims against present-day Turkey can be derived from the recognition of this historical event as an act of genocide;

3. Calls on the Council to obtain from the present Turkish Government as acknowledgment of the genocide perpetrated against the Armenians in 1915-1917 and promote the establishment of a political dialogue between Turkey and the representatives of the Armenians;

4. Believes that the refusal by the present Turkish Government to acknowledge the genocide against the Armenian people committed by the Young Turk government, its reluctance to apply the principles of international law to its differences of opinion with Greece, the maintenance of Turkish occupation forces in Cyprus and the denial of existence of the Kurdish question, together with the lack of true parliamentary democracy and the failure to respect individual and collective freedoms, in particular freedom of religion, in that country are insurmountable obstacles to consideration of the possibility of Turkey's accession to the Community;

5. Conscious of those past misfortunes, supports its desire for the development of a specific identity, the securing of its minority rights and the unrestricted exercise of its people's human and civil rights as defined in the European Convention of Human Rights and its five protocols;

6. Calls for fair treatment of the Armenian minority in Turkey as regards their identity, language, religion, culture and school system, and makes an emphatic plea for improvements in the care of monuments and for the maintenance and conservation of the Armenian religious architectural heritage in Turkey and invites the Community to examine how it could make an appropriate contribution;

7. Calls on Turkey in this connection to abide faithfully by the provisions for the protection of the non-Muslim minorities as stipulated in Articles 37 to 45 of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne which, moreover, was signed by most Member States of the Community;

8. Considers that the protection of monuments and the maintenance and conservation of the Armenian religious architectural heritage in Turkey must be regarded as part of a wider policy designed to preserve the cultural heritage of all civilizations which have developed over the centuries on present-day Turkish territory and, in particular, that of the Christian minorities that formed part of the Ottoman Empire;

9. Calls therefore on the Community to extend the Association Agreement with Turkey to the cultural field so that the remains of Christian or other civilizations such as the ancient classical, Hittite, Ottoman, etc., in that country are preserved and made generally accessible;

10. Expresses its concern at the difficulties currently being experienced by the Armenian community in Iran with respect to the Armenian language and their own education in accordance with the rules of their own religion;

11. Condemns the violations of individual freedoms committed in the Soviet Union against the Armenian population;

12. Condemns strongly any violence and any form of terrorism carried out by isolated groupings unrepresentative of the Armenian people, and calls for reconciliation between Armenians and Turks;

13. Calls on the Community Member States to dedicate a day to the memory of the genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated in the 20th century, specifically against the Armenians and Jews;

14. Commits itself to making a substantial contribution to initiatives to encourage negotiations between the Armenian and Turkish peoples;

15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the European Council, the Foreign Ministers meeting in political cooperation, the EEC/Turkey Association Council and the Turkish, Iranian and Soviet Governments and the UN Secretary General.

Resolution discussed and approved by European Parliament on June 18, 1987.

United States House of Representatives Joint Resolution 247

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September 12, 1984

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98th Congress2nd Session

H.J. Resolution 247 [House Joint Resolution 247]

In the Senate of the United States

September 12, 1984

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

Joint Resolution

To designate April 24, 1985, as "National Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man".

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That April 24, 1985, is hereby designated as "National Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man", and the President of the United States is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such day as a day of remembrance for all the victims of genocide, especially the one and one-half million people of Armenian ancestry who were the victims of the genocide perpetrated in Turkey between 1915 and 1923, and in whose memory this date is commemorated by all Armenians and their friends throughout the world.

Passed the House of Representatives September 10, 1984.Attest: Benjamin J. Guthrie, Clerk.

Read the key portions of H.J. Resolution 247 at the official web site of the U.S. Congress.

Cyprus House of Representatives Resolution

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April 29, 1982

Resolution Unanimously Adopted By The House of Representativesof the Republic of Cyprus on the 29th April, 1982

The House of Representatives

On the occasion of the Anniversary of the genocide of the Armenian people which was started in 1915 in an organized manner by the then Turkish regime,

1. Notes with abhorrence and condemns unreservedly the crime against the Armenian people which had the dimensions of genocide and which uprooted the Armenians from ancestral lands.

2. Supports the full restoration of the inalienable rights of the Armenian people.

3. Underlines the harmonious and long-standing coexistence and brotherly cooperation with the Armenians of Cyprus and their contribution to the political, economic and cultural life of our country.

4. Considers this coexistence as evidence of the real possibility for harmonious coexistence of all the people of Cyprus regardless of language, religion or national origin.

5. In parallel considers it necessary to condemn the crime committed against the people of Cyprus by the Turkish invasion of 1974.

Republic of Cyprus House of Representatives Resolution

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April 24, 1975

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House of Representatives

Republic of Cyprus

Resolution 36 (1975) The House of Representatives resolves as follows:

On the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the genocide of the Armenian people by the then Turkish regime,

1. Expresses its unanimous sympathy towards all Armenians who commemorate the abhorrent crime and mourn over the loss of their homelands and slaughtered brothers.

2. Considers that the slaughter and expulsion of the Armenians by the Turkish regime cannot be justified under any law or pretext. The Turkish regime simply aimed at the annihilation and extermination of the Armenians who lived in Asia Minor and at the plunder of their homes and properties. The Armenians, an ancient and noble nation, with remarkable achievements in peaceful and creative deeds, had not provoked or harmed anyone.

3. Convinced that those Armenians who sought refuge and those who are residing in Cyprus will always live in the brotherhood with the people of Cyprus. Armenians have endured hardships and ordeals caused by the Turkish regime again in 1963 and today. At present, Cyprus is suffering similar hardships, as real tragedy, as a result of the Turkish invasion.

4. Extends to the Armenians living in all parts of the world a message of high esteem and solidarity.

United States House of Representatives Joint Resolution 148

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April 9, 1975

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94th Congress1st Session

H.J. Resolution 148 [House Joint Resolution 148]

In the Senate of the United States

April 9, 1975

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

Joint Resolution

To designate April 24, 1975, as "National Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man".

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That April 24, 1975, is hereby designated as "National Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man", and the President of the United States is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such day as a day of remembrance for all the victims of genocide, especially those of Armenian ancestry who succumbed to the genocide perpetrated in 1915, and in whose memory this date is commemorated by all Armenians and their friends throughout the world.

Passed the House of Representatives April 8, 1975.Attest: W. Pat Jennings, Clerk.

Read the key portions of H.J. Resolution 148 at the official web site of the U.S. Congress.

Uruguay Senate and House of Representatives Resolution

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April 20, 1965

Law No. 13.326

Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Martyrs

Legislative Power.

The Senate and House of Representatives of Uruguay meeting in the General Assembly,

Decree

Article 1.Declares the following 24th of April "Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Martyrs", in honor of the members of that nationality slain in 1915.

Article 2.The stations of the Official Radio Service must on that date conduct part of their broadcast in honor of the mentioned nation.

Article 3.Armenian descendants who are public servants are authorized to miss work on the mentioned date.

Article 4.

Designate with the name of "Armenia", the 2nd Grade School, No. 156, in the Department of Montevideo.

Article 5.Communicate, etc.

United States Senate Resolution 359

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May 11, 1920

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66th Congress2nd Session

S. RES. 359. [Senate Resolution 359]

In the Senate of the United States.

May 11, 1920

Mr. Harding, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, reported the following resolution; which was ordered to be placed on the calendar.

May 11 (calendar day, May 13), 1920.

Considered and agreed to.

Resolution

Whereas the testimony adduced at the hearings conducted by the subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations have clearly established the truth of the reported massacres and other atrocities from which the Armenian people have suffered; and

Whereas the people of the United States are deeply impressed by the deplorable conditions of insecurity, starvation, and misery now prevalent in Armenia; and

Whereas the independence of the Republic of Armenia has been duly recognized by the supreme council of the peace conference and by the Government of the United States of America: Therefore be it

Resolved, That a sincere congratulations of the Senate of the United States are hereby extended to the people of Armenia on the recognition of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, without prejudice respecting the territorial boundaries involved; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate of the United States hereby expresses the hope that stable government, proper protection of individual liberties and rights, and the full realization of nationalistic aspirations may soon be attained by the Armenian people; and be it further

Resolved, That in order to afford necessary protection for the lives and property of citizens of the United States at the port of Batum and along the line of the railroad leading to Baku, the President is hereby requested, if not incompatible with the public interest, to cause a United States warship and a force of marines to be dispatched to such port with instructions to such marines to disembark and to protect American lives and property.

May 11 (calendar day, May 13), 1920. -- Considered and agreed to.

United States Congress Act to Incorporate Near East Relief

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August 6, 1919

"to provide for the care of orphans and widows and to promote the social, economic, and industrial welfare of those who have been rendered destitute, or dependent directly or indirectly, by the vicissitudes of war, the cruelties of men, or other causes beyond their control."

SIXTY-SIXTH CONGRESS. SESS. I. CH. 32. 1919August 6, 1919.[S. 180.][Public No. 25]District of Columbia, Near East Relief incorporated.

CHAP. 32. -- An Act To incorporate Near East Relief

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following persons, namely, James L. Barton, Cleveland H. Dodge, Henry Morgenthau, Edwin M. Bulkley, Alexander J. Hemphill, Charles R. Crane, William Howard Taft, Charles Evans Hughes, Elihu Root, Abram I. Elkus, Charles W. Eliot, Harry Pratt Judson, Charles E. Beury, Arthur J. Brown, John B. Calvert, William I. Chamberlain, Robert J. Cuddihy, Cleveland E. Dodge, William T. Ellis, James Cardinal Gibbons, David H. Greer, Harold A. Hatch, William I. Haven, Myron T. Herrick, Hamilton Holt, Frank W. Jackson, Arthur Curtiss James, Frederick Lynch, Vance C. McCormick, Charles S. Macfarland, Henry B.F. Macfarland, William B. Millar, John R. Mott, Frank Mason North, George A. Plimpton, Philip Rhinelander, William Jay Schieffelin, George T. Scott, Albert Shaw, William Sloane, Edward Lincoln Smith, Robert Eliot Speer, James M. Speers, Oscar S. Straus, Charles V. Vickrey Harry A. Wheeler, Stanley White, Ray Lyman Wilbur, Talcott Williams, and Stephen S. Wise, their associates and successors duly chosen, are hereby incorporated and declared to be a body corporate of the District of Columbia by the name of Near East Relief and by that name shall be known and have perpetual succession, with the powers, limitations, and restrictions herein contained.

SEC. 2. That the object for which said corporation is incorporated shall be to provide relief and to assist in the repatriation, rehabilitation, and reestablishment of suffering and dependent people of the Near East and adjacent areas; to provide for the care of orphans and widows and to promote the social, economic, and industrial welfare of those who have been rendered destitute, or dependent directly or indirectly, by the vicissitudes of war, the cruelties of men, or other causes beyond their control.

SEC. 3. That the direction and management of the affairs of the corporation, and the control of its property and funds, shall be vested in a board of trustees, to be composed of the following individuals: James L. Barton, Cleveland H. Dodge, Henry Morgenthau, Edwin M. Bulkley, Alexander J. Hemphill, Charles R. Crane, William Howard Taft, Charles Evans Hughes, Elihu Root, Abram I. Elkus, Charles W. Eliot, Harry Pratt Judson, Charles E. Beury, Arhtur J. Brown, John B. Calvert, William I. Chamberlain, Robert J. Cuddihy, Cleveland E. Dodge, William T. Ellis, James Cardinal Gibbons, David H. Greer, Harold A. Hatch, William I. Haven, Myron T. Herrick, Hamilton Holt, Frank W. Jackson, Arthur Curtiss James, Frederick Lynch, Vance C. McCormick Charles S. Macfarland, Henry B.F. Macfarland, William B. Millar, John R. Mott, Frank Mason North, George A. Plimpton, Philip Rhinelander, William Jay Schieffelin, George T. Scott, Albert Shaw, William Sloane, Edward Lincoln Smith, Robert Eliot Speer, James M. Speers, Oscar S. Straus, Charles V. Vickrey, Harry A. Wheeler, Stanley White, Ray Myman Wilbur, Talcott Williams, and Stephen S. Wise, who shall constitute the first board of trustees and constitute the members of the corporation. Vacancies occurring by death, resignation, or otherwise shall be filled by the remaining trustees in such manner as the by-laws shall prescribe, and the persons so elected shall thereupon become trustees and also members of the corporation.

SEC. 4. That the principal office of the corporation shall be located in the District of Columbia, but offices may be maintained and meetings of the corporation or of the trustees and committees may be held in other places, such as the by-laws may from time to time fix.

SEC. 5. That the said trustees shall be entitled to take, hold, and administer any securities, funds, or property which may be transferred to them for the purposes and objects hereinbefore enumerated by the existing and unincorporated American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief, and such other funds or property as may be necessary to secure the safe and convenient transaction of the business of the corporation.

SEC. 6. That as soon as may be possible after the passage of this Act a meeting of the trustees hereinbefore named shall be called by Cleveland H. Dodge, Henry Morgenthau, Abram I. Elkus, Edwin M. Bulkley, Alexander J. Hemphill, William B. Millar, George T. Scott, James L. Barton, and Charles V. Vickrey, or any six of them, at the borough of Manhattan, in the city of New York, by notice serviced in person or by mail, addressed to each trustee at his place of residence; and the said trustees named herein, or a majority thereof, being assembled, shall organize and proceed to adopt by-laws, to elect officers, and generally to organize the said corporation.

SEC. 7. That a meeting of the incorporators, their associates, or successors, shall be held once in every year after the year of incorporation at such time and place as shall be prescribed in by the by-laws, when the annual reports of the officers and executive boards shall be presented and members of the executive board elected for the ensuing year. Special meetings of the corporation may be called upon such notice as may be prescribed.

SEC. 8. That a copy of the constitution and by-laws and of all amendments thereto shall be filed with the Congress when adopted, and on or before the 1st day of April each year said corporation shall make and transmit to the Congress a report of its proceedings for the year ending December 31 preceding, including in such report the names and residences of its officers, and a full and itemized account of all receipts and expenditures.

SEC. 9. That the corporation shall have no power to issue certificates of stock or declare or pay any dividends, or otherwise distribute to its members any of its property, or the proceeds therefrom, or from its operations. On dissolution of the corporation otherwise than by Act of congress the property shall escheat to the United States.

SEC. 10. That all members and officers of the corporations and of its governing body may reside in or be citizens of any place within the United States.

SEC. 11. That the franchise herein granted shall terminate at the expiration of twenty-five years from the date of the approval of the Act; and that Congress reserves the right to repeal, alter, or amend this act at any time.

Approved, August 6, 1919.

United States Senate Concurrent Resolution 12

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February 9, 1916

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"Whereas the people of the United States are deeply impressed by the deplorable conditions of insecurity, starvation, and misery now prevalent in Armenia"

64th Congress1st Session

S. CON. RES. 12 [Senate Concurrent Resolution 12]

[Report No. 837.]

In the House of Representatives.

February 10, 1916.

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

June 21, 1916

Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Concurrent Resolution

Whereas in countries now engaged in war there are several hundreds of thousands of Armenians in need of food, clothing, and shelter; and

Whereas great numbers of them have been required by conditions growing out of the state of war to leave their homes and their property, deprived of an opportunity to make provision for their most elementary wants, causing starvation, disease, and untold suffering; and

Whereas the people of the United States of America have learned with sorrow of this terrible plight of great numbers of human beings and have most generously responded to the cry for help whenever such an appeal has reached them: Therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That, in view of the misery, wretchedness, and hardships which these people are suffering, the President of the United States be respectfully asked to designate a day on which the citizens of this country may give expression to their sympathy by contributing to the funds now being raised for the relief of the Armenians in the belligerent countries.

Passed the Senate February 9, 1916.Attest: James M. Baker, Secretary.

64th Congress1st Session

House of Representatives

Report No. 837.

Relief of Armenians.

June 21, 1916. -- Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Flood, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, submitted the following Report.

[To accompany S. Con. Res. 12.]

The Committee on Foreign Affairs, to which was referred the resolution S. Con. Res. 12, having had the same under consideration, reports the said resolution back without amendment and with the recommendation that the same be passed.

The committee deems it unnecessary to give reasons for its action, as the desperate condition and the urgent need of relief for the Armenians are so widely known. The purpose of the resolution is to give an impetus to the untiring efforts of the generous people of this country who have been responding to the call of humanity and to the relief of these suffering people. Our ambassador to Turkey has authorized the American Committee for Armenian Relief to publish a letter, from which the quotation following is taken:

I again want to urge upon your committee the great necessity of securing additional funds to enable us to render further assistance to the Armenian sufferers.

If you could only bring home to the public the large amount of good done by the expenditure of the funds already sent us and the number of people we were able to save from dire distress, I feel convinced that there would be a generous and prompt response.

France, Great Britain and Russia Joint Declaration

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May 24, 1915

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Telegram Sent

Department of State, Washington

May 29, 1915

Amembassy [American Embassy],

Constantinople.

French Foreign Office requests following notice be given Turkish Government. Quote. May 24th

For about a month the Kurd and Turkish populations of Armenia has been massacring Armenians with the connivance and often assistance of Ottoman authorities. Such massacres took place in middle April (new style) at Erzerum, Dertchun, Eguine, Akn, Bitlis, Mush, Sassun, Zeitun, and throughout Cilicia. Inhabitants of about one hundred villages near Van were all murdered. In that city Armenian quarter is besieged by Kurds. At the same time in Constantinople Ottoman Government ill-treats inoffensive Armenian population. In view of those new crimes of Turkey against humanity and civilization, the Allied governments announce publicly to the Sublime-Porte that they will hold personally responsible [for] these crimes all members of the Ottoman government and those of their agents who are implicated in such massacres.

Unquote.

R.G. 59, 867.4016/67

Canada House of Commons Resolution

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April 21, 2004

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"That this House acknowledge the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemn this act as a crime against humanity."

Private Members' Business

Pursuant to Standing Order 93(1), the House proceeded to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of Ms. Dalphond-Guiral (Laval Centre), seconded by Mr. Assadourian (Brampton Centre), Mr. Kenney (Calgary Southeast) and Ms. McDonough (Halifax), -- That this

House acknowledge the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemn this act as a crime against humanity. (Private Members' Business M-380)

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following division:

Al-Husayn Ibn 'Ali, Sharif of Mecca

1917

[Decree issued in 1917 by the Sharif of Mecca for the Protection of Armenians.]

The Hashemite Royal Court

In the Name of God, The Compassionate, The Merciful We Thank Only God And No One But God

From Al-Husayn Ibn 'Ali, King of the Arab Lands and Sharif of Mecca and its Prince to The Honorable and Admirable Princes — Prince Faisal and Prince Abd al-'Aziz al-Jarba — greetings and the compassion of God and His blessings. This letter is written from Imm Al-Qura (Mecca), on 18 Rajab 1336 [A.D. 1917], by the praise of God and no God except Him. We ask peace upon God's Prophet, his family and his companions (may peace be upon him). We inform you that in our gratitude to Him we are in good health, strength and good grace. We pray God that He may grant us and you His abundant grace. What is requested of you is to protect and to take good care of everyone from the Jacobite Armenian community living in your territories and frontiers and among your tribes; to help them in all of their affairs and defend them as you

would defend yourselves, your properties and children, and provide everything they might need whether they are settled or moving from place to place, because they are the Protected People of the Muslims (Ahl Dimmat al-Muslimin) — about whom the Prophet Muhammad (may God grant him His blessings and peace) said: "Whosoever takes from them even a rope, I will be his adversary on the day of Judgment." This is among the most important things we require of you to do and expect you to accomplish, in view of your noble character and determination. May God be our and your guardian and provide you with His success. Peace be upon you with the mercy of God and His blessings.

Al-Husayn Ibn 'Ali

(Harut Sassounian, compiler,The Armenian Genocide: Documents & Declarations 1915-1995(Glendale: 80th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee, 1995), pp. 62-63.)

The Scottish Parliament, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba

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June 18, 2013

Motion S4M-06266: Marco Biagi, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 18/04/2013

Remembering the Armenian Genocide

That the Parliament notes that 24 April is the anniversary of the government of the Ottoman Empire arresting Armenian intellectuals in 1915, which is generally considered to be the beginning of the forced relocations and expulsions that led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Armenians in a systematic genocide over the course of eight years; believes that the Armenian tragedy gives the people of every nation reason to pause and reflect; commemorates all those who have fallen victim to genocide or attempted genocide, and recognises this and all other genocides as tragedies that should never be repeated in any part of the world.

Wales National Assembly Resolution, EDM 1454

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January 24, 2006

Early Day Motion

EDM 1454ASSYRIAN AND ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN 191524.01.2006

Pound, Stephen

That this House is appalled by the genocide committed against the Assyrians in 1915 in their ancestral homeland by the then ruling government of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, the Committee for Union and Progress, a genocide which led to the mass exodus of the Assyrians from their millennia-old native soil and resulted in the deaths of approximately two-thirds of the Assyrian population and one and a half million Armenians and the destruction of many Assyrian and Armenian villages and national and religious institutions; recognises the suffering of the Assyrian and Armenian people during the genocide of 1915, and accepts that the suffering of victims of genocide is augmented and perpetuated by indifference and denial, and that genocide prevention can only by achieved by learning from history and recognising and condemning previous acts of genocide; calls upon the UK and Turkish governments publicly and officially to recognise the Assyrian and Armenian genocide of 1915, and encourage other members of the international community to take similar steps, thereby fulfilling the obligation of international co-operation enshrined in the preamble to the 1948 Genocide Convention; and urges the UK Government to call on the European Union to make official Turkish recognition of the 1915 Assyrian and Armenian genocide one of the pre-conditions for Turkey's membership of the EU.

South Australia State Legislative Council

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March 25, 2009

South Australia StateLegislative Council (Upper House)

Resolution

MOTION

That this Council recognises that the Armenian Genocide is one of the greatest crimes against humanity and -

I. joins the members of the Armenian-Australian community in honouring the memory of the innocent men, women and children who fell victim to this genocide;

II. condemns the genocide of the Armenians and all other acts of genocide as the ultimate act of racial, religious and cultural intolerance;

III. recognises the importance of remembering and learning from such dark chapters in human history to ensure that such crimes against humanity are not allowed to be repeated;

IV. acknowledges the significant humanitarian contribution made by the people of South Australia to the victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide; and

V. calls on the Commonwealth Government to officially condemn the genocide of the Armenians.

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > Canada > British Columbia

April 3, 2006

The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."

Order called for "Private Members' Statements."

[Motion] 59 By leave, Mr. Dix moved--

Be it resolved that this House recognize the genocide of the Armenians as a crime against humanity. Be it further resolved that this House urge the BC government to designate April 24th of every year hereafter throughout BC as a day of remembrance for the 1.5 million Armenians who fell victim to the first genocide of the 20th Century.

The debate continued.

Motion agreed to.

Legislature of Ontario, Canada

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > Canada > Ontario

March 27, 1980

On March 27, 1980, the Legislature of Ontario unanimously adopted the following resolution:

That this House, on behalf of the people of Ontario, requests the government of Canada to officially recognize and condemn the atrocities committed by the government of Turkey upon the Armenian people who were victims of persecution and genocide during World War I:

And this House, on behalf of the people of Ontario, urges the government of Canada to make appropriate representation to the General Assembly of the United Nations to recognize and condemn the Armenian genocide and to express the abhorrence of such actions as being in violation of the basic standards of human rights and decency now embodied in the United Nations Declarations of Human Rights:

And this House, on behalf of the people of Ontario, recommends to the government of Canada that it designate April 24 in every year hereafter throughout Canada as a day of remembrance for the Armenian community, as it has been by the Armenian people for many years in memory of fellow Armenians who suffered such crimes.

Madison, Wisconsin, City Council

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Wisconsin

April 20, 2004

WHEREAS, one and one-half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, Armenians worldwide annually commemorate this tragic event on April 24th, the day that 600 Armenian leaders, writers, thinkers, and professionals in Constantinople and major cities throughout Turkey were first rounded up, deported, and massacred; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide and massacres of the Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate a thriving and noble civilization more than 3000 years old; and

WHEREAS, the people and government of the United States of America extended enormous aid and relief to the survivors of this tragedy; and

WHEREAS, to this day, revisionists still inexplicably deny the existence of these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of this genocide and honors as national heroes the perpetrators of that crime against humanity; and

WHEREAS, recognition of the anniversary of this genocide to the Armenian population is crucial to guarding against the recurrence of genocide and provides the American people with a greater understanding of its heritage; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Madison have greatly enriched this city through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts;

Bergen County Executive

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > New Jersey

April 24, 2004

WHEREAS, the memory of those human beings who perished in the Armenian Genocide must never be forgotten; and

WHEREAS, on April 24, 2004, Bergen County residents of Armenian heritage will call all County residents together to commemorate the 89th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915; and

WHEREAS, this commemoration will serve as an appropriate time for the people of Bergen County and others to remember the nearly two million Armenian men, women and children who lost their lives; and

WHEREAS, in 1990, the Knights of Vartan, Bakradouny Lodge No.38, dedicated the Genocide Monument that stands on the grounds of the Bergen County Justice Center, and again, this year, the monument will serve as the focus of the commemoration of that tragic time in the history of the people of Armenia and of all humankind; and

WHEREAS, this declaration of a time of remembrance must include a commitment that such inhumanity never again occur in our world;

NOW THEREFORE,

I, DENNIS McNERNEY,

Executive of the County of Bergen, State of New Jersey

do hereby proclaim Saturday, April 24, 2004, as

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY IN BERGEN COUNTY

to honor the memory of those who were killed during the Armenian Genocide, and to encourage the residents of the County of Bergen to renew their resolve that people everywhere are able to live without fear, in freedom, and in peace.

[signed] DENNIS McNERNEYBergen County Executive April 24, 2004

Montgomery County

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Maryland

April 24, 1987

The County Council of Montgomery County, MarylandProclamation

WHEREAS, the ancient nation of Armenia was the first nation in the world to declare itself a Christina nation; and

WHEREAS, during the conquest of Armenia in World War I, no less than one and one half million Armenian people were massacred; and

WHEREAS, the nations of the world stood by in the face of this terrible crime of genocide, a fact noted by Adolph Hitler in speaking of his plans for the extermination of the Jewish people; and

WHERAS, we must never forget that we human beings are as capable of hated and apathy in the face of evil as we are capable of love and compassion; and

WHERAS, we must remember and reflect on the most bitter episodes of human history, lest in forgetting our history we are forced to repeat it.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Montgomery County Executive and the Montgomery County Council do hereby proclaim

April 24, 1987

As a day of remembrance of the Crime of Genocide against the Armenian people.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that on this day of remembrance we renew our commitment to the cause of understanding and mutual respect among all of the people of the world.

Signed this 20th day of April in the year 1987.Sidney KramerCounty Executive Rose Crenca Council President

City of Waukegan

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Illinois

April 3, 1990

CITY OF WAUKEGAN

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, during the period leading to the breakup of the Ottoman Empire, Ottoman leaders promulgated anti-Armenian policies, including the mass deportations of Armenians; and

WHEREAS, these policies resulted in the systematic annihilation, through massacres, disease and starvation, of a large segment of the Armenian population; and

WHEREAS, over 1.5 million men, women and children of Armenian ancestry were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire during the years 1915 through 1923; and

WHEREAS, The Armenians have historical roots and a national identity dating back over three thousand years in what is now eastern Turkey, northwestern Iran and the south-central Soviet Union; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have a distinctive linguistic and religious heritage within the Christian tradition.

NOW THERFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Waukegan do hereby proclaim April 24, 1990 as a day of remembrance for the victims of the Armenian genocide, and in their memory this date is commemorated by all Armenian-Americans and their friends throughout the City of Waukegan and its environs.

DATED THIS 3RD DAY OF APRIL, 1990.

City of Denver

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Colorado

April 24, 2010

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City and County of Denver Proclamation

WHEREAS, The indigenous Armenian people were subject to severe persecution and brutal injustice at the hands of their Ottoman oppressors during the "First Genocide of the Twentieth Century," of the "Forgotten Genocide;" and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide began with the murder of hundreds of Armenians intellectuals and political religious, and business leaders who were arrested and taken from their homes in Constantinople before dawn on April 24, 1915l and WHERAS, each year, Armenians throughout the world honor the 1.5 million who perished from 1915 to 1923, and all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian Genocide and condemn any attempt to deny its historical truth or mischaracterize the episode as anything less than genocide -- the term coined by Raphael Lemkin in 1944 who referenced the Armenian extermination as a seminal example of genocide; and

WHEREAS, the City and County of Denver join the Armenian-American community in its annual observance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 - 1923 by encouraging Denverites to visit the

Armenian Genocide Memorial Plaque on the northeast grounds of the Colorado State Capital in Denver, est. 1982, and in doing so raise awareness of this unconscionable tragedy so that we may better understand the importance of eliminating hatred in our own communities; and

WHERAS, certified copies of this proclamation be transmitted to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, members of Colorado Congressional delegation, the Senate and Assembly of the State of Colorado, The Armenian Assembly in Washington D.C., and the Armenian and Turkish Embassies in Washington D.C.; and

NOW, THEREFORE I, JOHN W. HICKENLOOPER, MAYER of the City and County of Denver, Colorado, by Virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby officially proclaim April 24, 2010, to also be acknowledged as:

"Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day"

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the official seal of the City and County of Denver to be affixed this twenty-fourth day of April 2010.

John W. HickenlooperMAYOR

City of Las Vegas

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Nevada

April 24, 2012

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Proclamation from the office of the Mayor

By the virtue of the authority given to me by the laws of the State of Nevada and by the Charter of the City of Las Vegas,

I, Carolyn G. Goodman, Mayor of the City of Las Vegas, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2012 as Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day in the City of Las Vegas and ask all citizens to knowledge and remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The Armenian-American Cultural Society of Las Vegas will gather and commemorate the 97th Anniversary of this tragic event.

In witness whereof:

By the powers granted to me, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the city of Las Vegas to be affixed this 24th day of April 2012.

Honorable Carolyn G. GoodmanMayor, City of Las Vegas

City of Manchester

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > New Hampshire

April 24, 2010

City of Manchester

A Resolution

WHEREAS on April 24, 1915, Ottoman Turkish authorities began the deportation, mass killings and ethnic cleansing of its minority Armenian population resulting in the death of 1.5 million Armenians;

WHEREAS hundreds of thousands of survivors were forced to flee to foreign countries after being stripped of their possessions, their national identities and their homeland; and

WHEREAS in 1915 the United States launched an unprecedented humanitarian effort to save the survivors; and

WHEREAS many Armenian-Americans in Manchester, in New Hampshire and throughout the United States are descendents of these victims; and

WHEREAS the International Court of Transitional Justice, the European Parliament, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide and 20 countries around the world have all reaffirmed the extermination of the Armenians by the Turkish government as genocide; and

WHEREAS in the cause of genocide prevention and education, we must make every effort to confront those that seek to inflict destruction upon mankind and vow to give true meaning to the words 'never again';

I, Theodore Gatsas, MAYOR OF MANCHESTER, do hereby proclaim today, April 24, 2010, as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. I urge all citizens to recognize the tragedy that has affected the lives of so many Americans of Armenian descent and further urge citizens to work towards a future where such barbarism is never repeated.

And that this resolution be duly signed by the Mayor of Manchester;

[signed]

Theodore Gatsas, Mayor

Attested to by: [signed]

Matthew P. Normand, City Clerk

City of Manchester

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > New Hampshire

May 20, 2008

TEXT OF PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, for eight years, from 1915-1923, more than 1.5 million Armenians living within the Ottoman Empire's borders were killed; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of Armenians were forced to flee to foreign countries after being stripped of their possessions, their national identities and their homeland; and

WHEREAS, many Armenian-American in Manchester, in New Hampshire and throughout the country are descendents of these victims; and

WHEREAS, through this tragedy, and others like it, we must make and effort to confront those that seek to inflict unbearable destruction upon us and vow to never let the atrocities from our history become our future.

NOW, THEREFORE, I Frank C. Guinta, Mayor of the City of Manchester N.H. do hereby proclaim May 20, 2008, as the Armenian Genocide Remembrance in the city. I urge all citizens to recognized the tragedy that has affected the live of so many of Armenian descent and further urge citizens to work towards a future where such barbarism never happens again.

Given on this twentieth day of May, in the year of Our Lord two thousand and eight, and the

independence of the United States of America, two-hundred and thirty-one.

Signed,Frank C. Guinta

City of Columbia

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > South Carolina

April 24, 2003

WHEREAS, One and one-half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were the victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide and massacres of Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, The denial of the Armenian genocide by the present-day Turkish government continues to antagonize the Armenians, South Carolinians are highly sensitive to the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, South Carolina is home to hundreds of Armenian families; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in South Carolina have greatly enriched our State through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert D. Coble, Mayor of the City of Columbia, South Carolina, along with my fellow members of Columbia City Council, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2003 as

"A Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923"

in the City of Columbia.

Signed:Robert D. CobleMayor

Myrtle Beach City Council Adopts Armenian Genocide Reaffirmation Proclamation

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > South Carolina

May 23, 2017

102nd Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide

WHEREAS, the Myrtle Beach community joins human rights advocates and historians from around the world to recognize and mourn the 1.5 million Armenians who perished in the first genocide of the twentieth century, from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, 2017 marks the 102nd anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian Genocide, led by Turkish forces, which included the massacre of Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians due to religious, political, and educational beliefs; and

WHEREAS, the genocide started April 24, 1915, when hundreds of Armenians and others were arrested in Constantinople, and continued for eight years with the horrific annihilation of innocent Armenian men, women and children, leaving fewer than one million survivors; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian culture is celebrated today as a historic reminder of the remarkable courage, resilience and perseverance of the human spirit, and we acknowledge the estimated 100 Armenian families in the Myrtle Beach area for their contributions to our community; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Myrtle Beach City Council hereby recognizes the 102nd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide by honoring and remembering those who perished and reaffirms the importance of tolerance, justice and respect, lest hatred against lead to the suffering and destruction of mankind; and

BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED that we also recognize the Armenian American families in the Myrtle Beach community for their efforts to advance civil rights as champions of equality.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of May 2017.

City of Memphis

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Tennessee

April 24, 1990

CITY OF MEMPHIS

PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR

WHEREAS, Seventy-five years ago, millions of Armenians fled in terror from their ancient homeland and one and one-half million Armenians were massacred; and

WHEREAS, Although the survivors of this massacre were scattered to all parts of the world, they have maintained their identity and unity through their church, passing along to each generation not only a strong Christian faith but a knowledge of their language, history and culture; and

WHEREAS, The heroic struggles of the Armenian people inspire and challenge us to cherish and preserve the freedom that is ours; and

WHEREAS, It is fitting that we pause to honor the memory of those martyred and pay tribute to the many thousands of Armenians who are now an integral part of our nation;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Richard C. Hackett, Mayor of the City of Memphis, Tennessee, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1990 as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY

In our city to commemorate this tragic event in world history and to strengthen our commitment to the cause of liberty and justice in this and all other nations of the world.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Memphis to be affixed this 24th day of April, 1990.

(SIGNED)Richard C. Hackett

City of Memphis

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Tennessee

May 15, 1990

City of Memphis, Tennessee Council Resolution

WHEREAS, seventy-five years ago, during the First World War, the Turkish Empire in and effort of general extermination of the Armenians population in Eastern Turkey, massacred approximately 1.5 million men, women, and children in this century's first genocides; and

WHEREAS, the survivors and descendents of this holocaust which drove them from their homeland, recall and commemorate April 24, 1915 as Armenian Martyr's Day; and

WHEREAS, though the survivors were scattered to all parts of the world, they maintain their identity and unity through language, history, culture and the Church; and

WHEREAS, this unity serves as an inspiration to all peoples to cherish and preserve freedom and it is fitting that we pause to pay tribute to the thousands of Armenians who are now an integral part of this nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Memphis, that the Council and Mayor join in a day of remembrance for those of Armenian ancestry in supporting April 24, 1915 as

ARMENIAN MARTYR'S DAY

and express admiration for their independent spirit displayed which continues to promote and strengthen our commitment to the cause of liberty, justice and dignity for all people.

signedA.D. AlissandratosCity Councilman

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy and that said document was adopted by the Memphis City Council in regular session on May 15, 1990<[p> signed Linda Rogers Deputy Comptroller Council Records

City of Philadelphia

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Pennsylvania

November 16, 1989

COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF CLERKROOM 402, CITY HALLPHILADELPHIA

RESOLUTION NO. 641

RESOLUTION

Commemorating April 24, 1990, as "National Day of Remembrance of the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923."

WHEREAS, During the period leading to the breakup of the Ottoman Empire, Ottoman leaders promulgated anti-Armenian policies, including mass deportation of Armenians; and,

WHEREAS, These policies resulted in the systematic annihilation, through massacres, disease, and starvation, of a large segment of the Armenian population; and,

WHEREAS, 1.5 Million men, women and children of Armenian ancestry were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire during the years 1915 through 1923; and,

WHEREAS, Armenians have historical roots and a national identity dating back three thousand years in what is now eastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, and south-central Soviet Union; and,

WHEREAS, Armenians have distinctive linguistic and religious heritage within the Christian tradition; therefore,

Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, That we observe April 24, 1990 as a day of remembrance for the victims of the Armenian genocide, and in their memory this date is commemorated by all Armenian-Americans and their friends throughout Philadelphia.

CERTIFICATION: This is a true and correct copy of the original Resolution adopted by the Council of the City of Philadelphia on the sixteenth day of November, 1989.

(SIGNED)Joseph E. ColemanPresident of City Council

ATTEST:

(SIGNED)Chief Clerk of the Council

Pittsburgh City Council

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Pennsylvania

April 20, 2004

Presented by Mr. Shields

RESOLUTION 165/2004

WHEREAS, During the period leading to the breakup of the Ottoman empire, Ottoman leaders promulgated Anti-Armenia policies, including mass deportation of Armenians; and,

WHEREAS, these policies resulted in the systematic annihilation, through massacres, disease, and starvation of a large segment of the Armenian population; and,

WHEREAS, 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian ancestry were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 through 1923; and, WHEREAS, Armenians have historical roots and a national identity dating back three thousand years in what is now Eastern Turkey, Northwestern Iran, and South-Central Soviet Union; and,

WHEREAS, Armenians have distinctive linguistic and religious heritage within the Christian tradition.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Saturday April 24, 2004 as "A Day of Remembrance" here in the City of Pittsburgh.

Passed in Council on Tuesday April 20, 2004.

City of Albuquerque

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > New Mexico

April 24, 1982

CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE

EXECUTIVE ORDER

ORDER NO. 63

WHEREAS, April 24 is indelibly imprinted in the memory of the Armenian people, worldwide, since the year 1915, when the mass genocide of the Armenian people began in the Ottoman Turkish Empire; and

WHEREAS, our Armenian citizens are dedicated to perpetuating the memory of the martyrs of this holocaust that began with the arrest and murder of Armenian community leaders and members of the National Parliament; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian families were uprooted from their ancestral homeland, brutally exposed to all kinds of indignities, and slain by the hundreds of thousands so that more than half the Armenian people perished; and

WHEREAS, in our democracy the principles of humanity and the dignity of man constitute the indestructible foundation for life, liberty, freedom and equality for the pursuit of happiness; and

WHEREAS, Armenian ancestors have contributed to the good of our City, State and Nation, in war as in peace;

NOW, THERFOERE, I, Harry E. Kinney, Mayor of the City of Albuquerque, do hereby proclaim

APRIL 24, 1982

"ARMENIAN MARTYRS' DAY"

in Albuquerque and urge all citizens to take cognizance of this event and to participate fittingly in its observance.

City of Albuquerque

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > New Mexico

April 24, 2006

City of Albuquerque

New Mexico

Executive Order

From the desk of Mayor Martin J. Chavez

Whereas, from 1915 to 1923, one and one-half million men, women and children of Armenian descent were victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire; and

Whereas, up to another 500,000 Armenians were forcibly deported, deprived of their homes, their possessions and their dignity during that eight-year reign of terror; and

Whereas, the Armenian Genocide has been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble historic civilization more than 3,000 thousand years old; and

Whereas, before the implementation of the Jewish Holocaust, in order to encourage his followers, Adolph Hitler asked, "Who remembers the Armenians today?"; and

Whereas, the Armenian Genocide was cited during the Nuremberg trials as the basis for the emergence of the Nuremberg law on Crimes against Humanity; and

Whereas, it is critically important for our city and nation to remember and acknowledge what happened to the Armenians in order to help prevent future genocides; and

Whereas, by remembering and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, Albuquerqueans are highly sensitive to the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

Now, therefore, I, Martin J. Chavez, Mayor of the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, do hereby proclaim April 24th, 2006, as

"Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day"

in honor of the innocent Armenians brutally murdered, in order to teach the horrors of genocide so that the crime may be eliminated from the human condition.

Order No. 06-36

City of Peabody

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Massachusetts

April 24, 1990

City of Peabody, MassachusettsOffice of the MayorPeter Torigian Mayor

75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915-1923

APRIL 24, 1990

WHEREAS: 1,500,000 people of Armenian ancestry were victims of genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman Empire from 1915-1923; and

WHEREAS: At the outbreak of World War I, the Young Turk regime decided to deport the entire Armenian population of about 1,750,000 to Syria and Mesopotamia; and

WHEREAS: Talaat Pasha, leader of the Young Turk movement, was principle author of the plan to exterminate the Armenians; and

WHEREAS: The plan of genocide consisted of deporting all Armenians of whatever age or condition of health to the totally barren Der-El-Zor region of what is now Syria; and

WHEREAS: The Armenians were deported to Der-El-Zor on foot, a death march in which more than 1,000,000 died of starvation or were killed; and

WHEREAS: Armenians were rounded up and brutally driven from their homes and their land, separated from families, robbed of everything they owned and stripped of all they carried with them; and

WHEREAS: Thousands of Christian Armenians were tortured and murdered for refusing to accept Islam as their religion; and

WHEREAS: The atrocities inflicted on Armenians held in concentration camps and on the death marches to Der-El-Zor in the Syrian desert resemble those of the Holocaust of World War II; and

WHEREAS: The massacre of Armenians who escaped deportation and remained in Turkey was called the "most colossal crime of all ages" by the examining American military mission's report to the U.S. Congress; and

WHEREAS: In a telegram sent by the U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau to the secretary of state, Morgenthau warned that "a campaign of race extermination is in progress under a pretext of reprisal against rebellion;" now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED: That I Peter Torigian, Mayor of the City of Peabody, proclaim April 24, 1990, as a day of remembrance of the 75th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923; and, be it further

RESOLVED: That the people of the City of Peabody observe April 24, 1990 by remembering the 1,500,000 people of Armenian ancestry who lost their lives in the Genocide of 1915-1923.

SignedPeter Torigian, Mayor

own of Brookline

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Massachusetts

April 24, 2001

PROCLAMATION: A Day of Rememberance of the Armenian Genocide

WHEREAS, the deaths of at least 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks and the forced deprtation of countless others is remembered every year on April 24, since 1915, as Armenian Martyr's Day; and

WHEREAS, eighty-six years ago Armenians were forced to witness the slaughter of their relatives and the loss of their anscestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, the denial of the Armenian Genocide by the present day Turkish government continues to antagonize the Armenian people concerning their own rightful place in history; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian people have not received reparations for their losses; and

WHEREAS, people of Armenian descent have been strong, productive, contributing citizens in the many communities in which they reside in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and

WHEREAS, on April 24, 2001, Armenian families from across Massachusetts will gather to honor the 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred under the Ottoman Turkish government between 1915 and 1923;

NOW, THEREFORE; we the members of the Board of Selectmen, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2001, as "A Day of Rememberance of the Armenian Genocide" in the town of Brookline, and encourage all citizens to commend its observance.

Town of Amherst

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Massachusetts

April 27, 2015

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Armenian Proclamation April 2015

Whereas, from 1915 to 1923, the government of the Ottoman Empire systematically planned and carried out the murders of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians living in Asia Minor and historic West Armenia, and

Whereas, by 1923, this mass extermination and the accompanying atrocities had resulted in the virtual elimination of the Armenian population and culture in historic Asia Minor and West Armenia, which has become known as the Armenian Genocide, and

Whereas, the first mass murders began on the night of April 24, 1915, when the Turkish government arrested more than 250 Armenian community leaders in Constantinople, the Ottoman Empire's capital city, and

Whereas, most of the prominent educators, clergy, writers, lawyers, intellectuals, and other public figures of the Armenian community were summarily executed, and

Whereas, most of the adult males were either conscripted into the Turkish army to fight on the side of the country that was killing their people or were murdered on the spot, and

Whereas, large numbers of Armenian old men, women, and children, including babies in arms were either killed or forcibly deported to the Syrian desert, during which deportation many died either en route, at the hands of government-aligned gangs, or from dehydration and starvation in the desert, and

Whereas, in May 1915, the Allied Powers of France, Great Britain, and Russia issued a joint statement charging the government in Constantinople with committing crimes ''against humanity and civilization," and

Whereas, Raphael Lemkin, the initial drafter of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the originator of the term "genocide," recognized the Armenian Genocide as the type of crime the United Nations should prevent through the establishment of international standards, and

Whereas, historians cite the Armenian Genocide as a forerunner of later genocidal massacres, including the Holocaust, the Cambodian Killing Fields, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Darfur, now therefore be it Resolved: we, the Select Board of the Town of Amherst do hereby urge all residents to mark this occasion and to participate fittingly in its observance by honoring the memories of the victims and the courage and resilience of the survivors,

Beginning with a ceremony to be held in front of Town Hall on April 30,

And further, by taking to heart the lessons of this tragedy as we commit ourselves to upholding the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, throughout this centennial year and beyond.

Finally, be it resolved that the Town of Amherst be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Governor Charlie Baker, State Senators Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren. U.S. Representative James McGovern, President Barack Obama, the Armenian National Committee of America and the Armenian Assembly of America.

VOTED AND DATED this 27th day of April, 2015.

City of Garden City

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Michigan

April 16, 1990

CITY OF GARDEN CITY

PROCLAMATION

COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE 1915-1990

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Turkish governments from 1915 to 1923, prior to the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, resulting in the massacre of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children, the deportation of 500,000 survivors; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide is amply documented in the archives of the United States and other nations; and

WHEREAS, an estimated 500,000 Armenian in Metro Detroit and millions throughout the world whose relatives and ancestors succumbed to the atrocities, along with their friends, annually commemorate April 24, as a day of Remembrance; and

WHEREAS, U.S. Senate Resolution 359 of May 13, 1920 stated, in part, that "hearings conducted by the subcommittee... have clearly established the truth of the reported massacres and other atrocities from which the Armenian people have suffered"; and

WHEREAS, President Reagan and President Bush both have publicly recognized the tragic events of the 1915-1923 period; and

WHEREAS, world morality dictates to people of conscience that such crimes against humanity not go unpunished, unrecognized and without reparation:

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that it is the sense of the City of Garden city, and I, Jim A. Plakas, as Mayor of the City of Garden City, that the city leaders on this day declare April 24 as a Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man and are mindful of the somber commemoration undertaken by their citizenry, and that the City of Garden City shares in the commemoration as a governing body mindful of human rights with the objective of doing its part in preventing any future genocide anywhere in the world.

(SIGNED)Mayor, Jim A. Plakas

Dated: April 16, 1990

City of Troy

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Michigan

April 24, 1990

City of Troy, Michigan Proclamation

WHEREAS, Two hundred and fourteen years ago, our nation committed itself to oppose tyranny and oppression, and begin its historic struggle for freedom and independence; and

WHEREAS, That struggle has given hope and inspiration to millions of victims of persecution and oppression all over the worlds, many of who have found refuge in our country; and

WHEREAS, Seventy five years ago, million of Armenians fled in terror from their ancient ancestral homeland of Armenia; and one and a half million innocent Armenian men, women and children were brutally massacred by the Ottoman Turkish Empire, with the intent of exterminating the entire Armenian population; and

WHEREAS, On April 24, 1990, Armenians throughout the world will commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the day in 1915 when the Ottoman Turks arrested and killed 250 Armenian community leaders and intellectuals, and marked the beginning of the first genocide of the 20th Century; and

WHEREAS, It is fitting to honor the memory of those martyrs, in the hope that the conscience of the world can bring a halt to senseless massacres and holocausts, and end to all human suffering, a reawakening of a sense of justice for peoples and nations of the world; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate to pay tribute to the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, especially to the hundreds of thousands who made their home in our country and have become loyal, hard-working, honorable citizens, many of whom we are proud to have reside in our city of Troy, and its neighboring cities and towns.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Martin G. Mahar, Mayopr of the City of Troy do hereby proclaim Tuesday, April 24, 1990 as ARMENIAN MARTYR'S DAY in the City of Troy and urge all citizens of Troy to remember the Armenian Martyrs, for we, as a peace-loving and God-fearing people, must never be indifferent, never forget, and never ignore injustice and human suffering.

SignedMartin G. MaharMayor -- City of Troy

City of Allen Park

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Michigan

April 24, 2008

Resolution to Officially Recognizethe Armenian Genocide

Whereas, during the years 1915-1923 the Ottoman Turkish Empire carried out a genocide of the Armenian people, and

Whereas, over 1.5 million Armenians were killed due to their race and Christian religious beliefs, and

Whereas, the Armenian genocide was cited by Adolph Hitler when he said to his Generals on the eve of sending his troops into Poland "Go, kill without mercy...who today remembers the Armenians", and

Whereas, the Armenian genocide was the first genocide of the 20th century, yet to this day is not officially recognized by the United States government,

Be it Therefore Resolved that, The City of Allen Park hereby officially recognizes the Armenian Genocide,

Be it Further Resolved that, The City of Allen Park hereby declares April 24, 2008 as Genocide Remembrance Day,

Be it Further Resolved that, The City of Allen Park hereby supports passage of a Congressional

Resolution to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide,

Be it Further Resolved that, The City of Allen Park submit a copy of this resolution to its U.S. Congressman and U.S. Senators and urge their support of Congressional action on this issue.

Be it Further Resolved that, "Allen Park recognizes the Armenian Genocide" be placed on the city marquee on April 23, 24 and 25, 2008

City of Fort Lauderdale

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Florida

April 24, 2003

Office of the MayorCity of Fort LauderdaleProclamation

WHEREAS, One and one-half million Armenians were massacred through forced exile and murder at the end of the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, demonizing others lays the foundation for a dark cycle of hatred and transcending this venomous pattern requires painful introspection about the past and wise determination to forge a new future based on truth and reconciliation; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have made great contribution to our national life and through faith and courage, generations of Armenians have overcome great suffering and proudly preserved their centuries-old culture, traditions, and religion; and

WHEREAS, just as the United States reached out to the Armenian people to provide shelter and freedom early in the last century, so did Armenia extend a supportive hand to the American people in the immediate aftermath of September 11, 2001.

NOW, THEREFORE, WE, as City Commissioners of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2003 as:

ARMENIAN MARTYR'S DAY

in the City of Fort Lauderdale this, the 24th day of April 2003.

signedJim Naugle, Mayor

City of Boca Raton

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Florida

April 24, 2015

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WHEREAS, in 1975, the United States Senate and House of Representatives resolved to designate April' 24 as National Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man; and

WHEREAS, on April 24, 1915, the Ottoman Turks conducted a mass extermination of one and one-half million Armenians; and

WHEREAS, this sacrifice of the Armenian people in the cause of religious freedom, justice and human rights serves to remind all mankind that similar events perpetuating man's inhumanity to man need be avoided; and

WHEREAS, Armenian Americans contributes richly to Florida's social diversity and people of Armenian decent have been loyal, productive and patriotic citizens of this country and the State of Florida; and

WHEREAS, the memory of these 1,500,000 martyrs is traditionally observed on April 24thby all Armenians in the United States and throughout the world;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Susan Haynie, Mayor of the City of Boca Raton, Florida, do hereby proclaim April 24,2015

1OOTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

in Boca Raton and call upon its citizens to join all Armenians worldwide to observe the 100th commemoration of Martyrs' Day in the hope that these days of infamy will never be forgotten.

Susan Haynie Mayor

April 24,2015

Palm Beach County School Board

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Florida

April 19, 2017

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WHEREAS, on April 24, 2015 the Ottoman Turkish government began a premeditated campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide against its Christian Armenian minority population, resulting in the death of an estimated one and one half million Armenians that continued until 1923; and

WHEREAS;, on July 16, 1915, U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, wrote to the U.S. Secretary of State, Robert Lansing, and reported that “Deportation of and excesses against peaceful Armenians is increasing and from harrowing reports of eye witnesses it appears that a campaign of race extermination is in progress;” and

WHEREAS; on May 28, 1951, the United States Government affirmed the Armenian Genocide in a statement to the International Criminal Court, which stated that “The Roman persecution of the Christians, the Turkish massacres of Armenians, the extermination of millions of Jews and Poles by the Nazis are outstanding examples of the crime of genocide;” and

WHEREAS, the U.S. House of Representatives officially acknowledged the World War I mass killings of Armenians as the Armenian Genocide through adopted legislation in 1975 and 1984; and

WHEREAS; this resolution calls on the people of the United States to observe April 24th as a day of remembrance for all the victims of genocide, especially those of Armenian ancestry; and

WHEREAS, former Florida Governors Bob Martinez in 1990, and Jeb Bush in 2006, issued proclamations designating April 24th as “Armenian Martyrs’ Day; and

WHEREAS, Armenian Americans contribute richly to Florida's social mosaic and add to our Political, educational, and economic development; and

WHEREAS, educators in Palm Beach County, Florida are encouraged to teach about human rights, the Armenian Genocide, and consequences of genocide denial beginning at the high school education level.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Superintendent and School Board of Palm Beach County do hereby proclaim April 2015, as the Centennial Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in memory of the victims of the Genocide and affirm the need to educate students about this tragedy and the consequences of the subsequent denial beginning at the high school level.

Chuck Shaw, Chairman

April 23, 2019

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CITY OF BOCA RATONIncorporated 1925

Proclamation

Whereas, on April 24, 1915, Ottoman Empire began a campaign of genocide lasting for eight years that resulted in the death of one and one-half millions Armenian whose sacrifices in the cause of religious freedom, justice and human rights serves to remind all mankind that such persecutions must never be forgotten; and

Whereas, in 1975, the United States House of Representative resolved to authorize the President to designate April 24 as National Day of Remembrance of Man’s Inhumanity to Man in recognition of all victims of genocide; and

Whereas, the memory of these martyrs is traditionally observed on April 24th by all Armenians in the United States and throughout the world; and

Whereas, recognition and reaffirmation of this tragedy educates people about the horrors of inhumanity and works to prevent future occurrences of genocides and the bigotry and hatred that could cause them;

Now, Therefore, I Scott Singer, Mayor of the City of Boca Raton, Florida, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2019 as

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

In Boca Raton and call upon our citizens to join Armenians worldwide in activities to commemorate this solemn observance in the hope that these days of infamy will never be forgotten nor repeated.

Scott Singer

Mayor

April 24th, 2019

Village of Massena

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > New York

April 20, 1990

Village of Massena, New York Proclamation

Whereas, seventy-five years ago, during the First World War, the Turkish Empire in an effort of general extermination of the Armenian population, massacred 1.5 million Armenians; and

Whereas, the survivors and descendants of this holocaust which drove them from their homeland recall and commemorate April 24, 1915 as Armenian Martyr's Day, and

Whereas, though survivors were scattered to all parts of the world, they maintain their identity and unity through language, history, culture and the church, and

Whereas, this unity serves as an inspiration to all people to cherish and preserve freedom and it is fitting that we pause to pay tribute to the thousands of Armenians who are now an integral party of this nation.

As mayor of the Village of Massena, I urge our community to join in a day of remembrance for those of Armenian Ancestry in supporting April 24, 1990 as ARMENIAN MARTYR'S DAY.

Dated: April 20, 1990

New York City

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > New York

April 24, 1990

OFFICE OF THE MAYOROF THECITY OF NEW YORK

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS: SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY, THE LEADERS OF THE THREE THOUSAND YEAR OLD ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE WERE TAKEN FROM THEIR HOMES, ARRESTED AND PUT TO DEATH; AND

WHEREAS: THIS INHUMAN DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN WRITERS, POETS AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT INITIATED A DEVASTATING GENOCIDE WHICH ULTIMATLEY CLAIMED THE LIVES OF ONE AND ONE-HALF MILLION ARMENIAN MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN; AND

WHEREAS: ON THIS DAY OF REMEBRANCE WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO DIED, MARTYRS FOR A WORTHY CAUSE; WE ALSO PAY HOMAGE TO THOSE WHO SURVIVED AND WENT FORTH TO BUILD NEW LIVES; AND

WHEREAS: WE HONOR THE STEADFAST SPIRIT OF ARMENIAN AMERICANS TODAY AS THEY CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND TO ENHANCE OUR CITY THROUGH THEIR NOTABLE RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS,

NOW THEREFORE, I, DAVID N. DINKINS, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, IN COMMEMORATION OF THE UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY THAT BEFELL THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1990 IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK AS

"A DAY OF REMEMBRENCE OF THEVICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE"

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE HEREUNTOSET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OFTHE CITY OF NEW YORK TO BE AFFIXED.

(SIGNED)DAVID N. DINKINSMAYOR

City of New York

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > New York

March 25, 2002

New York City

THE COUNCIL

March 25, 2002

Res. No. 141

Resolution declaring April 24, 2002 to be "Armenian Martyrs Day" in the City of New York, urging all people to remember the genocide of the Armenian people that was perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks, calling upon the President of the United States to vigorously pursue an acknowledgment of the genocide from modern Turkey and directing the Clerk of the City of New York to forward a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States.

By Council Members Katz, Vallone Jr., Barron, Comrie, Diaz, Gerson, Perkins, Recchia Jr., Rivera, Sanders Jr., Sears and Weprin; also Council Member Vann

Whereas, Between 1915 and 1923, the Ottoman Turks carried out a genocidal campaign that led to the extermination of 1,500,000 Armenians and the deportation of countless other Armenians; and

Whereas, During the genocide, Armenians were forced to witness the rape, mutilation and slaughter of their families, the desecration of their churches, the looting of their personal property, the dispossession of their real property and the loss of their ancestral homeland; and

Whereas, The ancestral homeland of the Armenian people taken by the Ottoman Turks has not been returned to the Armenian people, nor have Armenians received compensation for their losses; and

Whereas, The denial of the genocide by modern Turkey dishonors the memory of the forefathers of all living Armenians; and

Whereas, Armenians have traditionally designated April 24th as Armenian Martyrs Day in recognition and remembrance of those who perished during the genocide; and

Whereas, The year 2002 marks the 87th anniversary of the genocide; and

Whereas, It is of utmost importance to remember the past so that its atrocities are not repeated; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York declares April 24, 2002 to be "Armenian Martyrs Day" in the City of New York, urges all people around the world to remember the genocide of the Armenian people that was perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks, calls upon the President of the United States to vigorously pursue acknowledgment of the genocide from modern Turkey and directs the Clerk of the City of New York to forward a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States.

City of New York

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > New York

April 23, 2006

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Office of the MayorCITY OF NEW YORK

Proclamation

WHEREAS: Today, Armenians around the world gather to commemorate the 91st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. We remember the innocent victims of this terrible crime, as well as the survivors who have preserved the rich and varied culture of the Armenian people.

WHEREAS: The first victims of the Genocide were the religious, political, and intellectual leaders of Constantinople's Armenian community, who were arrested and murdered on April 24th, 1915. Over the next eight years, nearly 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children were massacred, and hundreds of thousands more were deported from their homeland. Approximately 20,000 Armenian refugees came to New York and found comfort in the small but vitalArmenian community that had existed in the city since the mid-19th century.

WHEREAS: The Knights and Daughters of Vartan will hold their 21st annual Armenian Genocide Commemorative Program on April 23rd at Times Square. This event demonstrates that New York's Armenians are still rooted in their heritage, and that they continue to honor the memory of those slain in the Armenian Genocide.

WHEREAS: The tragedy of the Armenian Genocide will never be forgotten -- it's sheer brutality and callousness are too haunting. Our memories are a call to prevent future genocides from occurring. These convictions are the deepest tribute we can pay to those we mourn.

NOW Therefore, I, Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of the City of New York, in memory of those who lost their lives in the Armenian Genocide, do hereby proclaim Sunday, April 23rd, 2006 in the City of New York as

"Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day"

April 24, 2015

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO"Today, we commemorate the Meds Yeghern and honor those who perished in the Armenian genocide 100 years ago in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century, when over a million Armenians were subjected to state-sanctioned murder, rape and massive forced deportations.

For many Armenians in New York City and around the world, this historical trauma is compounded by Turkey's refusal to recognize the devastation inflicted upon the Armenian people as an act of genocide. Pope Francis spoke of this in a recent sermon, and it bears repeating on this painful anniversary: There cannot be closure on an atrocity of this magnitude if we do not call it by its name.

The bravery of a new generation of Turks -- who are challenging those in their country who deny this tragedy -- is an encouraging step toward long overdue justice and reconciliation. Against today's background of rising religious intolerance, we must take this solemn occasion to reflect on the past -- and to directly confront the discrimination of the present."

City of Saint Paul

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Minnesota

April 24, 2001

Proclamation

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulting in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000 Armenians, of whom 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed, 500,000 survivors were expelled from their homes and which succeeded in the elimination of the over 2,500-year presence of Armenians in their historic homeland; and

WHEREAS, the failure of the domestic and international authorities to punish those responsible for the Armenian Genocide is a reason why similar genocides have recurred and may recur in the future, and that a proper judicial and firm response would have spared humanity needless suffering; and

WHEREAS, recognizing the significant contributions of the Armenian-American community of our city and state, I proclaimed 1999 to be Armenian Centennial Year in the City of Saint Paul; and

WHEREAS, on the anniversary of the onset of the Armenian Genocide, which is traditionally observed on April 24, it is fitting that all people of goodwill join the Armenian-American community in commemoration of this crime against humanity;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Norm Coleman, Mayor of the City of Saint Paul, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, April 24, 2001 to be Armenian Remembrance Day in the city of Saint Paul.

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Saint Paul to be affixed this Twenty-Fourth Day of April in the Year Two Thousand One.

[signed]Norm Coleman, Mayor

City of Minneapolis

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Minnesota

April 24, 2001

Proclamation

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulting in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000 Armenians, of whom 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed, 500,000 survivors were expelled from their homes, and which succeeded in the elimination of the over 2,500-year presence of Armenians in their historic homeland; and

WHEREAS, the unfolding Armenian Genocide was reported in newspapers across Minnesota; moreover, in their editorials of October 5 and 8, 1915, the Minneapolis Journal and Minneapolis Tribune unambiguously condemned as genocidal the measures then in progress against the Armenians; and

WHEREAS, the failure of the domestic and international authorities to exact justice from those responsible for the Armenian Genocide is a reason why genocides have continued to recur, and may occur again in the future; and

WHEREAS, a firm international and judicial response at that time would have spared humanity needless suffering; and

WHEREAS, the tragedy of the Armenian Genocide has been acknowledged by countries and international bodies including Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Council of Europe, Cyprus, the European Parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Russia, Sweden, the Vatican, the United Nations, the United States, and Uruguay, and by Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, and by twenty-four states of the United States; and

WHEREAS, one hundred twenty-six of the world's leading scholars of the Holocaust, including Prof. Stephen Feinstein, Director of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, University

of Minnesota, have affirmed that the World War I Armenian Genocide is an incontestable historical fact and accordingly urge the governments of Western Democracies to likewise recognize it as such; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of the significant contributions of the Armenian-American community to our city and state, I proclaimed 1999 to be Armenian Centennial Year in the City of Minneapolis; and

WHEREAS, on the anniversary of the onset of the Armenian Genocide, which is traditionally observed on April 24, it is fitting that all people of goodwill join the Armenian-American community in commemoration of this crime against humanity.

NOW THEREFORE I, Sharon Sayles Belton, Mayor of the City of Minneapolis, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2001 as Armenian Rememberance Day in the City of Minneapolis.

[signedSharon Sayles BeltonMayor of Minneapolis

City of Duluth

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Minnesota

April 24, 2003

City of Duluth, Minnesota, Office of the Mayor Proclamation

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide was carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915-23, resulting in the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians and deportation from their historic homeland of 500,000 others; and

WHEREAS, The unfolding crimes were reported widely across Minnesota and in many Duluth newspapers of the day, and Miss Sophie S. Holt of Duluth was among the heroic Americans who rescued Armenians and alerted the American public to the gravity of the situation; and

WHEREAS, One hundred twenty-six of the world's leading Holocaust scholars have affirmed that the Armenian Genocide is historical fact and urge governments worldwide to recognize it as such; and

WHEREAS, The failure of domestic and international authorities to exact justice from those responsible for the Armenian Genocide may have led to repetition of these crimes around the world, and a firm international and judicial response would have spared humanity needless suffering; and

WHEREAS, The Governor of Minnesota and the Mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul have made similar proclamations on the anniversary of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, April 24; and it is fitting that all people of goodwill join the Armenian-American community in solemn reflection on the crime against humanity;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gary L. Doty, Mayor of the City of Duluth, do officially proclaim April 24, 2003 as

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY

in the City of Duluth.

IN TESTIMNOY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the City of Duluth to be affixed in the City of Duluth this twenty-fourth day of April in the year of our Lord two thousand three.

SignedGary L. Doty

City of Rochester

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Minnesota

April 24, 2004

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide was carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulting in the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians and deportation from their historic homeland of 500,000 others; and

WHEREAS, The unfolding genocide was reported widely across Minnesota and in Rochester; moreover, in an editorial of October 13, 1915, the Rochester Daily Post and Record denounced the extermination of the Armenians; and

WHEREAS, The failure of the domestic and international authorities to exact justice from those responsible for the Armenian Genocide is a reason why similar genocides have recurred around the world, and a firm international and judicial response would have spared humanity needless suffering; and

WHEREAS, One hundred twenty-six of the world's leading scholars of the Holocaust and the International Center for Transitional Justice have affirmed that the World War I Armenian genocide is historical fact; and

WHEREAS, In Rochester's 150th anniversary year, we recognize that Armenian-Americans have made significant contributions to our city and state; and

WHEREAS, The Governor of Minnesota and the Mayors of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth have made similar proclamations on the anniversary of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, April 24; and it is fitting that all people of goodwill join the Armenian-American community in commemoration of this crime against humanity.

NOW THEREFORE: I, Ardell F. Brede, Mayor of the City of Rochester, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2004 as

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

in the City of Rochester

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the corporate seal of the City of Rochester to be affixed this 24th day of April in the year of two thousand four.

SignedArdell F. Brede, Mayor

City of Rochester, Minnesota

City of Saint Paul

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Minnesota

April 24, 2005

Proclamation

Whereas, the Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulting in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000 Christian Armenians, of whom 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed, 500,000 survivors were expelled from their homes, and which succeeded in the elimination of the over 2,500-year presence of Armenians in their historic homeland; and

Whereas, the failure of the domestic and international authorities to punish those responsible for the Armenian Genocide laid the groundwork for similar genocides since 1915; and

Whereas, the Armenian-American community has made substantial contributions to our City and State since 1899; and

Whereas, on the 90th anniversary of the onset of the Armenian Genocide, which is traditionally observed on April 24, it is fitting that all people of goodwill join the Armenian-American community in commemoration of this crime against humanity;

Now, Therefore, I, Randy C. Kelly, Mayor of the City of Saint Paul, do hereby proclaim Sunday, April 24, 2005, to be

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

in the City of Saint Paul.

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Saint Paul to be affixed this Twenty-fourth Day of April in the Year Two Thousand Five.

[Signed: Randy C. Kelly]

Randy C. Kelly, Mayor

City of Rochester

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Minnesota

April 24, 2005

City of Rochester

Proclamation

Whereas, the Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulting in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000 Christian Armenians, of whom 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed, 500,000 survivors were expelled from their homes, and which succeeded in the elimination of the over 2,500-year presence of Armenians in their historic homeland; and

Whereas, the unfolding Armenian Genocide was widely reported in Rochester and Minnesota newspapers of the day; and Minnesotans played a leading role in international relief efforts; and

Whereas, the failure of the domestic and international authorities to punish those responsible for the Armenian Genocide laid the groundwork for the Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda, Darfur, and similar genocides since 1915; and

Whereas, the tragedy of the Armenian Genocide has been acknowledged by fifteen countries, the European Parliament, and the United Nations; by Presidents Reagan, G. H. Bush, Clinton, and G. W. Bush; by three-quarters of the U.S. States, including Minnesota; and by the Mayors of Duluth, Minneapolis, Rochester, and Saint Paul; and

Whereas, international scholars of the Holocaust and genocide, including Profs. Stephen Feinstein and Eric Weitz of the University of Minnesota and Eric Markusen of Southwest State University, have affirmed that the World War I Armenian Genocide is an incontestable historical fact; and the Minnesota Academic Standards in History and Social Studies likewise recognize it as such; and

Whereas, the groundbreaking work of University of Minnesota Prof. Taner Akçam and other like-minded Turkish scholars represents a vital step towards truth, justice, and reconciliation; and

Whereas, since 1899 Armenian-Americans of Minnesota have made substantial contributions in arts and sciences, commerce, community service, and government, notably the 2004 incorporation of the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial in Washington, D.C.; and

Whereas, on this 90th anniversary of the onset of the Armenian Genocide, which is traditionally observed on April 24, it is fitting that all people of goodwill join the Armenian-American community in commemoration of this crime against humanity;

Now therefore: I, Ardell F. Brede, Mayor of the City of Rochester, do officially proclaim Sunday, April 24, 2005, as

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY

in the City of Rochester

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the corporate seal of the City of Rochester to be affixed this 24th day of April in the year of two thousand five.

(Signed)

Ardell F. Brede, Mayor

City of Rochester, Minnesota

City of Minneapolis

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Minnesota

April 24, 2005

Proclamation

Whereas, the Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulting in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000 Christian Armenians, of whom 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed, 500,000 survivors were expelled from their homes, and which succeeded in the elimination of the over 2,500-year presence of Armenians in their historic homeland; and

Whereas, the unfolding Armenian Genocide was widely reported in Minneapolis and Minnesota newspapers of the day; and Minnesotans played a leading role in international relief efforts; and

Whereas, the tragedy of the Armenian Genocide has been acknowledged by fifteen countries, the European Parliament, and the United Nations; by Presidents Reagan, G. H. Bush, Clinton, and G. W. Bush; by three-quarters of the U.S. States, including Minnesota; and by the Mayors of Duluth, Minneapolis, Rochester, and Saint Paul; and

Whereas, since 1899 Armenian-Americans of Minnesota have made substantial contributions in arts and sciences, commerce, community service, and government, notably the 2004 incorporation of the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial in Washington, D.C.; and

Whereas, on this 90th anniversary of the onset of the Armenian Genocide, which is traditionally observed on April 24, it is fitting that all people of goodwill join the Armenian-American community in commemoration of this crime against humanity;

Now, therefore, I, R. T. Rybak, Mayor of the City of Minneapolis, do hereby proclaim April 24 as

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS

[Signed: R. T. Rybak] Mayor of Minneapolis

City of Duluth

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Minnesota

April 24, 2005

City of Duluth

Office of the Mayor

Proclamation

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide was carried out in the Ottoman Empire between 1915-23, resulting in the death or deportation of nearly two million Christian Armenians and ejection from 2,500 years of life in their historic homeland; and

WHEREAS, The unfolding genocide was reported in Duluth and Minnesota newspapers of the day and Minnesotans played a leading role in international relief efforts; and

WHEREAS, Failure to punish those responsible for the Armenian Genocide laid the groundwork for many more such atrocities in future years; and

WHEREAS, The groundbreaking work of Turkish scholars such as Taner Akcam and others in this field represents a step toward truth, justice and reconciliation; and

WHEREAS, On this 90th anniversary of the onset of the Armenian Genocide, traditionally observed on April 24, it is fitting that all people of goodwill join in commemoration of this crime against humanity;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Herb W. Bergson Mayor of City of Duluth, do officially proclaim April 24, 2005 as

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY

In the City of Duluth.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto

set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the

City of Duluth to be affixed in the City of

Duluth this twenty-fourth day of April in the

Year of our Lord two thousand five.

(signed) Herb W. Bergson, MayorCity of Duluth, Minnesota

City of Galveston

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Texas

February 24, 2005

PROCLAMATION

We the Mayor and the City Council, by virtue of the authority vested by the City of Galveston, Texas, do proclaim

April 24, 2005

As

ARMENIAN MARTYR'S DAY

In the City of Galveston

WHEREAS, City of Galveston and Armavir region in Armenia have been sister cities since September 2001 through the University of Texas Medical Branch healthcare and disaster preparedness collaboration funded by AIHA-USAID; and

WHEREAS, On April 24th, 2005, Armenians around the world will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; during the First World War, the Turkish Empire in an effort of general extermination and elimination of all traces of a thriving and noble civilizations over 3,000 years old; of the Armenians population in Eastern Turkey, massacred approximately 1.5 million men, women, and children in the twentieth century's first genocides; and

WHEREAS, The survivors and descendents of this genocide which drove them from their homeland, recall and commemorate April 24, 1915 as Armenian Martyr's Day; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Council for the City of Galveston, Texas, does urge each and every citizen to join our sister city and commemorate this tragic event in

world history and to strengthen our commitment to the cause of liberty and justice in this and all other nations of the world.

In testimony whereof, witness my hand and Seal of the City of Galveston, this 24th day of February 2005.

City of Austin

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Texas

April 19, 2005

PROCLAMATION

Be it known that

WHEREAS, Between 1915 and 1923, prior to the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, more than a million people of the Armenian ancestry were victims of a genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman Empire; and,

WHEREAS, We join with the Armenian-American citizens of Central Texas in opposing such atrocities; and,

WHEREAS, We, likewise, join with the Armenian Community of Austin in honoring the memory of these victims at ceremonies being held here today:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Will Wynn, Mayor of the City of Austin, Texas, do hereby proclaim

April 24, 2005

As

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

City of San Antonio

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Texas

April 21, 2005

CITY OF SAN ANTONIO

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, On April 24, 2005, Armenians around the world will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, During the First World War, the Turkish Empire massacred approximately 1.5 million men, women, and children of the Armenian population in the twentieth century's first genocides; and

WHEREAS, Although the survivors of this massacre were scattered to all parts of the world, they have maintained their identity and unity, while passing along to each generation knowledge about their language, history and culture; and

WHEREAS, The City of San Antonio joins in this observance, and urges all citizens to commemorate this tragic event in world history and to strengthen our commitment to the cause of liberty and justice for all.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Edward D. Garza, Mayor of the City of San Antonio, in recognition thereof, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2005, to be

"Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day"

In San Antonio, Texas.

City of Houston

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Texas

April 21, 2005

PROCLAMATION

Armenian Martyrs Day

WHEREAS, on April 24, 2005, Armenians around the world will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; during the First World War, the Turkish Empire in an effort of general extermination and elimination of all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; of the Armenian population in Eastern Turkey, massacred approximately 1.5 million men, women, and children in the twentieth century's first genocides; and

WHEREAS, although the survivors of this massacre were scattered to all parts of the world, they have maintained their identity and unity through their church, passing along to each generation not only a strong Christian faith but a knowledge of their language, history and culture; and

WHEREAS, the survivors and descendents of this genocide which drove them from their homeland, recall and commemorate April 24, 1915 as Armenian Martyr's Day; and

WHEREAS, the heroic struggles of the Armenian people inspire and challenge us to cherish and preserve the freedom that is ours; and

WHEREAS,on April 24, 2005, City of Houston residents will be called together to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915; and

WHEREAS, the commemoration will serve as an appropriate time for the people of the City of Houston and others to remember the 1.5 Armenian men, women, and children who lost their lives; and

Therefore, I, Bill White, Mayor of the City of Houston, hereby proclaim April 24, 2005, as

Armenian Martyr's Day

in Houston, Texas.

City of Dallas

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Texas

April 24, 2005

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR/CITY OF DALLAS

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, this year Armenians throughout the world, the United States, and throughout Texas will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, during the First World War, the Turkish Empire massacred approximately 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children in the twentieth century's first genocide; and

WHEREAS, the survivors of this massacre have maintained their identity through knowledge of their language, history, and culture; and

WHEREAS, Armenians from across Texas are gathering on the capital steps of Austin on April 24, 2005 to observe this event.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, LAURA MILLER, mayor of the city of Dallas, and on behalf of the Dallas City Council, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2005 as

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY

In Dallas, Texas.

City of College Station

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Texas

April 24, 2005

PROCLAMATION

Office of the Mayor, City of College Station

WHEREAS, on April 24, 2005, Armenians around the world will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, during the First World War, the Turkish Empire in an effort of general extermination and elimination of all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old, massacred approximately 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children in the twentieth century's first genocide; and

WHEREAS, although the survivors of this massacre were scattered to all parts of the world, they have maintained their identity and unity through their church, passing along to each generation not only a strong Christian faith but a knowledge of their language, history and culture; and

WHEREAS, the heroic struggles of the Armenian people inspire and challenge us to cherish and preserve the freedom that is ours; and

Now Thereof, I, Ron Silva, Mayor of the City of College Station, Texas, and acting on behalf of the City Council do hereby proclaim April 24, 2005, as

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

City of Killeen

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Texas

May 3, 2005

PROCLAMATION

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

WHEREAS Between 1915 and 1923, prior to the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, more than a million and a half people of Armenian ancestry were victims of a genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman Empire; and,

WHEREAS Although the survivors of this massacre were scattered to all parts of the world, they have maintained their identity and unity through their church, passing along to each generation not only a strong Christian faith but a knowledge of their language, history and culture; and

WHEREAS We join with the Armenian-American citizens of Central Texas in opposing such atrocities and in honoring the memory of these victims; and,

WHEREAS The heroic struggles of the Armenian people inspire and challenge us to cherish and preserve the freedom that is ours.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Maureen J. Jouett, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Killeen do hereby proclaim May 1- 7, 2005 as

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE WEEK

City of Harker Heights

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Texas

May 12, 2005

PROCLAMATION

Whereas, on April 24, 2005, Armenians around the world commemorated the 90th anniversary of Armenian Genocide when approximately 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian ancestry were massacred by the governments of the Ottoman empire;

Whereas, we join the Armenian-American citizens of Central Texas in opposing such atrocities and in honoring its victims.

Now Therefore, I, Mary Gauer, Mayor of the City of Harker Heights, Texas do thereby proclaim May 14, 2005 to be

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY

In the City of Harker Heights, and urge our citizens to commemorate this tragic event in world history, to honor the memories of those lost, and to strengthen our commitment to the cause of Liberty and Justice for all.

In Witness Thereof, I have set my hand and have affixed the seal of the City of Harker Heights, Texas, this 12th Day of May, 2005.

(Signed)

Mary Gauer, Mayor

City of Harker Heights, Texas

City of Temple

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Texas

June 5, 2005

Office of the Mayor City of Temple PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, on April 24, 2005, Armenians around the world commemorated the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide;

WHEREAS, during the First World War, the Turkish Empire, in an effort to exterminate all traces of Armenian population in Eastern Turkey, massacred 1.5 million people of Armenian ancestry;

WHEREAS, the survivors of this massacre have maintained their cultural identity through church, passing along from one generation to another, knowledge, history and culture of this ancient civilization;

WHEREAS, we join with the Armenian-American citizens of Central Texas in opposing such atrocities and in honoring the memory of these victims; and

WHEREAS, the heroic struggles of the Armenian people inspire and challenge us to cherish and preserve the freedom that is ours.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM A. JONES, III, Mayor of the City of Temple, Texas, do hereby proclaim June 5, 2005, as

"Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day"

in the City of Temple, Texas, and I encourage all citizens to commemorate this tragic event in world history, to honor the memories of those lost, and to strengthen our commitment to the cause of liberty and justice for all.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I witness my hand and the Seal of the City of Temple, Texas, this the 5th day of June, 2005.

(signed) William A. Jones, III, Mayor City of Temple, Texas

ATTEST: (signed) Clydette Entzminger, City Secretary City of Temple, Texas

City of Nolanville

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Texas

June 5, 2005

The City of Nolanville

Whereas, In year 2005 we commemorate the 90th anniversary of Armenian Genocide

Whereas, During the First World War, the Ottoman Empire in an effort to exterminate all traces of the Armenian population in Eastern Turkey massacred 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian ancestry

Whereas, The survivors of this massacre have maintained their identity through church, passing along from one generation to other knowledge, history and culture of this ancient civilization

Whereas, We join the citizens of Central Texas in opposing such atrocities,

Now, therefore I, mayor of city of Nolanville, do hereby proclaim June 5, 2005 as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

(signed) C.W. "Mike" Carter, Mayor City of Nolanville, Texas

City of Carrollton

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > Texas

June 21, 2005

Office of the Mayor Proclamation Carrollton

"Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day"

Whereas, this year Armenians throughout the world, the United States and throughout Texas will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; and

Whereas, during the First World War, the Turkish Empire massacred approximately 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children in the twentieth century's first genocide; and

Whereas, the survivors of the genocide have maintained their identity through knowledge of their language, history, and culture; and

Whereas, Armenians from across Texas have gathered on the capital step of Austin on April 24, 2005 to observe this event; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Becky Miller, Mayor of the City of Carrollton, and on behalf of the City of Carrollton City Council, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2005

"Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day" in Carrollton, Texas

IN WITNESS WEHREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the City of Carrollton, Texas to be affixed, this 21st day of June, 2005.

(signed) Becky Miller, Mayor City of Carrollton, Texas

City of Fresno

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 1, 1975

City of Fresno, Office of the Mayor Proclamation

WHEREAS, a significant segment of the population of the San Joaquin Valley is composed of the Armenian people who have contributed to the progress and betterment of life through agriculture, commerce, teaching the professions, churches, and community organizations; and

WHEREAS, the Armenians among us are a remnant people of a nation against whom the first genocide of the 20th century was made, beginning on April 24, 1915, when a million and a half of them, comprising half the total of Armenians living during the Ottoman Empire, were annihilated by the Turkish government through a series of well-planned and secretly instituted atrocities, including the murder of the menfolk and the forced marches into the deserts of the women and children, where their ranks were decimated by hunger, lack off water and shelter; and

WHEREAS, by their own resolute Christian faith and will to survive and live again, and the generosity of many in the United States of America resulting in relief operations, a fraction of them were rescued subsequently immigrated to this country and now comprise several hundred thousand in number; and

WHEREAS, their contribution top the building of America is evident by their leadership in the fields of education, science medicine, the arts and government; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian community is an integral and important member of this multi-ethnic city and desires to help create and promote a greater appreciation for each culture; and

WHEREAS, we join the Armenians on this, the 60th Anniversary of this genocide, to affirm out conviction that genocide in whatever form and against whomever it is perpetrated, is rejected and condemned by us and all peace-loving and justice-seeking people of the world:

NOW THEREFORE, I, Ted C. Wills, Mayor of the City of Fresno, do hereby proclaim the week of April 20-26, 1975 as

ARMENIAN HERITAGE WEEK

AND Thursday, April 24th as "Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Men," and urge all the citizens of Fresno to render proper recognition to this solemn occasion and commemorations of the 60th Anniversary of the martyrdom of the Armenian people, and to participate in the activities of Armenian Heritage week. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I havehereunto set my hand and causedthe Seal of the City of Fresnoto be affixed this 1st day ofApril, 1975.

City of Fresno

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 24, 1990

CITY OF FRESNO

PROCLAMATION

BY THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

WHEREAS, the right of all people to live and work and raise their children in peace and freedom is a basic human right; and

WHEREAS, in this century tyrants and governments have committed the worst crimes of violence and the worst violations of basic human rights; and

WHEREAS, April 24, 1915, marks the beginning of one of the most terrible of those events...the Armenian genocide, a period of systematic terror, brutality and horror at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish Empire which claimed the lives of 1.5 millions Armenians and touched every Armenian family; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide was well-documented by the news media at the time and in subsequent historical writing, but, notwithstanding such documentation, the modern-day Turkish government continues to deny its reality; and

WHEREAS, April 24, 1990, commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Karen Humphrey, Mayor of the City of Fresno, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, April 24, 1990, as:

"ARMENIAN MARTYS DAY"

in the City of Fresno, an call upon all citizens of Fresno to support people around the world who are struggling to achieve peace and freedom and to remember all victims of genocide and especially the Armenian genocide of 1915.

City of Cupertino

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 24, 1990

City of Cupertino, California Proclamation WHEREAS, on April 24, 1915, the government of the Ottoman Empire began a program of genocide and massacred 1.5 million Armenians living in Turkey; and

WHEREAS, many survivors of this genocide came to America to rebuild their lives; and

WHEREAS, descendants of those survivors are now outstanding citizens in this community; and

WHEREAS, the people of Armenia and America share common goals and friendship,

NOW, THEREFORE, I Mayor Barbara A. Rogers, and the Cupertino City Council, do hereby resolve that the City of Cupertino acknowledges

APRIL 24, 1990

as an official day of remembrance for victims of the Armenian genocide.

City of Burbank

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 24, 1990

Proclamation by the City of Burbank, California

75th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

The City of Burbank proclaims April 24, 1990 as the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide organized and implemented by the government of Ottoman Turkey, 1915-1923.

75 years ago today, on April 24, 1915, the Ottoman Turkish Government rounded up and executed the intellectual, cultural, and spiritual leaders of the Armenian Community living in Turkey. This was the beginning of the elimination of the Armenian people and culture that had existed for over 3000 years in what is today Eastern Turkey.

During the years 1915 to 1923, 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children were tortured and then murdered. Over 905 of the Armenian population in Turkey were killed. "no hamlet was too insignificant to be missed." (Dr. Herbert A. Gibbons, The Blackest Page of Modern History, Putnam, NY, 1916)

Henry Morgenthau, US Ambassador to Turkey, 1913 to 1916, stated that "When Turkish authorities gave the orders for these deportations, they wee merely giving the death warrant to a whole race; they understood this well, and, in their conversations with me, they made no particular attempt to conceal the fact." (Ambassador Morgenthau's Story, Doubleday, Garden City, 1918)

Today, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, Haig Baronian is with us. Haig was seven years old when he witnessed the destruction of his entire family. His father and uncles were arrested and executed. Haig, his mother, four sisters, baby brother, and grandmother were sent on a death march. They were forced to walk for weeks tortured and beaten along the way. Haig was the only one of his family to survive. He was forciblebly adopted by Turks, but was soon sent away by government decree with thousands of other children to the cliffs to die, their only consolation was that they would be joining their parents in heaven. Haig escaped death again and again to be one of the lucky few finally saved by American Missionaries.

The pattern of genocide that Armenians have faced is not the first, except in its shear magnitude and the denial that followed. The US Holocaust Memorial Council describes the Armenian Genocide as the "grim prelude" and unfortunate source of "inspiration" to Hitler in his plan to exterminate the Jews. In Hitler's own words he asked "who remembers the Armenians." As long as genocide is denied and forgotten, we can never be sure it will not happen again. Today, the City of Burbank remembers.

City of San Jose

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 24, 1995

Mayor of the City of San Jose, CaliforniaProclamation

Whereas: More than one million people of Armenian ancestry were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, prior to the establishment of the Republic of Turkey; and

Whereas: Each April, members of Congress join the Armenian American community in remembrance across the United States to commemorate the Armenian Genocide; and

Whereas: By consistently remembering and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, the Congress has helped to renew the commitment of the people of the United States to oppose any and all instances of genocide;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Susan Hammer, Mayor of the City of San Jose, on this 24th day of April, 1995, do hereby acknowledge the commemoration of the 80TH ANNIVERARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Santa Clara County

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 6, 1999

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, one and one-half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide and massacres of the Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, to this day revisionists still inexplicably deny the existence of these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, by consistently remembering and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, Santa Clara County residents demonstrate their sensitivity to the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, recognition of the eighty-fourth anniversary of this genocide is crucial to preventing the repetition of future genocide and educating people about the atrocities connected to these tragic events; and

WHEREAS, Armenia is now a free and independent republic, having embraced democracy following the dissolution of the Soviet Union; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans continue to make vital contributions to our country, state, and county;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT REOSLVED, that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Clara does hereby proclaim April 24, 1999, as

SANTA CLARA COUNTY DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915-1923

PASSED AND ADOPTED, this 6th Day of April, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-nine by unanimous vote.

Fresno City Council

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 20, 1999

FRESNO CITY COUNCIL

FROM THE OFFICES OF THEFRESNO CITY COUNCIL

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 stands as the first Genocide of the twentieth century. Beginning on April 24, 1915 more than 1,500,000 Armenians were brutally murdered or died miserably as they were being deported from their homes to the desert; and

WHEREAS, the Genocide was planned and executed by the government of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, headed by the Committee of Union and Progress Political Party. World War I, which had broken out in August of 1914, found Ottoman Turkey as an ally of the Germans. The war provided the opportunity for the Ottoman Turks to begin their heinous plan for the extermination of the Armenians; and

WHEREAS, in 1915, prior to the Genocide, there were more than 2,000,000 Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire. They constituted a distinct population on their own historic lands. The Armenians had been living on the same lands, near historic Mt. Ararat, for more than three millennia. They had developed a culture which had produced a rich legacy of manuscripts, art, literature, architecture and music; and

WHEREAS, seeking to expand their own empire, as well as to forcibly eliminate the centuries-old Armenian culture, the Ottoman Turkish government began the Genocide with the forced conscription into the army of able-bodied men. The men were soon killed outright. The women and children faced a more tortuous and uncertain future. They were ordered to march, with no possessions, water or food from their homes in the spring and summer of 1915. This deportation succeeded in eliminating more than sixty percent of the Armenian population. A slow death by starvation and exposure to the elements followed for most of the Armenians. They were forced to march to the desert where they were left to die; and

WHEREAS, many of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide eventually immigrated to the United States and established large Armenian communities in places such as Fresno, Watertown, Massachusetts, New York, Detroit and Los Angeles, among other places. Today, the nearly one million strong Armenian community in America has recovered from the material damages of the Genocide. But they continue to keep the memory of the Armenian martyrs alive and will never forget the first Genocide of the twentieth century.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the City Council of the City of Fresno, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, April 20, 1999, to be "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" in the City of Fresno, in honor of the many who have died. Our commitment is to educate future generations about the Armenian Genocide so we can state that there will never again be a Genocide to stain the pages of history. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hand and affixed the Seal of the City of Fresno, California, this 20th day of April, 1999.

City of Fresno

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 20, 1999

FROM THE OFFICE OF MAYOR JIM PATTERSON

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 stands as the first Genocide of the twentieth century. Beginning on April 24, 1915 more than 1,500,000 Armenians were brutally murdered or died miserably as they were being deported from their homes to the desert; and

WHEREAS, the Genocide was planned and executed by the government of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, headed by the Committee of Union and Progress Political Party. World War I, which had broken out in August of 1914, found Ottoman Turkey as an ally of the Germans. The war provide the opportunity for the Ottoman Turks to begin their heinous plan for the extermination of the Armenians; and

WHEREAS, in 1915, prior to the Genocide, there were more than 2,000,000 Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire. They constituted a distinct population on their own historic lands. The Armenians have been living on the same lands, near historic Mt. Ararat, for more than three millennia. They had developed a culture which had produced a rich legacy of manuscripts, art, literature, architecture and music; and

WHEREAS, seeking to expand their own empire, as well as to forcibly eliminate the centuries-old Armenian culture, the Ottoman Turkish government began the Genocide with the forced conscription into the army of able-bodied men. The men were soon killed outright. The women and children faced a more tortuous and uncertain future. They were order to march, with no possessions, water or food from their homes in the spring and summer of 1915. This deportation succeeded in eliminating more than sixty percent of the Armenian population. A slow death by starvation and exposure to the elements follow for most of the Armenians. They were forced to march to the desert where they were left to die; and

WHEREAS, many of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide eventually immigrated to the United States and established large Armenian communities in places such as Fresno, Watertown, Massachusetts, New York, Detroit and Los Angeles, among other places. Today, the nearly one million strong Armenian community in America has recovered from the material damages of the Genocide. But they continue to keep the memory of the Armenian martyrs alive and will never forget the first Genocide of the twentieth century.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Jim Patterson, Mayor of the City of Fresno, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, April 20, 1999, to be: "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" in the City of Fresno, in honor of the many who have died. Our commitment is to educate future generations about the Armenian Genocide so we can state that there will never again be a Genocide to stain the pages of history.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the City of Fresno, California, this 20th day of April, 1999.

City of Glendale

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 18, 2000

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the Ottoman Empire initiated an eight-year program of terror and mass execution beginning in 1915 that resulted in the deaths of more than 1.5 million men, women and children of Armenian heritage; and

WHEREAS, we must be vigilant in our efforts to ensure that such atrocities are never again forced by one people upon another; and

WHEREAS, through courses and symposiums offered at educational institutions nationwide, citizens are learning more about the causes and effects of the Armenian Genocide, as well as the ramification of this sad episode in history on today's society and generations of people and families of Armenian ancestry; and

WHEREAS, this year marks the 85th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and once again we have an opportunity to recall this tragedy and rededicate ourselves to ensure that no act of such horrible magnitude will ever occur again;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Dave Weaver, Mayor of the City of Glendale, proclaim April 23-April 29, as a week of Remembrance of the 85th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and urge all citizens of Glendale to join in activities being held statewide to commemorate this solemn observance; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Flag shall be flown at half-mast on April 24, at all city facilities throughout the City in recognition of this Day of Remembrance and in memory of those who died in the Armenian Genocide.

April 18, 2000

San Francisco

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 24, 2000

Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day

DECLARING APRIL 24TH, 2000 ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION DAY IN SAN FRANCISCO

WHEREAS, San Francisco is proud to join its Armenian-American community in its commemoration of the 84th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th Century; and

WHEREAS, One and one half million men, women and children of Armenian descent were the victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman government beginning in 1915; and

WHEREAS, Recognition, remembrance and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide is crucial in guarding against the occurrence of genocide in the future; and

WHEREAS, Joining our voices in one refrain we can help ensure that the Armenian Genocide is included in all historical accounts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco does hereby declare April 24th, 2000 Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day in San Francisco.

San Francisco

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 9, 2001

Resolution declaring April 24th, 2001, Armneian Genocide Commemoration Day in San Francisco

WHEREAS, In 1915 the Ottoman Turkish government initiated a prolonged and brutal coampaign of terror and mass execution that caused the deaths of more than 2.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian heritage from 1915 to 1922, and the forced deportation of hundreds of thousands of survivors, many of whom settled in San Francisco; and

WHEREAS, Despite the overwhelming proof that this attempted annihilation of the Armenian poeple was the result of governmental policy and genocidal intent, the Republic of Turkey has persisted to this day in denying that the Armneian Genocide occured; and

WHEREAS, San Francisco is proud to join its Armenian-American community in its commemoration of the 86th anniverary of the Armenian Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th century; and

WHEREAS, By joining our voices in one refrain we can help ensure that the Armenian Genocide is included in all historical accounts to guard against the occurrence of genocide in the future; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the San [Francisco] Board of Supervisorsy does hereby delcare April 24th[,] 2001 Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day in San Francisco; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will send a letter urging President George W. Bush to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

City of Glendale

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 17, 2001

City of Glendale's proclamation

Whereas, the Ottoman Empire initiated an eight-year program of terror and mass execution beginning in 1915 that resulted in the deaths of more than 1.5 million men, women and children of Armenian heritage; and

Whereas, we must be vigilant in our efforts to ensure that such atrocities are never again forced by one people upon another; and

Whereas, through courses and symposiums offered at educational institutions nationwide, citizens are learning more about the causes and effects of the Armenian Genocide, as well as the ramification of this sad episode in history on today's society and generations of people and families of Armenian ancestry; and

Whereas, this year marks the 86th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and once again we have an opportunity to recall this tragedy and rededicate ourselves to ensure that no act of such horrible magnitude will ever occur again;

Now, therefore, I, Gus Gomez, Mayor of the City of Glendale proclaim April 23-29, 2001, as a week of remembrance of the 86th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and urge all citizens of Glendale to join in activities being held statewide to commemorate this solemn observance; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the American Flag shall be flown at half-staff on April 24, 2001, at all City facilities in recognition of this Day of Remembrance and in memory of those who died in the Armenian Genocide.

County of Los Angeles

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 24, 2001

At its meeting held April 24, 2001, the [Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors] took the following action:

Supervisor Antonovich made the following statement:

"Recognizing the existence of inhumanity and cruelty is crucial to ensuring against the repitition of genocide, the first of the 20th century being the Armenian Genoicde in which the Turkish Ottoman Empire murdered 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children. Despite overwhelming evidence, the Turkish government denies the occurrence of an Armenian Genocide. By consistently remembering and forcefully condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians and honoring the survivors, as well as other victims of similar heinous conduct, we guard against repetition of those acts of genocide.

"The County of Los Agneles is home to 350,000 Armenian-Americans, the largest population of any county in the United States, which has greatly enriched the County through, among other aspects, business, academia, government, and the arts."

Therefore, on motion of Spuervisor Antonovich, seconded by Supervisor Knabe, unanimously carried (Supervisor Molina being absent), the Board declared April 24, 2001 as "Day of Rememberance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915 through 1923" throughout Los Angeles County.

City of Fresno

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 24, 2001

City of Fresno Proclamation

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 stands as the first Genocide of the twentieth century. Beginning on April 24, 1915 more than 1,500,000 Armenians were brutally murdered or died miserably as they were being deported from their homes to the desert; and

WHEREAS, the Genocide was planned and executed by the government of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, headed by the Committee of Union and Progress Political Party. World War I, which had broken out in August of 1914, found Ottoman Turkey as an ally of the Germans. The war provided the opportunity for the Ottoman Turks to begin their heinous plan for the extermination of the Armenians; and

WHEREAS, in 1915, prior to the Genocide, there were more than 2,000,000 Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire. They constituted a distinct population of their own historic lands. The Armenians had been living on the same lands, near historic Mt. Ararat, for more than three millenia. They had developed a culture which had produced a rich legacy of manuscripts, art, literature, architecture, and music; and

WHEREAS, seeking to expand their own empire, as well as to forcibly eliminate the centuries-old Armenian culture, the Ottoman Turkish government began the Genocide with the forced conscription into the army of able-bodied men. The men were soon killed outright. The women and children faced a more tortuous and uncertain future. The were ordered to march, with no possessions, water or food from their homes in the spring of 1915. This deportation succeeded in eliminating more than sixty percent of the Armenian population. A slow death by starvation and exposure to the elements followed for most of the Armneians. They were forced to march to the desert where they were left to die; and

WHEREAS, many of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide eventually immigrated to the United States and established large Armenian communities in places such as Fresno, Watertown, Massachusetts, New York, Detroit and Los Angeles, among other places. Today, the nearly one million strong Armenian community in America has recovered from the material damages of the Genocide. But they continue to keep the memory of hte Armenian martyrs alive and will never forget the first Genocide of the twentieth century.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Henry Perea, President of the Council of the City of Fresno, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, April 24, 2001, to be "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBERANCE DAY" in the City of Fresno, in honor of the many who have died. Our committment is to educate future generations about the Armenian Genocide so we can state that there will never again be a Genocide to stain the pages of history.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the City of Fresno, California, this 24th day of April, 2001.

City of Pleasant Hill

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 21, 2003

RESOLUTION NO. 30-03

A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Pleasant Hill Declaring April 24, 2003 as Pleasant Hill Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide was masterminded by the Young Turks, a political group that gained control of the Ottoman Empire and who believed in an extreme form of nationalism; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide is commemorated on April 24th because on that date in 1915 hundreds of Armenian leaders, writers, thinkers and professionals in Constantinople were rounded up, deported and killed; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide resulted in the deaths of over one million Armenian men, women and children from 1915-1923, out of a total of 2.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide has been recognized as an attempt to elimate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide's eighty-eighth anniversary is remembered by the residents of Pleasant Hill as a demonstration of their sensitivity to the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the future.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Pleasant Hill does hereby declare April 24, 2003 as PLEASANT HILL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915-1923.

City of West Hollywood

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 23, 2003

Resolution No. 03-2876

A Resolution of the City Council of the City of West Hollywood honoring the victims of the Genocide of Armenians and condemning the human rights violations committed by the Turkish Government.

WHEREAS, on April 24, 1915, the Turkish government began the systematic extermination of the Armenian people; and

WHEREAS, over 70 years has passed since one and a half million Armenians were massacred and the survivors were displaced from their homeland of over 3,000 years; and

WHEREAS, the current Turkish government refuses to acknowledge the atrocities committed during the genocide and continues to violate the civil rights of Armenians today; and

WHEREAS, the City of West Hollywood is committed to ensuring that justice and equality is attained for all people and that those who die due to human rights atrocities are never forgotten:

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of West Hollywood honors the victims of the Armenian Genocide by lowering the flags of public facilities in West Hollywood to half-mast and condemns the human rights violations committed by the Turkish government.

City of San Francisco

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April 19, 2011

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Resolution declaring April 24, 2011, as Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day in San Francisco.

WHEREAS, The Armenian people, living in their 3,000 year historic homeland in eastern Asia Minor and throughout the Ottoman Empire, were subjected to severe persecution and brutal injustice by the government of the Ottoman Empire before and after the turn of the twentieth century, including widespread massacres, usurpation of land and property, and acts of wanton destruction during the period from 1894 to 1896, and again in 1909; and

WHEREAS, The horrible experience of the Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish government culminated in 1915 in what is known by historians as the first genocide of the twentieth century; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide began with the arrest, exile, and murder of hundreds of Armenian intellectuals, and political, religious, and business leaders, starting on April 24, 1915; and

WHEREAS, The Ottoman authorities planned and executed the unspeakable atrocities committed against the Armenian people from 1915 through 1923, which included the torture, starvation, and murder of 1,500,000 Armenians, death marches into the Syrian desert, the forced exile of more than 500,000 innocent people, and the loss of the traditional Armenian homelands; and

WHEREAS, The United States National Archives and Record Administration and the official archives of other countries hold extensive and thorough documentation on the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, The Honorable Henry Morgenthau, United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1913 to 1916, organized and led protests by officials of many countries, among them the allies of the Ottoman Empire, against the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, Ambassador Morgenthau explicitly described to the United States Department of State the policy of the government of the Ottoman Empire as 'a campaign of race extermination,' and was instructed on July 16, 1915, by United States Secretary of State Robert Lansing that the 'Department approves your procedure;.. to stop Armenian persecution'; and

WHEREAS, Leading news agencies of the time documented the atrocities being committed against the Armenians; and

WHEREAS, Raphael Lemkin, who coined the term 'genocide' in 1944, and who was the earliest proponent of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, invoked the Armenian case as a definitive example of genocide in the 20th century; and

WHEREAS, The International Association of Genocide Scholars has repeatedly affirmed that the massacres of Armenians ordered by the Young Turk government constitute genocide; and

WHEREAS, The Republic of Turkey unjustifiably and adamantly denies the occurrence of this crime against humanity while actively continuing to remove traces of Armenian existence, including the destruction of cultural heritage, to this day; and

WHEREAS, The Republic of Turkey suppresses freedom of speech on the matter of the Armenian Genocide and prosecutes its citizens under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for statements related to the Armenian Genocide, including Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk and Hrant Dink, an Armenian newspaper editor, who was assassinated as a result of these prosecutions; and

WHEREAS, The passage of nine decades and the fact that few survivors remain who serve as reminders of indescribable brutality and torment, compel a sense of urgency in efforts to solidify recognition, reaffirmation and justice of historical truth; and

WHEREAS, By honoring the survivors and consistently remembering and condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenian people as well as the persecution of the Assyrian and Greek populations of the Ottoman Empire, we guard against repetition of the crime of genocide; and

WHEREAS, California has become home to the largest and most active population of Armenians in the United States, and those citizens have enriched our state through leadership in the fields of academia, medicine, business, agriculture, government, and the arts and are proud and patriotic practitioners of American citizenship; and

WHEREAS, San Francisco Armenian-Americans are predominantly descendants of the few remaining refugees, who witnessed and survived the brutal murder of their families and the destruction of their homes and institutions, and confiscation of all their properties, and

WHEREAS, Those Armenian Genocide survivors who arrived in San Francisco and reestablished themselves, built a thriving community that has created churches, civic and charitable organizations, and a school, and have become an integral part of the dynamic culture of San Francisco, and

WHEREAS, San Francisco is proud to join the Armenian-American community in its commemoration of the 96th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in an effort to educate others about the tragic loss of life, land, and human rights of the Armenian people and the crime ofgenocide committed against them; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors does hereby declare April 24,2011 as Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day in the City and County of San Francisco; and, be it,

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will send a letter to San Francisco's elected representatives in the United States House of Representatives and Senate urging Congress and President Barack H. Obama to give just recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

City of Los Angeles

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

April 26, 2011

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RESOLUTION

COMMEMORATING THE 96th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

WHEREAS, the Armenian people, living in their 3,000-year historic homeland in eastem Asia Minor and throughout the Ottoman Empire, were subjected to severe persecution and brutal injustice by the rulers of the Ottoman Empire before and after the tum of the Twentieth Century, including widespread massacres, usurpation ofland and property, and acts of wanton destruction during the period from 1894 to 1896, inclusive, and again in 1909; and

WHEREAS, the horrible experience of the Armenians at the hands oftheir oppressors culminated in the Armenian Genocide, beginning in 1915, in what is known by historians as the "First Genocide of the Twentieth Century," and as the prototype of modern day mass killing; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide commenced on April 24, 1915 with the arrest, exile, and murder of hundreds of Armenian intellectuals, and business, political, and religious leaders, and thereafter rapidly spread throughout Anatolia; and

WHEREAS, the regime then in control of the Ottoman Empire, known as the "Young Turks," planned and executed the unspeakable atrocities committed against the Armenian people from 1915 to 1923, inclusive, which included the torture, starvation, and murder of 1,500,000 Armenians, death marches into the Syrian Desert, the forced exile of more than 500,000 innocent people, and the loss of the traditional Armenian homelands; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide tragically established a pattern that has been repeated over and over again in the Holocaust, in Cambodia, in Rwanda, in southern Sudan and in other genocides committed by regimes that have been encouraged in their evil acts by the precedent set by the Armenian Genocide and by the world's failure to hold its perpetrators accountable; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide is documented with overwhelming proof in the national archives of the United States, Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Russia, Turkey, the Vatican and many other countries, and is well-recognized by historians as the first genocide of the Twentieth Century; and

WHEREAS, despite the clear and unambiguous facts of history, the govemment of the Republic of Turkey continues to deny the occurrence of the Armenian Genocide and continues to deny culpability for it; and

WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles is the home of the largest population of survivors of the Armenian Genocide and their descendants of any city in the world outside of Armenia, and those residents of Los Angeles reasonably demand justice and appropriate recognition of the crimes committed against the Armenian people; and

WHEREAS, it is vital that the Government of the United States properly reaffirm the Armenian Genocide, not just because of the moral implications, but because such recognition can help to prevent future atrocities from occurring;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, with the concurrence of the Mayor, that by the adoption of this Resolution, the City of Los Angeles calls upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide, and URGES the Republic of Turkey to end its decades-long campaign of Genocide denial.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that by the adoption of this Resolution the Council of the City of Los Angeles hereby declares April 24, 2011 as a Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

City of Duarte

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > California

March 26, 2019

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CITY OF DUARTE

PROCLAMATION

104th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE - DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

WHEREAS, on April 24, 1915, in an effort to annihilate the Armenian Nation, the Turkish Government perpetrated against Armenian people that is commonly referred to as the first genocide of the 20th century, which continued until 1923 and resulted in the death of 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children; and.

WHEREAS, these crimes against humanity also had the consequence of permanently removed all traces of the Armenian people and other targeted people from their historic homelands, and enriching the perpetrators with the lands and other property of the victims of these crimes; and

WHEREAS, since memories do fade with time, it is appropriate to remind ourselves that human tragedies take place; and

WHEREAS, those who survived the Armenian genocide and their successors have had to work hard to make this atrocity known to the world, battling cover-ups, misinformation, and denial; and

WHEREAS, it is important to examine the past and heed history's lessons for the sake of future generations who inherit our civilization; and

WHEREAS, as a community, we proudly uphold human and civil rights, and reaffirm our commitment to ensure that similar crimes against humanity are prevented against any people in the future, and we encourage teachers to engage in discussions about the best practices for teaching the subject of genocide;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Duarte hereby recognizes April 24, 2019, as the 104th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide by proclaiming April 24, 2019, as a DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, and hereby commemorates the victims and survivors on this most solemn remembrance of the 104th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Mecklenburg County

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > North Carolina

April 4, 1988

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Proclamation

WHEREAS, 1.5 million Armenian lives were taken in the massacres of the Ottoman Turkish Government between 1915 and 1923; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of this century; and

WHEREAS, the lack of penitence and reproach for these murderous crimes has made it easier for other governments around the world to commit similar crimes; and

WHEREAS, civilization's failure to uphold each human life as sacred and precious deadens consciences and makes acceptable what is in fact reprehensible, thereby removing the barrier that should prevent society from perpetrating the evils of genocide; and

WHEREAS, as a community we must stand against the individual and mass taking of human life; and

WHEREAS, the official, internationally recognized anniversary of the commencement of the Armenian Genocide atrocities is April 24, now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners does hereby formally acknowledge the 83rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and expressed in the strongest terms possible the conviction that such an evil as the Armenian Genocide should never be tolerated again, and hereby urges each member of our community to speak out against the blatant disregard for the value of human life occurring though the world even today.

This the fourth day of April, 1998.

signedTom Bush, ChairmanMecklenburg Board ofCounty Commissioners

Mecklenburg County

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > North Carolina

April 15, 1997

MECKLENBURG COUNTY

NORTH CAROLINA

WHEREAS, 1.5 million Armenian lives were taken in the massacre of the Ottoman Turkish Government between 1915-1923; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of this century; and

WHEREAS, the lack of penitence and reproach for these murderous crimes has made it easier for other governments around the world to commit similar crimes; and

WHEREAS, civilization's failure to uphold each human life as sacred and precious deadens consciences and makes acceptable what is in fact reprehensible, thereby removing the barrier that should prevent a society from perpetrating the evils of genocide; and

WHEREAS, as a community we must stand against the individual and mass taking of human life; and

WHEREAS, the official, internationally recognized anniversary of the commencement of the Armenian Genocide atrocities is April 24, now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners does hereby formally acknowledge the 82nd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and expresses in the strongest terms possible the conviction that such an evil as the Armenian Genocide should never be tolerated again, and hereby urges each member of our community to speak out against the blatant disregard for the value of human life occurring throughout the world even today.

This the fifteenth day of April, 1997.

(signed)H. Parks Helms, ChairmanMecklenburg Board of County Commissioners

City of Charlotte

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > North Carolina

April 24, 1998

City of Charlotte, North Carolina Proclamation WHEREAS, between 1915 -- 1923 the deaths of more than one and one-half million Christian Armenians and the deportation of countless other Armenians took place by the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, during this atrocity, Armenians were forced to witness the slaughter of their relatives and the loss of their ancestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, Ancestral lands taken by the Ottoman Turks have not been returned to the Armenian people, nor have the Armenians received compensation for their losses; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have traditionally designated April 24th as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY, in recognition and remembrance of those who dies; and

WHEREAS, the year 1998 marks the 83rd Anniversary of this tragedy; and

WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are not repeated in future generations,

NOW, THEREFORE, I Patrick McCrory, Mayor of Charlotte, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1998 as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY

in Charlotte, and ask all our citizens to honor this observance.

WITNESS MY HAND and the official Seal of the City of Charlotte.

signedPatrick McCrory Mayor

Town of Matthews

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > North Carolina

April 24, 2000

Town of Matthews, North CarolinaOffice of the Mayor

WHEREAS, between 1915-1923 the deaths of more than one and one-half million Christian Armenians and the deportation of countless other Armenians took place by the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, during the atrocity, Armenians were forced to witness the slaughter to their relatives and the loss of their ancestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, Ancestral lands taken by Ottoman Turks have not been returned to the Armenian people, nor have the Armenians received compensation for their losses; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have traditionally designated April 24th as Armenian Martyrs Day, in recognition and remembrance of those who died; and

WHEREAS, the year 2000 marks the 85th Anniversary of this tragedy; and

WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are not repeated in future generations;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, R. Lee Myers, Mayor of the Town of Matthews, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2000 as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY

in Matthews, and encourage all citizens to honor this observance.

WITNESS MY HAND and official seal of the Town of Mathews.

Mecklenburg County

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > North Carolina

April 24, 2000

Mecklenburg CountyNorth CarolinaProclamation

WHEREAS, 1.5 million Armenian lives were taken in the massacre of the Ottoman Turkish Government between 1915 and 1923; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of this century; and

WHEREAS, the lack of penitence and reproach for these murderous crimes has made it easier for other governments around the world to commit similar crimes; and

WHEREAS, civilization's failure to uphold each human life as sacred and precious deadens consciences and makes acceptable what is in fact reprehensible, thereby removing the barrier that should prevent a society from perpetrating the evils of genocide; and

WHEREAS, as a community we must stand against the individual and mass taking of human life; and

WHEREAS, the official, internationally recognized anniversary of the commencement of the Armenian genocide atrocities is April 24, now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners does hereby formally acknowledge the 85th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and expresses in the strongest terms possible the conviction that such an evil as the Armenian Genocide should never be tolerated again, and hereby urges each member of our community to speak out against the blatant disregard for the value of human life occurring throughout the world even today.

This the fourth day of April, 2000.

(SIGNED)H. Parks Helms, ChairmanMecklenburg Board ofCounty Commissioners

City of Charlotte

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > North Carolina

April 24, 2000

City of Charlotte, North CarolinaProclamation

WHEREAS, between 1915-1923 the deaths of more than one and one-half million Christian Armenians and the deportation of countless other Armenians took place by the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, during this atrocity, Armenians were forced to witness the slaughter of their relatives and the loss of their ancestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, Ancestral lands taken by the Ottoman Turks have not been returned to the Armenian people, nor have the Armenians received compensation for their losses; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have traditionally designated April 24th as Armenian Martyrs Day, in recognition and remembrance of those who died; and

WHEREAS, the year 2000 marks the 85th Anniversary of this tragedy; and

WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are not repeated in future generations.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Patrick McCrory, Mayor of Charlotte, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2000 as

"Armenian Martyrs Day"

in Charlotte, and encourage all citizens to honor this observance.

WITNESS MY HAND and the official Seal of the City of Charlotte.

Town of Pineville

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > North Carolina

April 11, 2006

A PROCLAMATIONBY THE

MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCILPINEVILLE, N.C.

WHEREAS, between 1915-1923 the deaths of more than one and one-half million Christian Armenians and the deportation of countless other Armenians took place by the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, during this atrocity, Armenians witnessed the loss of their relatives and ancestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, ancestral lands taken by the Ottoman Turks have not been returned to the Armenian people, and the struggle for cultural heritage continues; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have traditionally designated April 24th as Armenian Martyrs Day, in recognition and remembrance of those who died; and

WHEREAS, the year 2006 marks the 91st Anniversary of this tragedy; and

WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are not repeated in future generations.

WE THEREFORE DO NOW PROCLAIM, April 24th, 2006 as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hand and caused the GREAT SEAL OF PINEVILLE to be affixed. Done at Pineville this eleventh day of April in the year of our Lord two thousand and six.

(Signature of Mayor George C. Fowler)

[Signatures of Mayor Pro-Term Libby Boatwright; Deborah Fowler, Council; Les Gladden, Council; and blank space for signature of Kenny Mills, Council]

Town of Pineville

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > North Carolina

April 11, 2007

A PROCLAMATIONBY THE

MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCILPINEVILLE, N.C.

WHEREAS, between 1915-1923 the deaths of more than one and one-half million Christian Armenians and the deportation of countless other Armenians took place by the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, during this atrocity, Armenians witnessed the loss of their relatives and ancestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, ancestral lands taken by the Ottoman Turks have not been returned to the Armenian people, and the struggle for cultural heritage continues; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have traditionally designated April 24th as Armenian Martyrs Day, in recognition and remembrance of those who died; and

WHEREAS, the year 2007 marks the 92nd Anniversary of this tragedy; and

WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are not repeated in future generations.

WE THEREFORE DO NOW PROCLAIM, April 24th, 2007 as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hand and caused the GREAT SEAL OF

PINEVILLE to be affixed. Done at Pineville this eleventh day of April in the year of our Lord two thousand and [seven].

(Signature of Mayor George C. Fowler)

Town of Mint Hill

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > North Carolina

April 24, 2007

[Emblem of Town of Mint Hill, North Carolina]

Proclamation

WHEREAS, between 1915-1923 the deaths of more than one and one-half million Christian Armenians and the deportation of countless other Armenians took place by the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, during this atrocity, Armenians witnessed the loss of their relatives and ancestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, ancestral lands taken by the Ottoman Turks have not been returned to the Armenian people, and the struggle for cultural heritage continues; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have traditionally designated April 24th as Armenian Martyrs Day, in recognition and remembrance of those who died; and

WHEREAS, the year 2007 marks the 92nd anniversary of this tragedy; and

WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are not repeated in future generations.

NOW THEREFORE, I Ted H. Biggers, Jr., Mayor of the Town of Mint Hill, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2007 as

"ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY"

in Mint Hill, North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.

WITNESS MY HAND and official Seal of the Town of Mint Hill.

[Seal of Town of Mint Hill, N.C.] [Signature of Ted H. Biggers, Jr., Mayor]

Town of Matthews

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > North Carolina

April 24, 2007

Town of Matthews, North CarolinaOffice of the Mayor

WHEREAS, between 1915-1923 the deaths of more than one and one-half million Christian Armenians and the deportation of countless other Armenians took place by the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, during this atrocity, Armenians were forced to witness the slaughter to their relatives and the loss of their ancestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, ancestral lands taken by the Ottoman Turks have not been returned to the Armenian people, nor have the Armenians received compensation for their losses; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have traditionally designated April 24th as Armenian Martyrs Day, in recognition and remembrance of those who died; and

WHEREAS, the year 2007 marks the 92nd anniversary of this tragedy; and

WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are not repeated in

future generations;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, R. Lee Myers, Mayor of the Town of Matthews, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2007 as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY

In Matthews, and encourage all citizens to honor this observance.

WITNESS MY HAND and the official Seal of the Town of Matthews.

[Town of Matthews, N.C. Seal] [Signature of R. Lee Myers, Mayor]

Town of Huntersville

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > North Carolina

April 24, 2008

Town of HuntersvilleProclamation

WHEREAS, between 1915-1923 the deaths of more than one and one-half million Christian Armenians and the deportation of countless other Armenians took place by the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, during this atrocity, Armenians witnessed the loss of their relatives and ancestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, ancestral lands taken by the Ottoman Turks have not been returned to the Armenian people, and the struggle for cultural heritage continues; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have traditionally designated April 24th as Armenian Martyrs Day, in recognition and remembrance of those who died; and

WHEREAS, the year 2008 marks the 93rd Anniversary of this tragedy; and

WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are not repeated in future generations.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jill Swain, Mayor of the Town of Huntersville, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2008 as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY in Huntersville, North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.

Town of Pineville

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > North Carolina

April 8, 2008

A PROCLAMATIONBY THE

MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCILPINEVILLE, N.C.

WHEREAS, between 1915-1923 the deaths of more than one and one-half million Christian Armenians and the deportation of countless other Armenians took place by the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, during this atrocity, Armenians witnessed the loss of their relatives and ancestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, ancestral lands taken by the Ottoman Turks have not been returned to the Armenian people, and the struggle for cultural heritage continues; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have traditionally designated April 24th as Armenian Martyrs Day, in recognition and remembrance of those who died; and

WHEREAS, the year 2008 marks the 93rd Anniversary of this tragedy; and

WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are not repeated in future generations.

WE THEREFORE DO NOW PROCLAIM, April 24th, 2008 as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY.

City of Monroe

Home > International Affirmation > Municipal Governments > United States > North Carolina

April 24, 2007

CITY OF MONROE

PROCLAMATION"ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY"

P-2007-07

WHEREAS, between 1915-1923 the deaths of more than one and one-half million Christian Armenians and the deportation of countless other Armenians took place by the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, during this atrocity, Armenians witnessed the loss of their relatives and ancestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, ancestral lands taken by the Ottoman Turks have not been returned to the Armenian people, and the struggle for cultural heritage continues; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have traditionally designated April 24th as Armenian Martyrs Day, in recognition and remembrance of those who died; and

WHEREAS, the year 2007 marks the 92nd anniversary of this tragedy; and

WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are not repeated in future generations.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bobby G. Kilgore, Mayor of the City of Monroe, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2007 as

"ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY"

Council of the District of Columbia

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > District of Columbia

November 8, 2019

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ENROLLED ORIGINAL

A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION

23-103

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

June 4, 2019

To recognize and reflect on the 104th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide and on the importance of educating District of Columbia residents on the Armenian Genocide.

WHEREAS, on April 24, 1915 the Ottoman Turkish government began a premeditated campaign of brutal atrocities, including pogroms, deportations, forced death marches across Anatolia into the Syrian desert, starvation, crucifixions, kidnapping, massacres en masse, and genocide against its Christian Armenian minority population, resulting in the death of an estimated one and one half million Armenians as well as over one million Greeks, Assyrians, Syriacs and others were massacred as part of the planned complete eradication of those indigenous communities by the Ottoman Turkish Empire that continued until 1923;

WHEREAS, on July 16, 1915, U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, wrote to the U.S. Secretary of State, Robert Lansing, and reported that “Deportation of and excesses against peaceful Armenians is increasing and from harrowing reports of eye witnesses it appears that a campaign of race extermination is in progress”;

WHEREAS, on May 28, 1951, the United States Government affirmed the Armenian Genocide in a statement to the International Criminal Court, which stated that “The Roman persecution of the Christians, the Turkish massacres of Armenians, the extermination of millions of Jews and Poles by the Nazis are outstanding examples of the crime of genocide” ;

WHEREAS, the U.S. House of Representatives officially acknowledged the World War I mass killings of Armenians as the Armenian Genocide through adopted legislation in 1975 and 1984;

WHEREAS, on April 22, 1981, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation which stated that “Like the genocide of the Armenians before it, and the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it – and like too many other such persecutions of too many other peoples – the lessons of the Holocaust must never be forgotten” ;

WHEREAS, on March 27, 2015, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry rightfully condemned the Islamic State's persecution of Christians, Yezidis, and other religious minorities, including Armenians, in Iraq and Syria as genocide;

WHEREAS, the United States was the first county to recognize the Armenian genocide and raised millions of dollars to aid the surviving victims of the genocide;

WHEREAS, forty-nine U.S. states and twenty-eight countries have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide and likewise called upon the Government of Turkey to acknowledge their history;

WHEREAS, to this day revisionists still inexplicably deny the existence of the Armenian Genocide;

WHEREAS, the Republic of Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the Armenian Genocide, and honors the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide as national heroes;

WHEREAS, Near East Relief was the first Congressional-sanctioned American philanthropic effort created exclusively to rescue the Armenian Nation and other Christian minorities from annihilation after S. Ambassador to Constantinople Henry A. Morgenthau, pled for assistance upon personally witnessing the systematic massacre of Armenians;

WHEREAS, Near East Relief’s efforts resulted in delivering one hundred seventeen million dollars of assistance between 1915 and 1930, including the delivery of food, clothing, and materials for shelter, setting up refugee camps, clinics, hospitals, and orphanages;

WHEREAS, the generous philanthropy of the American people directly resulted in the salvation of the Armenian and Assyrian refugees nation from being completely annihilated by the Genocide by saving more than one million refugees, including more than one hundred thirty thousand orphans through their humanitarian assistance;

WHEREAS, Near East Relief evolved into the Near East Foundation in 1930, and continues to provide humanitarian aid to people throughout the Middle East and Africa;

WHEREAS, James Cannon Jr., Frank Morrison, and Ray Lyman Wilbur of the District of Columbia helped lead the humanitarian efforts of Near East Relief by serving on the Board of Trustees from 1915 through 1930;

WHREEAS, the Near East Relief Committee of the District of Columbia was the 3rd largest committee of any state in the United States from 1915 through 1930;

WHEREAS, since the 1890s, Armenian Americans and organizations contribute richly to the District of Columbia’s social mosaic and add to our community’s economic, political, and educational development; and

WHEREAS,recognition and reaffirmation of this tragedy educates people about the horrors of man’s inhumanity to man and works to prevent future occurrences of genocides.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Armenian Genocide Recognition Resolution of 2019”.

Sec. 2. The Council recognizes the 104th Anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide and encourages educators in the District of Columbia to teach about human rights, the Armenian Genocide, and consequences of genocide denial.

Sec. 3. The Council shall transmit a copy of this resolution, upon its adoption, to the Mayor, the Chancellor of the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, and the President and each member of the State Board of Education.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.

(Official Council of the District of Columbia resolution link)

Arkansas Executive Department Proclamation

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Arkansas

March 27, 2001

Proclamation

To all Whom these Presents Come - Greetings:

WHEREAS, the death of at least 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks and the forced deportation of countless others, is remembered on April 24th as Armenian Martyrs Day; and

WHEREAS, eighty-six years ago, Armenians were forced to witness the slaughter of their relatives and the loss of their ancestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, the denial of the Armenian Genocide by the present-day Turkish Government continues to antagonize the Armenian people concerning their own rightful place in history; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian people have not received reparations for their losses; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have valiantly pursued the improvement and self-determination of their homelands; and

WHEREAS, notwithstanding such atrocities in the past people of Armenian descent have been strong, productive, contributing citizens in the many communities in which they reside in the State of Arkansas; and

WHEREAS, on April 24, 2001, Armenian families from across Arkansas will gather to honor the 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred under the Ottoman Turkish Government between 1915 and 1923;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mike Huckabee, acting under the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Arkansas, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2001, as

A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

in the State of Arkansas.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas to be affixed this 27th day of March, in the year of our Lord 2001.

[signed]

Arizona State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Arizona

April 23, 1990

STATE OF ARIZONA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

PROCLAMATION

A DAY OF ARMENIAN REMEMBRANCE

WHEREAS, beginning April 24, 1915, the Armenian people suffered a genocide of great proportion involving the loss of over one and one-half million lives; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have throughout their history suffered needless losses of their population that have bordered on the near annihilation of an entire race, twice having suffered at the hands of conquerors and driven from their homeland; and

WHEREAS, those who survived have continued to hope for a free homeland and for a world free of the desire to destroy an single race of people; and

WHEREAS, traditional to the Armenian custom, April 24th has been designated as "Armenian Martyrs Day" to remember such losses; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate for the citizens of Arizona to join in this commemoration to rededicate themselves to the principle of equal justice for all people and to remember the atrocities committed against this race so that such horrors are never repeated;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Rose Mofford, Governor of the State of Arizona, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1990, as

A DAY OF ARMENIAN REMEMBRANCE

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the States of Arizona

(SIGNED)Rose MoffordGOVERNOR

DONE at the Capitol in Phoenix on this the twenty-third day of April in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety and of the Independence of the United States of America the Two Hundred and Fourteenth.

Nevada State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Nevada

April 11, 2000

State of NevadaExecutive Department

A PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR:

Whereas, the Armenian-American Cultural Society of Las Vegas, together with various Armenian organizations and churches, will come together to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Genocide of the Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish Empire; and

Whereas, each April, Armenian Americans, and people of good conscience pause to remember the 1.5 million victims of this crime against humanity; and

Whereas, this systematic and deliberate massacre of the Armenian people between 1915-1923 represents the first Genocide of the 20th Century ; and

Whereas, this years' commemoration will take place April 30, 2000 at the Sahara West Library; and

Whereas, all Nevadans should continually rededicate themselves to the principle of equal justice for all;

Now, Therefore, I, Kenny C. Guinn, Governor of the State of Nevada, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2000 as A Day of Remembrance of "The First Genocide of the 20th Century"

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great of the Seal of the State of Nevada to be affixed at the State Capitol in Carson City, this 11th day of April 2000.

A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE of the ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > North Carolina

April 23, 1999

A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE of the ARMENIAN GENOCIDE1999

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINAA PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the death of at least 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks and the forced deportation of countless others, is remembered every year on April 24, since 1915, as Armenian Martyrs Day; and

WHEREAS, eighty-four years ago, Armenians were forced to witness the slaughter of their relatives and the loss of their ancestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, the denial of the Armenian Genocide by the present-day Turkish Government continues to antagonize the Armenian people concerning their own rightful place in history; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian People have not received reparations for their losses; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have valiantly pursued the improvement and self-determination of their homelands; and

WHEREAS, notwithstanding such atrocities in the past, people of Armenian descent have been strong, productive, contributing citizens in the many communities in which they reside in the State of North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, on April 25, 1999, Armenian families from across North Carolina will gather in Charlotte to honor the 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred under the Ottoman Turkish Government between 1915 and 1923;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES B. HUNT JR., Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1999, as "A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE of the ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" in North Carolina, and encourage all citizens to commend its observance.

North Dakota House Concurrent Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > North Dakota

January 3, 2007

View PDF of document

SixtiethLegislative Assemblyof North Dakota

Introduced byRepresentatives Hanson, KroeberSenator Nething

A concurrent resolution proclaiming April 24 as a day of remembrance of the Armenian genocide.

WHEREAS, 1,500,000 men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, the United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinement of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of these 'devoted people.'"; and

WHEREAS, the killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide has been acknowledged by several countries and international bodies; and

WHEREAS, each year Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923, and all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian genocide because it stands as an ugly testament to man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, it is essential to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help better understand the necessity of eliminating hatred from our own communities;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF NORTH DAKOTA, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:

That April 24 is proclaimed as a day of remembrance of the Armenian genocide; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State forward copies of this resolution to the chairman of the Armenian Community of North Dakota, the Armenian Assembly of America, the Armenian National Committee, each member of the North Dakota Congressional delegation, and the President of the United States.

Nebraska State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Nebraska

April 23, 2004

WHEREAS, one and one-half-million Christian Armenian men, women, and children were the victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish Government from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide and massacres of Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, recognition of the eighty-ninth anniversary of this genocide is crucial to guarding against the repetition of future genocide and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Nebraska have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government and the arts;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mike Johanns, Governor of the State of Nebraska, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2004, to be

DAY OF REMEMBERANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIODE OF 1915-1923

in Nebraska and I do hereby urge all citizens to that notice of the observance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the Great Seal of the State of Nebraska to be affixed this Twenty-Third day of April, in the year of our Lord Two Thousand Four.

Gubernatorial Proclamation

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Alabama

March 19, 2019

View PDF of document

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, during the Armenian Genocide from 1915-1923, one and one-half million ethnic Armenian men, women and children as well as over one million Greeks, Assyrians, Syriacs and others were massacred as part of the planned complete eradication of those indigenous communities by the Ottoman Turkish Empire during the first modern genocide that still requires justice; and

WHEREAS, Near East Relief’s efforts, with the active participation of the State of Alabama, resulted in delivering unprecedented 117 million dollars of assistance from the American people between 1915 and 1930, that directly resulted in the salvation of the Christian Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian survivors from being completely annihilated by the genocide; and

WHEREAS, Raphael Lemkin cited both the systemic destruction of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and the Jews, Gypsies, Poles and others by the Nazis when he coined the word Genocide in 1943; and

WHEREAS, the United States government first officially acknowledged the Armenian Genocide in 1951, in a document submitted to the International Court of Justice; and

WHEREAS, the Republic of Armenia, the Hellenic Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, and the Republic of Artsakh are now free, independent, democratic states and strategic allies of the United States of America in the region; and

WHEREAS, other cases of genocide include the killings in Cambodia in 1975, the massacres in Bosnia in 1992, the slaughter in Rwanda in 1994 and now in the 21st century, the displacements and deaths in Darfur as well as targeting of religious minorities by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Middle East; and

WHEREAS, the United States House of Representatives adopted H. Con. Res. 75 in 2016, declaring the atrocities perpetrated by the ISIL against Christians, Yezidis and other religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kay Ivey, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim April 2019 as GENOCIDE AWARENESS MONTH in the State of Alabama.

Letter from the Governor of Montana

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Montana

2004

Office of the GovernorState of Montana

April 2004

On behalf of the citizens of the State of Montana, I am pleased to recognize your achievements to bring awareness and recognition to the one and one-half million Christian Armenian men, women and children who were victims of the brutal genocide perpetuated by the Ottoman Turkish Government from 1915 to 1923.

The Armenian genocide and massacres of Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old. Recognition of the eight-ninth anniversary of this genocide is crucial to guarding against the repetition of future genocide and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events.

I urge recognition of their plight on April 24th, 2004, which is nationally recognized as a Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.

Sincerely,Judy MartzGovernor

South Dakota State Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > South Dakota

February 25, 2015

View PDF of document

State of South Dakota

NINETIETH SESSION LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2015

922W0724

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1009

Introduced by: Representatives Hickey, Bartling, Beal, Bolin, Brunner, Craig, Gibson, Gosch, Haggar (Don), Haugaard, Kaiser, Klumb, Schoenbeck, Schrempp, Stalzer, Stevens, Verchio, Willadsen, and Wink and Senators Bradford, Ewing, Holien, Novstrup (David), Olson, Peterson (Jim), Rampelberg, Rusch, and Van Gerpen

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Designating 2015 as the "Year of Remembrance for the Centennial Since the Commencement of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923" in South Dakota and urging Congress and the President of the United States to formally and consistently recognize and reaffirm the historical truth that the atrocities committed against the Armenian, Greek, and other Christians living in their historical homelands in Anatolia constituted genocide and to work towards equitable, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.

WHEREAS, during the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, one million five hundred thousand men, women, and children of Armenian descent, and hundreds of thousands of Assyrian and Greek descent, lost their lives at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish Empire in its attempt to systematically eliminate the Armenian race; and

WHEREAS, April 24, 1915, is globally observed as the commencement of the Armenian Genocide because the arrest on that day, and subsequent execution, of several hundred Armenian leaders alerted the world about the Ottoman Turks' genocidal plan; and

WHEREAS, despite Armenians' historic presence, stewardship, and autonomy in the region, Turkish rulers of the Ottoman Empire subjected Armenians to severe and unjust persecution and brutality including widespread and wholesale massacres beginning in the 1890s, most notably the Hamidian Massacres from 1894 to 1896 and the Adana Massacre of 1909; and

WHEREAS, the earlier massacres and subsequent genocide of the Armenians and other Christian peoples constitute one of the most atrocious violations of human rights in the history of the world; and

WHEREAS, these crimes against humanity not only resulted in the killing of unprecedented numbers of innocent peoples, but also had the consequence of permanently removing all traces of the Armenians and other targeted peoples from their historic homelands of more than three millennia, and enriching the perpetrators with the lands and other property of the victims of these crimes, including the usurpation of several thousand churches; and

WHEREAS, by consistently remembering and forcefully condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, and honoring the survivors as well as other victims of similar heinous conduct, we guard against repetition of such acts of genocide and provide the American public with a greater understanding of history; and

WHEREAS, this measure would declare that the Legislature deplores the persistent, ongoing efforts by any person, in this country or abroad, to deny the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, the failure of the international community to hold responsible nations accountable for crimes against humanity results in travesty of justice, and sets a negative precedent; and

WHEREAS, the United States is on record as having officially recognized the Armenian Genocide in the United States government's May 28, 1951, written statement to the International Court of Justice regarding the Reservations to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, through President Ronald Reagan's April 22, 1981, Proclamation No. 4838, and by Congressional legislation including House Joint Resolution 148 adopted on April 8, 1975, and House Joint Resolution 247 adopted on September 10, 1984; and

WHEREAS, even prior to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the United States has a record of having sought to justly and constructively address the consequences of the Ottoman Empire's intentional destruction of the Armenian people, including through Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 adopted on February 9, 1916, Senate Resolution 359 adopted on May 11, 1920, and President Woodrow Wilson's November 22, 1920, decision entitled, "The Frontier between Armenia and Turkey"; and

WHEREAS, on April 24, 2013, the President of the United States stated, "A full, frank, and just acknowledgment of the facts is in all of our interests. Nations grow stronger by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past, thereby building a foundation for a more just and tolerant future"; and

WHEREAS, President Obama entered office having stated his "firmly held conviction that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence" and affirmed his record of "calling for Turkey's acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide"; and

WHEREAS, in response to the Genocide and at the behest of the President Woodrow Wilson and the U.S. State Department, the Near East Relief organization was founded and was provided unprecedented complete access to all U.S. government documents and files concerning the plight of Christian minorities; and

WHEREAS, Near East Relief was the first Congressionally-sanctioned American philanthropic effort created exclusively to rescue the Armenian Nation and other Christian minorities from annihilation after U.S. Ambassador to Constantinople Henry A. Morgenthau, Jr., pled for assistance upon personally witnessing the systematic massacre of Armenians; and

WHEREAS, Near East Relief's efforts resulted in delivering one hundred seventeen million dollars of assistance between 1915 and 1930, including the delivery of food, clothing, and materials for shelter, setting up refugee camps, clinics, hospitals, and orphanages; and

WHEREAS, the generous philanthropy of the American people directly resulted in the salvation of the Armenian and Assyrian refugees nation from being completely annihilated by the Genocide by saving more than one million refugees, including more than one hundred thirty thousand orphans through their humanitarian assistance; and

WHEREAS, Near East Relief evolved into the Near East Foundation in 1930, and continues to provide humanitarian aid to people throughout the Middle East and Africa; and

WHEREAS, South Dakota is home to a vibrant Armenian-American community who have enriched our state through their leadership and contribution in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; and

WHEREAS, the State of South Dakota endeavors to encourage and promote a curriculum relating to human rights and genocide in order to empower future generations to prevent the recurrence of genocide; and

WHEREAS, April 24, 2015, will mark the centennial anniversary since the commencement of the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, Armenians in South Dakota, and throughout the world, have not been provided with justice for the crimes perpetrated against the Armenian nation despite the fact that a century has passed since the crimes were first committed; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian people, in South Dakota and elsewhere, remain resolved and their spirit continues to thrive a century after their near annihilation:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the Ninetieth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein, that the Legislature hereby designates the year of 2015, as "South Dakota Year of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923"; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislature urges the Republic of Turkey to acknowledge the facts of the Armenian Genocide and to work toward a just resolution; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislature commends its conscientious educators who teach about human rights and genocide, and calls upon them to continue to enhance their efforts to educate students at all levels about the experience of the Armenians and other crimes against humanity; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislature hereby commends the extraordinary service which was delivered by Near East Relief to the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and Assyrian Genocide, including thousands of direct beneficiaries of American philanthropy who are the parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents of many Armenians and Assyrians; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislature respectfully calls upon the Congress and the President of the United States to act likewise and to formally and consistently recognize and reaffirm the historical truth that the atrocities committed against the Armenian people constituted genocide.

Utah, Governor, Proclamation

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Utah

2001

Proclamation

Whereas, many Armenians, including some who reside in Utah, will pay tribute to the 1.5 million victims of genocide on Armenian Martyr Day; and

Whereas, understanding the plight of the Armenian genocide, and educating the public, is one step toward eliminating possible future genocides; and

Whereas, the Salt Lake Symphonic Choir has undertaken an enormous task to turn an invited visit into a humanitarian cause benefiting the Armenian people; and

Whereas, Utahns have the capacity and resources to make a difference in the lives of the Armenian people; and

Whereas, the Choir's visit provides Utahns with a rare opportunity to experience "one degree of separation" thus putting a face on the donor recipients in an humanitarian cause;

Now, Therefore, I, Michael O. Leavitt, Governor of the state of Utah, do hereby proclaim April 2001, as Armenian Awareness Month in Utah.

Governor:

[signed] Michael O. Leavitt

Vermont Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Vermont

April 24, 2004

STATE OF VERMONTEXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, since 1915, April 24th of each year has been imprinted in the memory of the Armenian people worldwide, for it was then that the mass genocide of the Armenian people began in the Ottoman Turkish Empire, the first such genocide in the 20th century, and 2004 marks the 89th anniversary of the historic tragedy; and

WHEREAS, Armenian families were uprooted from their ancestral homeland, brutally exposed to all kinds of indignities with hundreds of thousands slain, resulting in more than half of the Armenian people killed; and

WHEREAS, recognition of the 89th anniversary of this genocide is crucial to guarding against the repetition of future genocide and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans have greatly enriched our society through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; and

WHEREAS, our thoughts, offered in memory of the Armenian martyrs of 1915, will serve to remind governments of the world that persecution, torture, and killing must cease forever.

NOW, THEREFORE, I James H. Douglas, Governor, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2004 as

Armenian Martyrs Day

in Vermont.

Given under my hand the Great Seal of the State ofVermont this 24th day of April, A.D. 2004,

Washington State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Washington

April 20, 1990

STATE OF WASHINGTON

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, beginning in 1915, the Ottoman Empire initiated a reign of terror that ultimately resulted in the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians in eight years; and

WHEREAS, this systematic program of genocide and forced deportation was undertaken with the intent of annihilating the entire Armenian race; and

WHEREAS, this year marks the 75th anniversary of this tragic episode in history and it is appropriate that we become aware of the atrocities that were committed against the Armenian people so that future generations will learn from the past; and

WHEREAS, this event in history has just finally begun to be incorporated into Holocaust, genocide and human rights studies in schools throughout our nation; and

WHEREAS, while for many the memories are sad and painful in recalling the tragedy and inhumanity of the Armenian Genocide, we can help future generations better understand its impact and magnitude while ensuring that such an occurrence will never happen again;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Booth Garner, Governor of the State of Washington, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1990, as a

Day of Remembrance

in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and in remembrance of the innocent victims of this tragedy, and I urge all citizens to join in this important observance.

Signed, this 20th day of April, 1990

(SIGNED)Governor Booth Gardner

Oregon State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Oregon

April 23, 1990

STATE OF OREGON

OFFICE OF THE GOVENOR

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS: Beginning in 1915, the Ottoman Empire initiated a reign of terror that ultimately resulted in the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians in eight years; and

WHEREAS: This systematic program of genocide and forced deportation was undertaken to eliminate the Armenian race; and

WHEREAS: The year 1990 marks the 75th anniversary of this racially prejudiced episode in history; and

WHEREAS: Analyses of this illogical persecution of the Armenians are being incorporated into studies of racial bias, such as the Holocaust and other violations of human rights; and

WHEREAS: It is appropriate that we make ourselves aware of such instances from the past so that we do not allow the repetition of similar racial violence and hatred to destroy our present and our future.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Neil Goldschmidt, Governor of the State of Oregon, hereby proclaim April 24, 1990, as

DAY OF ARMENIAN REMEMBRANCE

in Oregon and encourage all citizens to join in this observance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and cause the Great Seal of the State of Oregon to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the City of Salem and the State of Oregon, on this day, April 23, 1990.

(SIGNED)Neil Goldschmidt, Governor

Oklahoma State Legislature

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Oklahoma

March 26, 1990

STATE OF OKLAHOMAENROLLED SENATECONCURRENTRESOLUTION NO. 68

BY: ROBERTS of the SENATEAndJOHNSON (Glen) of the HOUSE

A CONCURRENT REOSLUTION DEPLORING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE; PROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 1990, THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THAT EVENT, AS ARMENIAN REMEMBRANCE DAY; AND DIRECTING DISTRIBUTION

WHEREAS, after almost 400 years of Turkish control a strong national and cultural renaissance swept across Armenia during the later part of the nineteenth century. The Turkish government ordered the first of many massacres and began a campaign to drive the Armenians from their homeland. From 1894 through 1896 approximately two hundred thousand Armenians were killed. The number of Armenian immigrants to the United States increased drastically; and

WHEREAS, during World War I, the Turks, who were part of the Central Powers regarded the Armenians as a dangerous ethnic element and decided to deport them all to what is now Syria. This deportation, similar to Oklahoma's own Trail of Tears, was accomplished with the utmost barbarity. As many as one million Armenians may have died on this death march from lack of water and food or were killed by Turks or Kurds along the route; and

WHEREAS, during the period of April 20 through May 19, 1915, claiming that the Armenians were aiding the invading Russians, the Turks began a massacre of this Christian minority; and

WHEREAS, the number of Armenians killed at the hands of the Turks will never be known, but

estimates as high as one million eight hundred thousand have been quoted; and

WHEREAS, the true number of Armenians who immigrated to the United States will never be known since Turkey prohibited Armenian emigration and most were listed as nationals of other countries by immigration officials. Today there are an estimated one million Armenian-Americans living in North America.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 42ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE CONCURRING THEREIN:

THAT, the Oklahoma State Legislature deplores the Armenian genocide as one of the most disgraceful events in human history.

THAT April 24, 1990, the 75th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, be declared Armenian Remembrance Day in the State of Oklahoma.

THAT copies of this resolution be distributed to the Armenians National Committee, Armenian Rights Council of America, Armenian General Benevolent Union, National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, Armenian Assembly of America and the Society for Armenian Studies.

Adopted by the Senate the 26th day of March, 1990.

(SIGNED)Bennet Cain, Jr.Acting President of the Senate

Adopted by the House of Representatives the 29th day of March, 1990

(SIGNED)Jim R. GloverSpeaker of the House of Representatives

South Carolina House Concurrent Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > South Carolina

April 24, 1999

SOUTH CAROLINA

H. 3678 Concurrent Resolution

[Introduced by Reps. T. E. Haskins and J. E. Smith]

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE APRIL 24, 1999, AS "SOUTH CAROLINA DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915-1923" SO AS TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THE ONE AND ONE-HALF MILLION PEOPLE OF ARMENIAN ANCESTRY WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DURING THAT TERRIBLE TIME AND TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF GENOCIDE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

Whereas, one and one-half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were the victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire from 1915-1923; and

Whereas, the Armenian genocide and massacres of Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; and

Whereas, the denial of the Armenian genocide by the present-day Turkish government continues to antagonize the Armenian people concerning their own rightful place in history; and

Whereas, by consistently remembering and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, South Carolinians are highly sensitive to the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

Whereas, recognition of the eighty-fourth anniversary of this genocide is crucial to guarding against the repetition of future genocides and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events; and

Whereas, South Carolina is home to hundreds of Armenian families; and

Whereas, Armenian-Americans living in South Carolina have greatly enriched our State through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly recognize April 24, 1999, as "South Carolina Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923" so as to honor the memory of the one and one-half million people of Armenian ancestry who lost their lives during that terrible time and to honor the memory of the victims of genocide throughout the world.

Adopted in House 03/04/99

Adopted in Senate 03/17/99

Missouri State House Concurrent Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Missouri

May 8, 2002

SECOND REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 4

91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2703L.01I

Whereas, on April 24, 1915, three hundred Armenian leaders, writers, thinkers and professionals and five thousand of the poorest Armenians in Constantinople were rounded up and killed in the streets and in their homes by the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire; and

Whereas, from 1915 to 1923 nearly one and a half million Armenian men, women, and children out of a total of two and a half million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire were systematically sent to concentration camps, tortured and murdered by the Turks; and

Whereas, the United States was the first country to recognize the Armenian Genocide and raise millions of dollars to aid the victims of the Genocide; and

Whereas, most Armenians in the United States are children or grandchildren of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide; and

Whereas, by remembering and forcefully condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians and honoring the survivors, as well as other victims of similar heinous conduct, we guard against repetition of such acts of genocide; and

Whereas, April 24 is the date on which Armenians around the world commemorate the Genocide in recognition of the day in 1915 when over five thousand Armenians were killed in Constantinople by the Turkish Ottoman Empire:

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-first General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby declare April 24th to be a "Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; and

Be it further resolved that all Missourians be encouraged to observe the day in a manner that honors the survivors and brings to mind the meaning and historical significance of the Armenian Genocide.

Kentucky State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Kentucky

April 28, 2008

TEXT OF KENTUCKY PROCLAMATION MARKING THE 93RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Proclamation

By Steven L. BeshearGovernor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky

To All To Whom These Presents Shall Come:

WHEREAS, One and one-half-million Christian Armenian men, women and children were the innocent victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish Government from 1915-1923; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide has been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving, ancient civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, Recognition of the ninety-third anniversary of this genocide is paramount to guarding against the repetition of future genocides and educating people across the Commonwealth about the atrocities of these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Kentucky have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in various aspects of society;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, STEVEN L. BESHEAR, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2008, as

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE in Kentucky.

DONE AT THE CAPITOL, in the City of Frankfort this 28th day of April, in the year of our Lord Two Thousand Eight and in the 216th year of the Commonwealth.

STEVEN L. BESHEARGOVERNOR

Kansas State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Kansas

April 20, 2005

TO THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS, GREETINGS:

WHEREAS, today is a day for Kansas to join in remembrance of a human tragedy that stands as a reminder for us to strive for a future of peace, prosperity and freedom for all; and

WHEREAS, today marks the ninetieth anniversary of the genocide and deportations of countless Armenians in Ottoman Turkey; this great sorrow continues to haunt not only Armenians but also their neighbors in Turkey; and

WHEREAS, we are reminded that the suffering of the Armenian people from 1915-1923 was a tragedy which the world should not forget and applauds efforts of Armenia and Turkey to come together to consider these events and their significance; and

WHEREAS, Kansas also wishes these countries success as they build on their recent achievements and encourages them to continue to work together in a spirit of hope and understanding; and

WHEREAS, Kansas remembers those who perished and suffered, we also salute the modern nation of Armenia, and Armenians everywhere. Kansas is grateful for the contributions of Armenian Americans who have chosen Kansas as their adopted home. They have employed wisdom, courage and centuries old traditions to enrich the character of our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government and the arts; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, on behalf of the people of Kansas, send solemn wishes to the Armenian people on this day of remembrance, and do hereby proclaim April 24, 2005, as

Armenian Remembrance Day

in Kansas, and urge all citizens to join in this observance. Our state and the Armenian nation stand together, with our partnership of peace, prosperity and freedom.

DONE: At the Capitol in Topeka under the Great Seal of the State this 20th day of April, A.D. 2005

BY THE GOVERNOR

Iowa State Proclamation

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Iowa

August 24, 2017

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State of Iowa

Executive Department

In The Name and By The Authority of The State of Iowa

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, from 1915-1923 during the Armenian Genocide, one and one-half million ethnic Armenian men, women and children as well as over one million Greeks, Assyrians, Syriacs and others were massacred as part of the planned complete eradication of those indigenous communities by the Ottoman Turkish Empire during the first modern genocide that still requires justice; and

WHEREAS, prior to the implementation of the Holocaust, in order to garner support from his followers, Adolf Hitler asked, “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”; and

WHEREAS, the Holocaust was the state-sponsored, systematic persecution and annihilation of European Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1933 and 1945 – six million Jews were murdered; Roma (Gypsies), people with disabilities and Poles were also targeted for destruction or decimation for racial, ethnic or national reasons; and millions more, including homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Soviet prisoners of war and political dissidents, also suffered grievous oppression and death under Nazi tyranny; and

WHEREAS, other cases of genocide include the killings in Cambodia in 1975, the massacres in Bosnia in 1992, the slaughter in Rwanda in 1994 and now in the 21st century, the displacements and deaths in Darfur as well as targeting of religious minorities by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Middle East; and

WHEREAS, the United States House of Representatives has adopted H.Con.Res. 75, declaring the atrocities perpetrated by the ISIL against Christians, Yezidis and other religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide; and

WHEREAS, by recognizing and consistently remembering the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust and all cases of past and ongoing genocide, we help protect historic memory, ensure that similar atrocities do not occur again and remain vigilant against hatred, persecution and tyranny:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kim Reynolds, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim the month of October, 2017 as

ARMENIA AWARENESS MONTH

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I HAVE HEREUNTO SUBSCRIBED MY NAME AND CAUSED THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF IOWA TO BE AFFIXED. DONE AT DES MOINES THIS 24TH DAY OF AUGUST IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN.

[Signed]

KIM REYNOLDS

GOVERNOR OF IOWA

ATTEST:

[Signed]

PAUL D. PATE

SECRETARY OF STATE

Indiana Governor Proclamation

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Indiana

November 1, 2017

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State of Indiana Executive Department Indianapolis Executive Order

PROCLAMATION

To All To Whom There Presents May Come, Greetings:

WHEREAS, from 1915-1923 during the Armenian Genocide, one and one-half million ethnic Armenian men, women and children as well as over one million Greeks, Assyrians, Syriacs and others were massacred as part of the planned complete eradication of those indigenous communities by the Ottoman Turkish Empire during the first modern genocide that still requires justice; and

WHEREAS, the Hoosier State was a staunch supporter of Near East Relief (NER), the American-led campaign to help rescue victims of the Armenian Genocide from 1915 to 1930 ; and

WHEREAS, other cases of genocide include the Holocaust, killings in Cambodia in 1975, the massacres in Bosnia in 1992, the slaughter in Rwanda in 1994 and now in the 21st century, the displacements and deaths in Darfur as well as targeting of religious minorities by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Middle East; and

WHEREAS, by recognizing and consistently remembering, and educating about the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, and all cases of past and ongoing genocide, we help protect historic memory, ensure that similar atrocities do not occur again and remain vigilant against hatred, persecution, and tyranny:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Eric J. Holcomb, Governor of the State of Indiana, do hereby proclaim November 6th-12th, 2017 as

ARMENIA AWARENESS WEEK

in the State of Indiana, and invite all citizens to duly note this occasion.

In Testimony Whereof, Thereto set my hand and cause to be affixed the Great Seal of State. Done at the City of Indianapolis, this 1st day of November the year of our Lord 2017 and of the Independence of the United States 242.

BY THE GOVERNOR: [SIGNED]

Idaho, Governor, Proclamation

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Idaho

April 20, 2004

WHEREAS, one and one-half-million Christian Armenian men, women, and children were the victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish Government from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide and massacres of Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, recognition of the eighty-ninth anniversary of this genocide is crucial to guarding against the repetition of future genocide and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Idaho have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government and the arts;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2004, to be

IDAHO DAY OF REMEMBERANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915-1923

Ohio Governor Proclamation

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Ohio

April 17, 2007

STATE OF OHIOExecutive Department

ColumbusIn Recognition ofApril 24, 2007For the 92nd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, 1915-1923

Today, I ask Ohioans to honor those who died in the Armenian Genocide, conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire, by recognizing their suffering resulting from the deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians. Of these 1.5 million men, women, and children were killed and one-half million were expelled from their homes. These acts succeeded in the elimination of a more than 2,500-year presence of Armenians in their historical homeland.

All Ohioans embrace freedom, justice and human dignity. We have a collective responsibility to uphold these values and to focus the world's attention on human rights abuses, ethnic cleansing, and genocide.

Armenian-American throughout Ohio are joined by all those devoted to ending the cycle of crimes against humanity.

SignedTed StricklandGovernor

West Virginia Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > West Virgina

February 22, 2016

HOUSE RESOLUTION 14

(By Delegates Perdue, Bates, Eldridge, Ferro, Gearheart, Guthrie,

Hornbuckle, Lynch, Marcum, Moore, Morgan, Reynolds and Rodighiero)

[February 22, 2016]

Memorializing the Armenian Genocide of 1915 through 1923 and Proclaiming April 24 as a Day of Remembrance. Whereas, In what is currently the Republic of Turkey and the country of Armenia, from 1915 through 1923 one and one-half million ethnic Armenian men, women and children were murdered and one-half million were displaced or deported as a result of oppression and ethnic cleansing by the Ottoman Empire; and

Whereas, Hundreds of thousands of Armenians were forced to flee their homes and travel to foreign counties in order to avoid persecution and death; and

Whereas, Hundreds of thousands of Armenian men, women and children were forced to walk through the Syrian Desert, where many died through dehydration and starvation; and

Whereas, The atrocities committed against the Armenian people have been viewed as an attempt to eliminate all traces of the Armenian civilization, dating more than 3,000 years old; and

Whereas, Prior to the implementation of the Holocaust, in order to garner support from his followers, Adolf Hitler asked “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”; and

Whereas, By recognizing and consistently remembering the Armenian Genocide the education of future generations for the protection of cultural and ethnic history is ensured so that these atrocities do not occur again; and

Whereas, The genocide has been recognized by forty-four of the United States and twenty-seven countries, including: Germany, Russia, Canada, France, Italy and Switzerland; and

Whereas, Armenia is now a free and independent democratic state, following nearly 70 years of oppression under the Soviet Union in the twentieth century; and

Whereas, The Republic of Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the Armenian Genocide and reveres the perpetrators as national heroes; and

Whereas, Armenian-Americans living in West Virginia have greatly enriched the State through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; therefore, be it Resolved by the Hose of Delegates:

That the West Virginia House of Delegates acknowledges the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire as an issue of historical and cultural significance; and, be it

Further Resolved, That April 24, 2016, be proclaimed a Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Armenian Genocide on the 101st Anniversary of the tragedy; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward copies of this resolution to the Ambassador to the United States of America from Armenia and the Armenian National Institute.

Minnesota State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Minnesota

April 20, 2005

State of Minnesota

Proclamation

WHEREAS: The Armenian Genocide is one of the most horrific tragedies of the 20th century, which led to the annihilation of as many as 1.5 million Armenians through forced exile and murder during the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS: Minnesotans from across the state join the Armenian community in mourning the tragic loss of life; and

WHEREAS: The unfolding Armenian Genocide was widely reported in Minnesota newspapers of the day, and Minnesotans played a leading role in international relief efforts; and

WHEREAS: The groundbreaking work of University of Minnesota Professor Taner Akcam and other like-minded Turkish scholars represents a vital step towards truth, justice, and reconciliation; and

WHEREAS; It is imperative that individuals in both the Armenian and Turkish Communities continue to work towards peace and reconciliation; and

WHEREAS; Since 1899 Armenian-Americans in Minnesota have made substantial contributions in arts and sciences, commerce, community service, and government, notably the 2004 incorporation of the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS: On this 90th anniversary of the onset of the Armenian Genocide, which is traditionally observed on April 24, it is fitting that all people of goodwill join the Armenian-American community in commemoration of this crime against humanity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TIM PAWLENTY, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby proclaim, Sunday, April 24, 2005, as:

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY

In the state of Minnesota.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto

set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the

State of Minnesota to be affixed at the State

Capitol this 20th day of April in the year of

our Lord two thousand and five, and of the

State the one hundred forty-sixth.

Minnesota State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Minnesota

March 16, 2001

State of Minnesota Proclamation

WHEREAS: The Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulting in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000 Armenians, of whom 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed, 500,000 survivors were expelled from their homes, and which succeeded in the elimination of the over 2,500-year presence of Armenians in their historic homeland; and

WHEREAS: The unfolding Armenian Genocide was reported in newspapers across Minnesota; moreover, in their editorials of September and October, 1915, the Duluth News Tribune, Fergus Falls Daily Journal, Minneapolis Journal, Minneapolis Tribune, Montevideo Leader, Rochester Post-Record, Red Wing Daily Republican, St. James Journal-Gazette, Saint Paul Pioneer Press, and Winona Independent unambiguously condemned the genocidal measures then in progress against the Armenians; and

WHEREAS: The failure of the domestic and international authorities to punish those responsible for the Armenian Genocide is a reason why similar genocides have recurred and may recur in the future, and that a proper judicial and firm response would have spared humanity needless suffering; and

WHEREAS: One hundred twenty-six of the world's leading scholars of the Holocaust, including Prof. Stephen Feinstein, Director of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, University of Minnesota, and Prof. Eric Marksun of Southwest State University, Marshall, Minnesota, have affirmed that the World War I Armenian Genocide is an incontestable historical fact and accordingly urge the governments of Western democracies to likewise recognize it as such; and

WHEREAS: On the anniversary of the onset of the Armenian Genocide, which is traditionally observed on April 24, it is fitting that all people of goodwill join the Armenian-American community in commemoration of this crime against humanity.

NOW THEREFORE I, JESSE VENTURA, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby proclaim, Tuesday, April 24, 2001 shall be observed as Armenian Remembrance Day in the State of Minnesota.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Minnesota to be affixed at the State Capitol this sixteenth day of March in the year 2001, and of the State the one hundred forty-second.

[signed]Jesse VenturaGovernor.

Maine Joint Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Maine

June 13, 2001

Joint Resolution Honoring Armenian Americans and Commemorating the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923

WHEREAS, Armenians living in their historic homeland in Asia Minor were subjected to severe persecution and brutal injustice by the Turkish rulers of the Ottoman Empire before and after the turn of the twentieth century, including widespread acts of destruction, mayhem and murder during the period from 1894 to 1896 and again in 1909; and

WHEREAS, the horrible experience of the Armenians at the hands of their Turkish oppressors culminated with what is known by historians as the "First Genocide of the Twentieth Century," or the "Forgotten Genocide"; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide began with the murder of hundreds of Armenian intellectuals, and political, religious and business leaders, who were arrested and taken from their homes in Constantinople before dawn on April 24, 1915; and

WHEREAS, the Young Turk regime then in control of the empire planned and executed the unspeakable atrocities committed against the Armenians from 1915 to 1923, including the torture, starvation and murder of 1,500,000 Armenians, death marches into the Syrian desert and the exile of more than 500,000 innocent people; and

WHEREAS, while there were some Turks who jeopardized their safety in order to protect Armenians from the slaughter being perpetrated by the Young Turk regime, the massacres of the Armenians constituted one of the most atrocious violations of human rights in the history of the world; and

WHEREAS, the United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of other devoted people. I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915. The killing of the Armenian people was accompanied by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years"; and

WHEREAS, contemporary newspapers such as the New York Times carried headlines including, "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed," "Million Armenians killed or in Exile" and "Wholesale Massacre of Armenians by Turks"; and

WHEREAS, Adolph Hitler, in persuading his army commanders that the merciless persecution and killing of Jews, Poles and other groups of people would bring no retribution declared, "Who after all speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians"; and

WHEREAS, unlike other groups and governments that have admitted the abuses and crimes of predecessor regimes and despite the overwhelming weight of the evidence, the Republic of Turkey has denied the occurrence of the crimes against humanity committed by the Young Turk rulers, and those denials compound the grief of the few remaining survivors of the atrocities and desecrate the memory of the victims; and

WHEREAS, nations of the world have suffered reprisals and condemnations by Turkey because of efforts to commemorate the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, there have been concerted efforts to revise history through the dissemination of propaganda suggesting that Armenians were responsible for their fate in the period from 1915 to 1923 and by the funding of programs at Armenian educational institutions for the purpose of furthering the cause of this revisionism and to counter, in the words of a Turkish official, "the Armenian view"; and

WHEREAS, leaders of nations with strategic, commercial and cultural ties to the Republic of Turkey should be reminded of their duty to encourage Turkish officials to cease efforts to distort facts and deny the history of events surrounding the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, the accelerated level and scope of denial and revisionism, coupled with the passage of time and the fact that very few survivors remain who serve as reminders of indescribable brutality and tormented lives, compel a sense of urgency in efforts to solidify recognition of historical truth; and

WHEREAS, by consistently remembering and forcefully condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians and honoring the survivors, as well as other victims of similar heinous conduct, we guard against repetition of those acts of genocide; and

WHEREAS, our State is home to people of Armenian descent, and those citizens have enriched our State through their leadership in the fields of business, agriculture, academia, medicine, government and the arts and are proud and patriotic practitioners of American citizenship; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twentieth Legislature now assembled in the First Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, pause in solemn memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923 and urge one and all to express our common desire to continually strive to overcome prejudice and inhumanity through education, vigilance and resistance; and be it further

RESOLVED: That a suitable copy of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington.

Louisiana House Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Louisiana

May 18, 2015

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2015 Regular Session

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 88

BY REPRESENTATIVE OURSO

SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Commemorates the centennial anniversary of the Armenian genocide

A RESOLUTION

To commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915.

WHEREAS, a special committee was formed in Constantinople in March 1919 by a group of Ottoman Armenians who survived the Armenian genocide with the goal of organizing commemoration ceremonies dedicated to marking the anniversary of the Armenian genocide; and

WHEREAS, the committee, known as "The April 11th Board of Ceremonial Mourning", consisted of thirteen members including Yevphime Avetisian, Zaruhi Galamkarian, Mari Stambulian, Perchuhi Parsamian, Miss Arpiar, Tigran Zaven, Merujan Parsamyan, Hakob Siruni, Gevorg Mesrop, Tagvor Suqiasian, Dr. Barsegh Tinanian, Shahan Perperian, and Hovhannes Poghosian; and

WHEREAS, because of the committee's efforts, the memory of the victims of Armenian genocide was commemorated among the Armenians of Constantinople for the first time in 1919; and

WHEREAS, Armenian writer and publicist Hakob Siruni wrote in his memoirs: "The mourning ceremony became a tradition. Since then, the 24th of April was adopted as the Day of Mourning"; and

WHEREAS, commemoration ceremonies were intended to be held from April 11 through 18, but due to the Armenian patriarch's illness at the time, the date was delayed by one day; Bishop Mesrop Naroian held a liturgy for the victims of the Armenian genocide April 15 through 25 in Saint Trinity Church of Bera District of Constantinople; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian patriarch of Constantinople, Zaven Eghiaian, gave the sermon at the first observance and on this proclaimed Day of Mourning, all Armenian national colleges and shops in Constantinople were closed.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Armenian genocide and does hereby offer prayers for peace in the world.

Louisiana State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Louisiana

April 18, 2004

WHEREAS, one and one-half-million Christian Armenian men, women, and children were the victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish Government from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide and massacres of Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, recognition of the eighty-ninth anniversary of this genocide is crucial to guarding against the repetition of future genocide and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Louisiana have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government and the arts;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kathleen Babineux Banco, Governor of the State of Louisiana, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2004, to be

DAY OF REMEMBERANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIODE OF 1915-1923

in the State of Louisiana

Hawaii House of Representatives

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Hawaii

April 6, 2009

HR192 H.D.1House of Representatives

Twenty-fifth Legislature, 2009State of Hawaii

House Resolution

Declaring April 24 as a Day of Remembrance in Recognition and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915

WHEREAS, during the chaos of World War I between the years of 1915-1923, approximately 1,500,000 Armenian men, women, and children living within the Ottoman Empire's borders were killed in a brutal genocide; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of Armenians were forced to flee to foreign countries after being stripped of their possessions, national identities, and homeland; and

WHEREAS, documented as the first instance of genocide in the 20th century, the Armenian genocide remains unacknowledged by the Republic of Turkey to this day; and

WHEREAS, even though over 90 years have passed since these mass killings took place, present-day atrocities continue to resonate throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, it is every person's responsibility to recognize the brutal slayings of so many innocents, remember their suffering, and vow to help prevent future occurrences of genocide; and

WHEREAS, Armenia's ties to Hawaii started in the 1920s with the gifted painter Arman T. Manookian, a genocide survivor, who lived in Hawaii for almost six years before his tragic death in 1931, and who became known as Hawaii's Van Gogh; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii has a growing Armenian-American community that is involved in all aspects of public life, including business, education, and government; and

WHEREAS, each year, Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished in the first genocide of the 20th century, and all the people of the world should join in recognizing and commemorating the Armenian genocide to ensure that this ugly testament to man's inhumanity to man is never forgotten; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, that this body hereby declares April 24 as a day of remembrance in recognition and commemoration of the Armenian genocide; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body joins with Hawaii's Armenian-American community and all Armenians worldwide in recognizing and honoring those who were killed and persecuted during the Armenian genocide, and urging people throughout the world to never forget these horrific crimes against humanity; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, who in turn is requested to transmit copies to the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America and Armenian National Committee of Hawaii.

Hawaii Senate Resolution

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March 10, 2015

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SENATE RESOLUTION

DECLARING APRIL 24 AS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE IN RECOGNITION AND COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915.

WHEREAS, during the chaos of World War I between the years 1915 and 1923, approximately 1,500,000 Armenian men, women, and children living within the Ottoman Empire's borders were killed in a brutal genocide; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of Armenians were forced to flee to foreign countries after being stripped of their

WHEREAS, documented as the first instance of genocide in the twentieth century, the Armenian genocide remains unacknowledged by the Republic of Turkey to this day; and

WHEREAS, even though over 90 years have passed since these mass killings took place, present-day atrocities continue to resonate throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, it is every person's responsibility to recognize the brutal slayings of so many innocent individuals, remember their suffering, and vow to help prevent future occurrences of genocide; and

WHEREAS, each year, Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished in the first genocide of the twentieth century, and the world community should join in recognizing and commemorating the Armenian genocide to ensure that this inhumanity is never forgotten; and

WHEREAS, with H.R. No. 192, H.D. 1, the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii declared April 24 as a day of remembrance in recognition and commemoration of the Armenian genocide during the Regular Session of 2009; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, that this body declares April 24 as a day of remembrance in recognition and commemoration of the Armenian genocide; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate joins the House of Representatives, Hawaii's Armenian-American community, and all Armenians worldwide in recognizing and honoring those who were killed and persecuted during the Armenian genocide, and urging people throughout the world to never forget these horrific crimes against humanity; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region.

Hawaii Senate Concurrent Resolution

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March 10, 2015

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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

DECLARING APRIL 24 AS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE IN RECOGNITION AND COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915.

WHEREAS, during the chaos of World War I between the years 1915 and 1923, approximately 1,500,000 Armenian men, women, and children living within the Ottoman Empire's borders were killed in a brutal genocide; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of Armenians were forced to flee to foreign countries after being stripped of their possessions, national identities, and homeland; and

WHEREAS, documented as the first instance of genocide in the twentieth century, the Armenian genocide remains unacknowledged by the Republic of Turkey to this day; and

WHEREAS, even though over 90 years have passed since these mass killings took place, present-day atrocities continue to resonate throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, it is every person's responsibility to recognize the brutal slayings of so many innocent individuals, remember their suffering, and vow to help prevent future occurrences of genocide; and

WHEREAS, each year, Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished in the first genocide of the twentieth century, and the world community should join in recognizing and commemorating the Armenian genocide to ensure that this inhumanity is never forgotten; and

WHEREAS, with H.R. No. 192, H.D. 1, the Bouse of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii declared April 24 as a day of remembrance in recognition

and commemoration of the Armenian genocide during the Regular Session of 2009; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, the House of Representatives concurring, that this body declares April 24 as a day of remembrance in recognition and commemoration of the Armenian genocide; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature ]Olns Hawaii's Armenian-American community and all Armenians worldwide in recognizing and honoring those who were killed and persecuted during the Armenian genocide, and urging people throughout the world to never forget these horrific crimes against humanity; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region.

Governor Jeb Bush Proclamation

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Florida

April 7, 2006

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Jeb BushGovernor of the State of Florida

Armenian Martyrs' Day

WHEREAS, the Ottoman Turks were responsible for a mass extermination of an estimated one and a half million Armenians that began April 24, 1915 and continued until 1923; and

WHEREAS, recognition of this tragedy educates people about genocide and may prevent future occurrences of genocides; and

WHEREAS, this resolution calls for "the people of the United States to observe such day as a day of remembrence for all the victims of genocide, especially those of Armenian ancestry"; and

WHEREAS, Armenians contribute richly to Florida's social mosaic and add to our political,

educational and economic development;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jeb Bush, Governor of the state of Florida, do hereby extend greetings and best wishes to all observing April 24, 2006 as Armenian Martyrs' Day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the state of Florida to be affixed at Tallahassee, the Capital, this 7th day of April in the year two thousand six.

Florida State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Florida

April 27, 1990

PROCLAMATION

STATE OF FLORIDA

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

TALLAHASSE

WHEREAS, Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a nation; and

WHEREAS, during the following centuries, Armenians were continuously harassed, tortured and often murdered by their non-Christian neighbors; and

WHEREAS, Armenia was ultimately partitioned among conquering enemies who wished to extinguish Christianity in its cradle; and

WHEREAS, the occasional and limited murder of the Armenians living under Turkish occupation finally culminated in the mass deportation and decimation of 1,500,000 Armenians; and

WHEREAS, on April 24, 1915, the Turks wiped out two-thirds of all Armenians residing in Turkey; and

WHEREAS, April 24, 1990, marked the 75th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and Armenians all over the world will observe the memory of their innocent martyrs of 1915;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bob Martinez, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Florida, do hereby proclaim April 29, 1990, as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS' DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

in Florida.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed at Tallahassee, the Capital, this 27th day of April in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety.

Connecticut State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Connecticut

April 25, 2009

State of ConnecticutBy Her Excellency M. Jodi Rell, Governor: an

Official Statement

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide was a horrific, senseless persecution of millions of innocent Armenian citizens, during which perhaps as much as half of the population of Armenian was exterminated; and

WHEREAS, it is Critical that we recognize and condemn the Armenian genocide and

WHEREAS, the history of the Armenian genocide offers an opportunity to reflect on the moral responsibilities of individuals, societies and governments; and WHEREAS, each year, Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of the State of Connecticut should always remember the terrible events of the Armenian Genocide and remain vigilant against hatred, persecution and tyranny; and

WHEREAS, the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide each year provides an opportunity for people to reflect upon our own humanity and the need to respect all peoples; now

THEREFORE, I, M Jodi Rell, Governor of the State of Connecticut, do hereby proclaim April 25, 2009, as

A DAY OF REMEMBERANCEFOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Connecticut Governor's Proclamation

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Connecticut

April 24, 2001

By his Excellency John G. Rowland, Governor: an Official Statement

WHEREAS, from 1915 to 1923, perhaps as many as 1.5 million Armenians-well over half of the population-were exterminated in a systematic campaign engineered by the Young Turk regime. In addition, up to 500,000 more Armenians were driven into permanent exile; and

WHEREAS, the Armenians were rounded up and imprisoned, forced into death marches and massacred. They were carried to remote areas, where they were left ot die of starvation. Armenian women and children were raped and mutilated; and

WHEREAS, it is critical that we recognize and condemn this genocide-a methodical extermination of a people; and

WHEREAS, this forgotten Armenian genocide deserves greater investigation and attention by academia and the public, and clear condemnation by all freedom-loving governments and peoples; and

WHEREAS, each year, Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923. All the world's people should commemorate the Armenian genocide because it stands as an ugly testament to man's inhumanity to man. The Armenian genocide is an historic event that people must remember and continue to learn from; now

THEREFORE, I, John G. Rowland, Governor of the State of Connecticut, in order to commemorate the 86th anniverary of the Armneian genocide of 1915-1923 and to increase awareness of this holocaust, do hereby officially designate April 24, 2001 as

A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDEin the State of Connecticut

Connecticut State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Connecticut

April 24, 1990

STATE OF CONNECTICUT

By His Excellency WILLIAM A. O'NEILL, Governor:

an Official Statement

We who cherish our freedom can never take it for granted. We who respect justice can never be totally secure in it. When freedom is challenged and our influence to meet those challenges and help protect individual life and liberty.

Certainly, no other human rights violation deserves greater protest and attention and demands firmer condemnation by freedom-loving people than genocide.

For the Armenian people, the horror and inhumanity of this devastating crime began in 1915 when young men of Armenian origin were drafted into the Turkish army, soon to be disarmed, transferred to labor battalions and then massacred.

On April 24, 1915, Turkish authorities arrested the most prominent intellectuals and leaders of Constantinople. They were exiled to the interior of Anatolia, either perishing on the way or meeting their fate on arrival.

Eventually, orders were issued by Talaat Pasha for the deportation of all Armenians -- men, women and children -- who were still in the country. Often they were massacred on the spot, and many more driven into the Syrian and Mesopotamian deserts where they fell prey to marauding guards.

These grave facts did not become public knowledge until after World War I. Later, during World War II, similar barbarous crimes became known as genocide, a crime outlawed by the 1948 United Nations Convention on Prevention and Punishment of Genocide.

Survivors of the Armenian massacre and their descendants have settled throughout the world, many of them in the United States. Each year, with solemn religious and patriotic ceremony, Armenians in the international community honor those who did in 1915 and remind all people that genocide on any scale is a crime against all humanity.

Therefore, to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, I am proud to designate April 24, 1990 as Armenia Cause Day in the State of Connecticut.

(SIGNED)William A. O'NeillGovernor

Delaware State Senate

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Delaware

April 22, 2015

View PDF of document

DELAWARE STATE SENATE 148th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 15

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE.

WHEREAS, during the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, one million five hundred thousand men, women, and children of Armenian descent, and hundreds of thousands of Assyrian and Greek descent, lost their lives at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish Empire in its attempt to systematically eliminate the Armenian race, while hundreds of thousands had become homeless and stateless refugees; and

WHEREAS, April 24, 1915, is globally observed as the commencement of the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, By 1923, these crimes against humanity not only resulted in the killing of unprecedented numbers of innocent peoples, but also had the consequence of permanently removing all traces of the Christian Armenians and other targeted peoples from their historic homelands of more than three millennia, and enriching the perpetrators with the lands and other property of the victims of these crimes, including the usurpation of several thousand churches; and

WHEREAS, by consistently remembering and forcefully condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, and honoring the survivors as well as other victims of similar heinous conduct, we guard against repetition of such acts of genocide and provide the American public with a greater understanding of history; and

WHEREAS, the United States is on record as having officially recognized the Armenian Genocide in the United States government's May 28, 1951, written statement to the International Court of Justice regarding the Reservations to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, through President Ronald Reagan's April 22, 1981, Proclamation No. 4838, and by Congressional legislation including House of Representatives Joint Resolution 148 adopted on April 8, 1975, and House of Representatives Joint Resolution 247 adopted on September 10, 1984; and

WHEREAS, even prior to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the United 19 States has a record of having sought to justly and constructively address the consequences of the Ottoman Empire's intentional 20 destruction of the Armenian people, including through Concurrent Resolution 12 adopted on February 9, 1916, Resolution

Apr 22, 2015 359 adopted on May 11, 1920, and President Woodrow Wilson's November 22, 1920, decision entitled, "The Frontier between Armenia and Turkey"; and

WHEREAS, in response to the Genocide and at the behest of the President Woodrow Wilson and the U.S. State 24 Department, the Near East Relief organization was founded and was provided unprecedented complete access to all U.S. government documents and files concerning the plight of Christian minorities; and

WHEREAS, Near East Relief's efforts, with the active participation of the First State, resulted in delivering 117 27 million dollars of assistance between 1915 and 1930, including the delivery of food, clothing, and materials for shelter, setting up refugee camps, clinics, hospitals, and orphanages; and

WHEREAS, the generous philanthropy of the American people directly resulted in the salvation of the Christian Armenian and Assyrian refugees nation from being completely annihilated by the Genocide by saving more than one million refugees, including more than one hundred thirty thousand orphans through their humanitarian assistance; and

WHEREAS, Delaware is home to a small, but vibrant Armenian-American community who have enriched our state through their leadership and contribution in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; and

WHEREAS, Armenians in Delaware, and throughout the world, have not been provided with justice for the crimes perpetrated against the Armenian nation despite the fact that a century has passed since the crimes were first committed, but remain resolved and their spirit continues to thrive a century after their near annihilation; now, therefore; and

WHEREAS, April 24, 2015, will mark the centennial anniversary since the commencement of the Armenian Genocide.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 148 40 th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House concurring therein, that:

1. The Delaware General Assembly hereby designates the year of 2015, as "Delaware Year of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923."

2. This resolution recognizes the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and acknowledges the criminal mistreatment of the Christian Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks by the government of the Ottoman Turkish Empire as an issue of international and historic significance that requires a resolution based on truth and justice.

3. The Delaware General Assembly urges the Republic of Turkey to acknowledge the facts of the Armenian Genocide and to work toward a just resolution.

4. The Delaware General Assembly shall call upon the citizens of the State of Delaware to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and honor the memory of the 1.5 million people who died as a result.

5. The Delaware General Assembly respectfully calls upon the Congress and the President of the United States to act likewise and to formally and consistently recognize and reaffirm the historical truth that the atrocities committed against the Armenian people constituted genocide.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitably prepared copy be mailed to The Armenian Prelacy of New York.

Delaware House Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Delaware

April 5, 2007

View PDF of document

Sponsor: Rep. Kowalko

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

144th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 14

A RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL 24 AS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

WHEREAS, 1,500,000 men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, the United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinement of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of these 'devoted people.'"; and

WHEREAS, the killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide has been acknowledged by other countries and international bodies; and

WHEREAS, each year Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923, and all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian genocide because it stands as an ugly testament to man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, it is essential to raise awareness about this undeniable chapter of world history, as this will further our understanding of the need to eliminate hatred from our own communities; and

WHEREAS, Armenian Americans living in Delaware have greatly enriched this State in business, communications and the arts;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

That April 24 is proclaimed as a day of remembrance of the Armenian genocide; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State shall forward copies of this resolution to the President of the United States and the members of the Delaware Congressional delegation.

Delaware Senate Concurrent Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Delaware

April 11, 1995

Delaware State Senate

138th General Assembly

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 19,

DESIGNATING APRIL 24, 1995 AS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF "MAN'S INHUMANITY TO MAN" FOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915-1923.

WHEREAS, 1,500,000 people of Armenian ancestry were victims of the Genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman Empire from 1915-1923; and

WHEREAS, at the outbreak of World War I, the "Young Turks" regime ordered the entire Armenian population of about 1,750,000 deported to Syria and Mesopotamia; and

WHEREAS, the plan for Genocide consisted of deporting all Armenians of whatever age or health to the totally-barren Der-El-Zor region of what is now Syria and Mesopotamia; and

WHEREAS, the Armenians were deported to Der-El-Zor on foot, a death march in which more than one million people died of starvation or were killed; and

WHEREAS, Armenians were rounded up and brutally driven from their ancestral homes and land, separated from their families, robbed of everything they owned and stripped of everything they carried with them; and

WHEREAS, thousands of Orthodox Christian Armenians were tortured and murdered for refusing to accept Islam as their religion; and

WHEREAS, the atrocities inflicted on Armenians held in concentration camps and on the death march to Der-El-Zor in the Syrian desert resemble those of the Holocaust of World War II; and

WHEREAS, the massacre of Armenians who escaped deportation and remained in Turkey was called the "most colossal crime of all ages" by the examining military mission's report to the U.S. congress; and

WHEREAS, in a telegram sent by then- U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau to the U.S. Secretary of State, Ambassador Morgenthau warned that a "campaign of race extermination is in progress under the pretext of reprisal against rebellion"

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 138th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives thereof concurring therein, that we proclaim April 24, 1995 a Day of Remembrance of "Man's Inhumanity to Man" on the 80th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call upon the people of the State of Delaware to observe that day by remembering the 1,500,000 people of Armenian ancestry who lost their lives in the Genocide of 1915-1923.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, upon its enactment, suitable copies of this Resolution be forwarded to the Armenian National Committee and the United Hellenic American Action Societies of Delaware.

New Hampshire State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New Hampshire

April 22, 2005

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

BY HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN LYNCH, GOVERNOR

A COMMENDATION 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide is abundantly documented by Ottoman court-martial records, by hundreds of thousand of documents in the archives of the United States and nations around the world; and

WHEREAS, More than 1.3 --1.5 million Armenians were exterminated and another million citizens fled into permanent exile; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations, the European Parliament, the Association of Genocide Scholars, the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide have reaffirmed the extermination of the Armenians by the Turkish government as genocide;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOHN LYNCH, GOVERNOR of the State of New Hampshire, do hereby recognize the 90th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 in New Hampshire.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Concord, this 22nd day of April, in the year of Our Lord two thousand and five, and the independence of the United States of America, two hundred and twenty-nine.

(signed) John H. Lynch, Governor State of New Hampshire

New Hampshire State Senate

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New Hampshire

April 24, 1990

SR 7

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety

A RESOLUTION

remembering the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.

Whereas, 1,500,000 people of Armenian ancestry were victims of genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

Whereas, at the outbreak of World War I, the Young Turk regime decided to deport the entire Armenian population of about 1,750,000 to Syria and Mesopotamia; and

Whereas, the plan of genocide consisted of deporting all Armenians of whatever age or condition of health to the totally barren Der-El-Zor region of what is now Syria; and

Whereas, the Armenians were deported to Der-El-Zor on foot, a death march in which more than 1,000,000 died of starvation of were killed; and

Whereas, thousands of Christian Armenians were tortured and murdered for refusing to accept Islam as their religion; and

Whereas, the atrocities inflicted on Armenians held in concentration camps and on the death marches to Der-El-Zor in the Syrian desert resemble those of the Holocaust of World War II; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate of the state of New Hampshire strongly urges that April 24, 1990, be a day of remembrance of the 75th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923; and

That the Senate calls upon the people of New Hampshire to observe that day by remembering the 1,500,000 people of Armenian ancestry who lost their lives in the genocide of 1915-1923.

New Mexico State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New Mexico

April 24, 2006

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State of New Mexico EXECUTIVE OFFICE Santa Fe, New Mexico

Proclamation

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide led to the death of 1.5 million Armenians as a result of a campaign of ethnic cleansing waged by the Ottoman Empire from 1912 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, 500,000 Armenian citizens were deported from their country, forced to leave their homes and worldly possessions behind in a bid to survive; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide has been recognized by a number of deliberative international bodies, such as the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, a United Nations Sub-Commission, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, the Permanent People's Tribunal, and the International Center for Transitional Justice; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide was cited during the Nuremberg trials as the basis for the emergence of the Nuremberg law on Crimes against Humanity; and

WHEREAS, the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and their descendants strive to educate the world about the terrible consequences of bigotry and racism so that other ethnic groups will not suffer as they did;

NOW, THEREFORE I, Bill Richardson, Governor of the State of New Mexico, do hereby proclaim April 24th, 2006 as:

"Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day"

throughout the State of New Mexico and urge New Mexicans to honor the memory of those victims and to teach future generations of the horrors of genocide so that it may be prevented.

Attest:

New Mexico State Senate

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New Mexico

March 10, 2001

Senate Joint Memorial 34

A Joint Memorial Designating April 24, 2001, as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

WHEREAS, beginning in 1915, the Ottoman empire killed one and one-half million Armenians and forcibly deported five hundred thousand Armenians during an eight-year reign of terror; and

WHEREAS, Armenians were deprived of their homes, their dignity and ultimately their lives; and

WHEREAS, the United States has not made an official statement regarding the Armenian genocide; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide has been acknowledged by countries and international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the council of Europe, Cyprus, the European parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece, Lebanon, Russia, the United Nations and Uruguay; and

WHEREAS, it is critically important for our nation to acknowledge what happened and to teach present and future generations of the history of genocide in order to prevent future genocides;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that April 24, 2001 be designated "Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day" in honor of the millions of innocent Armenians brutally murdered, in order to teach the horrors of genocide so that it may be eliminated from the human condition; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico congressional delegation, the United Nations and the Armenian Assembly of America.

Alaska State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Alaska

April 19, 1990

STATE OF ALASKAExecutive proclamationBySteve Cowper, Governor

Seventy-five years ago, from 1915 to 1923, the Turkish government committed genocide against the Armenian people, killing 1,500,000 while an additional 502,500 suffered deportation at the hands of the Turkish government.

An Act of Congress chartered the Near East Relief to aid the Armenian genocide survivors and 132,000 Armenian orphans became foster children of American people.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Council unanimously resolved on April 30, 1981, that, "the Armenian genocide should be included in the Holocaust Museum memorial."

United States House Resolution 148 authorized and requested that the President of the United States issue a proclamation observing April 24 as "National Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Steve Cowper of the State of Alaska, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1990, as:

A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF MAN'S INHUMANITY TO MAN

in Alaska and urge all Alaskans to continue to strive to overcome prejudice and inhumanity through education, vigilance and resistance.

Alaska State Senate

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Alaska

April 23, 1990

STATE OF ALASKA

THE LEGISLATURE1990Source SR-20Legislative Resolve No. 13

Relating to the Armenian genocide.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

WHEREAS 1990 is the 75th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, which was conceived by the Turkish government and implemented from 1915 to 1923 and which resulted in the extermination of 1,500,000 Armenian men, women, and children, the deportation of an additional 500,000 survivors, and the elimination of a 2,500-year Armenian presence in Armenia's historic homeland; and

WHEREAS the Armenian genocide is well documented in the archives of the United States, Austria, France, Germany, and Great Britain; and

WHEREAS Henry Morgenthau, a former United States Ambassador to Turkey, organized and led protests by all nations, including allies of Turkey, over Turkey's program of race extermination; and

WHEREAS an organization known as Near East Relief, chartered by an Act of Congress, contributed approximately $113,000,000 between 1915 and 1930 to aid the Armenian genocide survivors; and

WHEREAS 132,000 Armenian orphans became foster children of Americans; and

WHERAS the fact of the Armenian genocide was confirmed in United States Senate Resolution 359 dated May 13, 1920, which stated in part, "the testimony adduced at the hearings conducted by the subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations have clearly established the truth of the reported massacres and other atrocities from which the Armenian people have suffered"; and

WHEREAS the fact of the Armenian genocide was also confirmed by United States House Resolution 148, which stated in part, "April 24, 1975, is hereby designated as 'National Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man', and the President of the United States is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such day as a day of remembrance for all victims of genocide, especially those of Armenian ancestry who succumbed to the genocide perpetrated in 1915, and in whose memory this date is commemorated by all Armenians and their friends throughout the world"; and

WHEREAS former President Carter in a May 16, 1978, speech at the White House stated in part, "I feel very deeply that I, as President, ought to make sure that this (Armenian genocide) is never forgotten"; and

WHEREAS the United States, during the March 14 and 16, 1979, sessions of the United National Commission on Human Rights, voted to support paragraph 30 of a report entitled "Study of the Questions of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide" that stated, "Passing to the modern era, one may note the existence of relatively full documentation dealing with the massacres of Armenians"; and

WHEREAS the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, an independent federal agency, unanimously resolved on April 30, 1981, that, "the Armenian genocide should be included in the Holocaust Museum Memorial"; and

WHEREAS former President Ronald Reagan in proclamation 4838, dated April 22, 1981, stated in part, "like the genocide of the Armenians before it, the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it, and like too many other persecutions of too many other peoples, the lessons of the holocaust must never be forgotten"; and

WHEREAS the fact of the Armenian genocide has been documented, affirmed, and reaffirmed for over six decades;

BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Senate that the Senate recognizes these historical events and condemns genocide in any form.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States; to the Honorable Dan Quayle, Vice-President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Thomas Foley, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable George Mitchell, Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Richard Gephardt, Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Bob Dole, Minority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Robert Michel, Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable George Deukmejian, Governor of California; and the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowsky, U.S. Senators, the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.

State of Alaska Governor Bill Walker

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Alaska

April 21, 2015

WHEREAS, 2015, marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian genocide; and

WHEREAS, we honor the memory of those who perished one century ago, and seek to remember all the victims and their descendants; and

WHEREAS, documentation and scholarly consensus regarding the genocide are recognized and accepted by people and governments around the world; and

WHEREAS, that campaign of arrests, torture, and killings launched on April 24, 1915 resulted in the annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians, and the deportation of almost the entire Armenian population from its ancestral lands in Asia Minor; and

WHEREAS, the terrors of ethnic cleansing visited on men, women, and children are unconscionable in every individual instance; and

WHEREAS, it is the duty of all citizens to acknowledge and remember the pain and suffering of victims of genocide and their descendants, to honor the value of all human life, and to work to prevent such acts; and

WHEREAS, many survivors of the Armenian genocide found safe haven in locations across the United States, including Alaska, where their descendants continue to play a vital, productive role in community life.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bill Walker, Governor of the State of Alaska do hereby proclaim April 24, 2015 as:

Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide in Alaska, and encourage all Alaskans to honor the memory of those who perished in the Armenian genocide and to value the contributions of Alaskans of Armenian heritage to our state.

Dated: April 22, 2015

Wisconsin State Legislature

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Wisconsin

January 30, 1990

THE STATE OF WISCONSIN

1989 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 71

ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION

Relating to a day of remembrance for the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923.

Whereas, 1,500,000 people of Armenian ancestry were victims of genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

Whereas, at the outbreak of World War I, the Young Turk regime decided to deport the entire Armenian population of about 1,750,000 to Syria and Mesopotamia; and

Whereas, Talaat Pasha, leader of the Young Turk movement, was principal author of the plan to exterminate the Armenians; and

Whereas, the plan of genocide consisted of deporting all Armenians of whatever age or condition of health to the totally barren Der-El-Zor region of what is now Syria; and

Whereas, the Armenians were deport to Der-El-Zor on foot, a death march in which more than 1,000,000 died of starvation or were killed; and

Whereas, Armenians were rounded up and brutally driven from their homes and their land, separated from families, robbed of everything they owned and stripped of all they carried with them; and

Whereas, thousands of Christian Armenians were tortured and murdered for refusing to accept Islam as their religion; and

Whereas, the atrocities inflicted on Armenians held in concentration camps and one the death marches to Der-El-Zor in the Syrian desert resemble those of the Holocaust of World War II; and

Whereas, the massacre of Armenians who escaped deportation and remained in Turkey was called the "most colossal crime of all ages" by the examining American military mission's report to the U.S. congress; and

Whereas, in a telegram sent by U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau to the secretary of state, Morgenthau warned that "a campaign of race extermination is in progress under a pretext of reprisal against rebellion"; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the legislature of the state of Wisconsin proclaims April 24, 1990, as a day of remembrance of the 75th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923; and, be it further

Resolved, That the legislature calls upon the people of Wisconsin to observe that day by remembering the 1,500,000 people of Armenian ancestry who lost their lives in the genocide of 1915-1923.

Wisconsin State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Wisconsin

April 24, 1990

STATE OF WISCONSIN

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the Armenians are of ancient descent, whose history dates back over three thousand years, beginning in their homeland at the heart of which stands the Biblical Mount Ararat; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have been torchbearers of the democratic way of life and Western culture since their adoption of Christianity as their national religion in 301 A.D.; and

WHEREAS, few nations have had to make as great a sacrifice to maintain the ideals of a democratic way of life and their human right to their principles and national existence, as have the Armenians; and

WHEREAS, we mourn the more than one and one-half million innocent men, women and children who fell victim to the atrocities during the period from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, Americans of Armenian ancestry have contributed significantly to the enrichment of our nation and state in the fields of education, science, literature, parts, economics, and government;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TOMMY G. THOMPSON, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1990

ARMENIAN MARTYRS' DAY

in the State of Wisconsin, and commend this observance to the people of this State.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the City of Madison this twenty-fourth day of April in the year one thousand nine hundred ninety.

Wisconsin State Assembly

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Wisconsin

May 2, 2000

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 42

May 2, 2000 - Introduced by Representatives Ladwig and Plale. Referred to calendar.

Relating to: designating April 24 of each year as "Wisconsin Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923".

Whereas, a systematic destruction of thousands of Armenian communities, through massacres and death marches in which some 1,500,000 Armenians perished and hundreds of thousands more were uprooted from their homes and ancient homeland, was carried out from 1915 to 1923; and

Whereas, despite the overwhelming evidence borne out by a wealth of documentation, the Turkish government has never recognized nor accepted responsibility for the genocide of the Armenian people from 1915 to 1923; and

Whereas, by denying, and trying to expunge, the record of their genocide, the Turkish government deprives the Armenian people of their own history; and

Whereas, recognition of these instances of the Turkish inhumanity to the Armenian population is crucial to guarding against the recurrence of genocide and provides the Armenian people with a greater understanding of their heritage; and

Whereas, the discrimination against and the hardship of the Armenian people persist today as fundamental freedoms are eroded through various governmental administrative orders; and

Whereas, the differences between the Turkish and Armenian people remain and even today lead to the loss of human lives and numerous violations of human rights; and

Whereas, the government of Turkey denies its Armenian community religious freedom, the right to control its own schools, the right to teach its children its own language, and the right to express its ethnic identity; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the assembly, That the assembly of the state of Wisconsin hereby designates April 24 of each year as "Wisconsin Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923"; and, be it further

Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide a copy of this resolution to the Governor, the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee and the President of the United States.

State of Wisconsin Senate

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Wisconsin

February 20, 2002

State of Wisconsin

Senate Resolution 14 (LRB-4750/1)

February 20, 2002 -- Introduced by Senators Plache, Grobschmidt, Wirch, Welch, Burke, Darling, Roessler, Cowles and Lazich. Referred to Committee on Senate Organization.

Relating to: designating April 24 of each year as Wisconsin Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923.

Whereas, a systematic destruction of thousands of Armenian communities, through massacres and death marches in which some 1,500,000 Armenians perished and hundreds of thousands more were uprooted from their homes and ancient homeland, was carried out from 1915 to 1923; and

Whereas, despite the overwhelming evidence borne out by a wealth of documentation, the Turkish government has never recognized nor accepted responsibility for the genocide of the Armenian people from 1915 to 1923; and

Whereas, by denying and trying to expunge the record of their genocide, the Turkish government deprives the Armenian people of their own history; and

Whereas, recognition of these instances of the Turkish inhumanity to the Armenian population is crucial to guarding against the recurrence of genocide and provides the Armenian people with a greater understanding of their heritage; and

Whereas, the discrimination against the hardship of the Armenian people persists today as fundamental freedoms are eroded through various governmental administrative orders; and

Whereas, the differences between the Turkish and Armenian people remain and even today lead to the loss of human lives and numerous violations of human rights; and

Whereas, the government of Turkey denies its Armenian community religious freedom, the right to control its own schools, the right to teach its children its own language, and the right to express its ethnic identity; now therefore, be it

Resolved by the senate, That the senate of the state of Wisconsin hereby designates April 24 of each year as "Wisconsin Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923"; and, be it further

Resolved, That the senate chief clerk shall provide a copy of this resolution to the Governor, the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee, and the President of the United States.

Wisconsin Joint State Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Wisconsin

April 8, 2015

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State of Wisconsin

2015 − 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 23April 8, 2015 − Introduced by Representatives WEATHERSTON, BARCA, BERNIER, BRANDTJEN, GOYKE, JACQUE, KERKMAN, KITCHENS, MASON, MURTHA, OHNSTAD, PETRYK, RIEMER, RIPP, RODRIGUEZ, SCHRAA, SHANKLAND, SKOWRONSKI, SPREITZER, C. TAYLOR, TITTL and ZEPNICK, cosponsored by Senators WANGGAARD, HANSEN, HARRIS DODD, C. LARSON, LAZICH, MARKLEIN, L. TAYLOR and WIRCH. Referred to Committee on Rules.

Relating to: remembrance of April 24, 2015, as the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Whereas, 2015 marks the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, when the systematic destruction of thousands of Armenian communities in the Ottoman Empire, through massacres and death marches in which some 1,500,000 Armenians perished and hundreds of thousands more were uprooted from their homes and ancient homeland, was carried out from 1915 to 1923; and

Whereas, despite the overwhelming evidence borne out by a wealth of documentation, the Turkish government has never recognized nor accepted responsibility for the genocide of the Armenian people from 1915 to 1923; and

Whereas, by denying, and trying to expunge, the record of their genocide, the Turkish government deprives the Armenian people of their own history; and

Whereas, recognition of this atrocity is crucial to guarding against the recurrence of genocide and provides the Armenian people with a greater understanding of their heritage; and

Whereas, the discrimination against and the hardship of the Armenian people persists in Turkey today and has led to human rights violations and the loss of human life; and

Whereas, in the year 2000 the assembly of the state of Wisconsin and in the year 2002 the senate of the state of Wisconsin adopted resolutions designating April 24 of each year as Wisconsin Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923"; now, therefore, �be it

Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the assembly and senate of the state of Wisconsin hereby designate April 24, 2015, as Wisconsin Day of Remembrance for the 100th �Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923."

Texas House Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Texas

May 19, 2017

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85R6921 BPG-D

By: Sanford H.R. No. 191

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, During World War I, the crumbling Ottoman Empire began a systematic campaign to eradicate its Armenian population, which then numbered more than two million; and

WHEREAS, Armenians and other minority populations had contributed to the prosperity of the once-mighty empire for centuries, but as its borders shrank and its influence diminished, ethnic tensions flared; after the Ottomans entered World War I, their armies suffered heavy losses to Russian forces in the Caucasus, and Armenians in the region were accused of aiding the Russian victory; on April 24, 1915, the government arrested several hundred Armenian intellectuals, who were later executed; Armenian soldiers were disarmed and transferred to labor battalions, in which they were worked to death or killed outright; and

WHEREAS, In the spring and summer of 1915, under the guise of "resettlement," Armenians were driven from their homes in Armenia and Anatolia and herded through the Syrian desert to concentration camps; many of the deportees died along the way from hunger, thirst, and exhaustion, while others were massacred; by 1918, an estimated one million Armenians had lost their lives, and survivors endured tremendous hardships as refugees; and

WHEREAS, The end of the war brought a temporary respite, but in 1920, the atrocities resumed until the ultimate collapse of the empire and formation of the Republic of Turkey; as many as 1.5 million Armenians perished and today, only 3 million live in Armenia, a country that covers no more than 10 percent of the ancient Armenian homeland, while the Armenian diaspora numbers 8 to 10 million in countries around the world, including the United States; and

WHEREAS, In 1915, the governments of France, Great Britain, and Russia decried the slaughter of Armenians as "a crime against humanity"; American ambassador Henry Morgenthau, who led the humanitarian response, characterized the imperial deportation orders as "the death warrant to a whole race"; the persecution is considered genocide by most historians and has been officially acknowledged as such by numerous countries, among them France, Argentina, Greece, and Russia; this horrific event is a dark chapter in modern history, and the world must never forget the suffering of the Armenian people; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby recognize the Armenian genocide.

Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission Act

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Texas

April 7, 2009

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"In addition to the Holocaust, there have been five major genocide events in the 20th century, including the Armenian, Cambodian, Rwandan, Bosnian and Herzegovinian, and Sudanese genocides. Survivors, liberators and others who witnessed these atrocities have died without leaving their lessons of survival and humanity. According to the Holocaust Museum Houston, six Holocaust survivors have died within the last six months in Houston alone."

Gov. Perry Ceremonially Signs SB 482 Creating Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission

August 18, 2009

AUSTIN -- Gov. Rick Perry today ceremonially signed Senate Bill (SB) 482, which creates the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission to help preserve information and experiences of the Holocaust and other genocide events. The commission will work with organizations, agencies, museums, survivors and liberators to provide information and experiences and to coordinate memorial events in the state.

"As a state and nation, we are compelled to prevent future episodes of genocide and oppression by casting the light of truth on their history and educating our citizens on the circumstances that allow their occurrence," Gov. Perry said. "Ultimately, that truth, and the willingness to defend the vulnerable among us will lead to greater justice. I believe this bill is an important statement of the values we hold dear in this state- those of respecting human life and valuing freedom for all men and women."

The creation of this commission will give schools and organizations in smaller communities access to resources and information about the Holocaust and genocide that they would otherwise have little access to. The commission will consist of 18 members- 15 appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and House speaker, with the commissioner of education, commissioner of higher education and executive director of the Texas Veterans Commission acting as ex-officio members.

"As a child of Holocaust survivors, I have lived the lessons of that horrific event all my life, but there are generations of people who have no access to the lessons and teachings of this historic tragedy," Sen. Florence Shapiro said. "The intolerance of that period remains a contemporary issue today that young people need to learn about. It is my hope that this legislation will help provide the information necessary to ensure that we never forget."

In addition to the Holocaust, there have been five major genocide events in the 20th century, including the Armenian, Cambodian, Rwandan, Bosnian and Herzegovinian, and Sudanese genocides. Survivors, liberators and others who witnessed these atrocities have died without leaving their lessons of survival and humanity. According to the Holocaust Museum Houston, six Holocaust survivors have died within the last six months in Houston alone.

"I am very proud to have authored this bill with my good friend Senator Shapiro. We must all stand up and recognize that genocide continues to take place all over the world. 64 years ago it was Eastern Europe. Today, it is Darfur," Sen. Rodney Ellis said. "The Holocaust and Genocide Commission is Texas' effort to ensure that our schools and communities have the resources

they need to teach our kids and neighbors to do what is morally right when faced with such atrocities."

"This bill means that all communities and particularly rural areas across Texas will have the opportunity to learn about what can happen if good people do not stand up to be counted," Rep. Ellen Cohen said. "It will help educate young people, who will be the future leaders of their chamber of commerce, school board or Girl Scout troop, that while we may take exception to the views of others we can and must do so in a respectful and civil manner."

Gov. Perry continues to advocate for the human rights of oppressed people around the world. The governor has signed legislation calling for divestment of state funds that have a direct relationship to the atrocities happening in Sudan. The governor has also called for divestment of state funds from Iran, a main opponent of Israeli freedom.

Read the official press release from the office of Texas Governor Rick Perry on the ceremonial signing of the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission Act.

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Senate Passes Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission Legislation

Legislation will serve as clearinghouse for information on the Holocaust and genocide events for the state, public and private schools, and community organizations.

(Austin)-The Texas Senate today unanimously passed SB 482, legislation by Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) and Senator Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) which will honor victims and survivors of the Holocaust and genocide.

"We must all stand up and recognize that genocide continues to take place all over the world" said Senator Ellis. "Sixty-four years ago it was eastern Europe. Today, it is Darfur. Senate Bill 482 is Texas' effort to ensure that our schools and our communities have the resources they need to teach our kids and our neighbors to do what is morally right when faced with such atrocities."

Senate Bill 482 will create a commission dedicated to obtaining, organizing, and distributing information on the Holocaust and other genocide events to preserve the information and experiences that have resulted from those events. The legislation is modeled after the Holocaust Commission in Georgia. Several other states, including Mississippi, Alabama, Ohio and New Jersey also have similar commissions.

The Holocaust, where 6 million Jews and 5 million others were murdered -- is one of the defining moments in human history, but its horrors and tragedies, unfortunately, do not stand alone. In the 20th Century, several million people have been killed in the five other generally recognized genocides other than the Holocaust:

-Armenian Genocide (1915 -- 1923) -- more than 1.5 million;

-Cambodian Genocide (1975 -- 1979) -- more than 1.5 million;

-Rwandan Genocide (1994) -- estimated 500,000 - 800,000;

-Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992 -- 1995) -- as many as 200,000; and

-Darfur region of Sudan (2003 +) -- estimated 400,000.

The commission is needed to chronicle and preserve the memories and experiences of those in Texas who have lived through the Holocaust or genocide. In Houston alone, six survivors of the Holocaust have died within the last six months, according to Holocaust Museum Houston. The commission will ensure that schools and organizations in smaller communities, which don't have access to Holocaust and genocide information, have access to resources that are available in larger cities.

"Tragic events fueled by intolerance did not begin or end with the Holocaust", said Senator Ellis. "There are over 350 Holocaust survivors in the Houston area and thousands more who have been touched by the genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Sudan and more. These men and women's stories, experiences and memories must be honored and preserved to ensure future generations never forget and remain vigilant against the forces of intolerance, hatred, and violence."

Read the official press release from the office of Texas State Rep. Rodney Ellis on the passage of SB 482, the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission Act.

Texas House Member's Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Texas

April 24, 2006

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide constituted one of the most tragic chapters of the 20th Century; and

WHEREAS, Between 1915 and 1923, during the closing years of the Ottoman Empire, approximately two million Armenians experienced forcible exile from the land where their ancestors had lived for more than 2,500 years; of those deported, 1.5 million died; and

WHEREAS, This holocaust is commemorated annually on April 24-- the anniversary of the arrest, in 1915, of more than 200 Armenian community leaders in Constantinople; most of

those detained were executed, and the scale of this assault was a grim harbinger of the attacks to come; and

WHEREAS, Genocide has continued to stain the history of humankind and to bring untold pain and grief to millions of individuals; and

WHEREAS, It is incumbent on citizens around the globe to reflect on the lessons of the past and to work toward peace and reconciliation among all people of the world; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That April 24, 2006, be recognized as Armenian Martyrs Day and that all Texans be encouraged to observe this solemn day of remembrance.

A Message from the Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Texas

February 22, 2006

Dominique de Menil once reflected, "What should move us to action is human dignity: the inalienable dignity of the oppressed, but also the dignity of each of us. We lose dignity if we tolerate the intolerable."

The forced exile and annihilation of approximately 1.5 million Armenians in the closing years of the Ottoman Empire is one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century. By recognizing this event and through awareness, we can prevent such tragedies from happening ever again. Through recognition we create avenues for remembrance and prevention.

There are far too many examples in history of good people simply standing on the sidelines during times of injustice and tragedy. Fortunately, there are also role models who choose to make a difference in the world around them. Let us remember those who spoke out against these atrocities and those who attempted to prevent them.

As we reflect on one of the darkest times in world history, we also commemorate those who courageously fought for the dignity and tolerance for all people. In the face of tyranny, citizens from a variety of ethnic, religious and social backgrounds demontrated extraordinary courage and compassion towards Armenians who were systematically persecuted during this dark time in history.

I urge all Texans to pay tribute to those who lost their lives and those who fought heroically in the name of freedom. As we look to the future, let us always be mindful that the power to end violence and suffering resides in our hearts and minds.

Maryland State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Maryland

April 24, 1987

THE STATE OF MARYLAND

PROCLAMATIONFROM THEOFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

APRIL 24, 1987

WHEREAS, The glory and the promise of the State of Maryland and our entire nation has rested in the minds and in the visions of all of our people... and included in this group are our proud citizens of Armenian descent and heritage; and

WHEREAS, April 24, is a sad day of remembrance for not only those of Armenian ancestry but for all who strive to value and uphold human rights and who oppose genocide... as today marks the 72nd Anniversary of the brutal massacre of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children living in the Turkish Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, The rights of free conscience and free worship for which the Armenian martyrs died are principles still held most sacred by the Armenian people, and Maryland is honored to join in this solemn and necessary commemoration; and

WHEREAS, It is also important to remember and pay tribute to a scattered people who, once they found a new home in the United States, have gone on to make significant contributions in our communities in a number of valuable ways... and these immigrants have created records of which all Americans and all Armenian-Americans should truly cherish.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1987 as DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE in Maryland, and do commend this observance to all citizens.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the State of Maryland this 24th Day of April One Thousand Nine Hundred and Eighty-seven

Maryland House Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Maryland

May 18, 2001

House Joint Resolution 3

A House Joint Resolution concerning Maryland Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide

FOR the purpose of remembering the Armenian Genocide; and designating April 24 as "Maryland Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide in 1915 and thereafter".

WHEREAS, One and one-half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide and massacres of the Armenian people represented a systematic attempt to eliminate a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, Residents of Maryland are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, Recognition of the Armenian Genocide is crucial to ensuring against the repetition of future genocides and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Armenia is now a free and independent republic, having embraced democracy following nearly 70 years of oppressive Soviet domination; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Maryland have greatly enriched our State through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the General Assembly of Maryland designates April 24 as "Maryland Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide "; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Governor in the Governor's annual message on or about April 24 commemorate the Armenian Genocide and commend this observance to all Maryland residents; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of Legislative Services to the Honorable Parris N. Glendening, Governor of Maryland; the Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., President of the Senate of Maryland; and the Honorable Casper R. Taylor, Jr., Speaker of the House of Delegates; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of Legislative Services to the Armenian National Committee of Maryland, 4906 Flint Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20816; and the Armenian Assembly of America, 122 C Street, NW, Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20001.

Read the official bill from the web site of the Maryland General Assembly.

Maryland Senate Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Maryland

March 26, 2001

Senate Joint Resolution 5

A Senate Joint Resolution concerning Maryland Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide

FOR the purpose of remembering the Armenian Genocide; and designating April 24 as "Maryland Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide in 1915 and thereafter".

WHEREAS, One and one-half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire from in 1915 and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide and massacres of the Armenian people represented a systematic attempt to eliminate a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, Prior to his invasion of Poland in 1939, Adolf Hitler, the German Nazi dictator, seeking to dispel fears among his military command regarding the world's response to his genocidal plans, asked "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"; and

WHEREAS, Residents of Maryland are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, Recognition of the Armenian genocide is crucial to ensuring against the repetition of future genocides and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Armenia is now a free and independent republic, having embraced democracy following nearly 70 years of oppressive Soviet domination; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Maryland have greatly enriched our State through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That theGeneral Assembly of Maryland designates April 24 as "Maryland Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Governor in the Governor's annual message on or about April 24 commemorate the Armenian Genocide and commend this observance to all Maryland residents; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of Legislative Services to the Honorable Parris N. Glendening, Governor of Maryland; the Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., President of the Senate of Maryland; and the Honorable Casper R. Taylor, Jr., Speaker of the House of Delegates; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of Legislative Services to the Maryland Congressional Delegation: Senators Paul S. Sarbanes and Barbara A. Mikulski, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; and Representatives Wayne T. Gilchrest, Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Benjamin L. Cardin, Albert R. Wynn, Steny Hamilton Hoyer, Roscoe G. Bartlett, Elijah E. Cummings, and Constance A. Morella, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of Legislative Services to the Armenian National Committee of Maryland, 4906 Flint Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20816; and the Armenian Assembly of America, 122 C Street, NW, Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20001.

Read the official bill from the web site of the Maryland General Assembly.

Maryland State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Maryland

April 24, 1990

STATE OF MARYLAND

PROCLAMATION

From the Governor of Maryland, William Donald Schaefer

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE75TH ANNIVERSARY DAYAPRIL 24, 1990

WHEREAS, Maryland is a State blessed with citizens who proudly maintain a rich and vibrant ethnic diversity, and who work together in the spirit of friendship and cooperation to positively shape our future... and a shining example of a group of committed individuals who remain very active in our communities are our citizens of Armenian descent and heritage; and

WHEREAS, April 24th is a sad day of remembrance for not only those of Armenian ancestry, but for all who strive to value and uphold human rights and who oppose genocide... as today marks the 75th Anniversary of the brutal massacre of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children living in the Turkish Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, The rights of free conscience and free worship for which the Armenians martyrs died are principles still held most sacred by the Armenian people, and Maryland shares in this solemn and necessary commemoration... as it is important that we always remember and pay tribute to a scattered people who, once they found a new home in the United States, have gone on to make significant contributions in a number of valuable ways - and as these immigrants have created records of which Americans and Armenian-Americans alike should truly cherish; and

WHEREAS, In this time of tremendous growth and introspection for oppressed peoples around the world, Maryland joins with our active Armenian-American community in encouraging harmony and peace for individuals and groups of all backgrounds and beliefs - and in supporting these efforts by respectfully reflecting upon a sobering chapter of human history.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MARYLALND, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1990 as DAY OF REMEBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE - 75th ANNIVERSARY DAY in Maryland, and do commend this observance to all of our citizens.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the State of Maryland, this 24th day of April One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety

Virginia Commonwealth Certificate of Recognition

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Virginia

April 24, 1990

Certificate of Recognition

April 24, 1990

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

Armenian Martyrs Day

WHEREAS, at least 1,500,000 people of Armenian ancestry were victims of Genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman Empire from 1915-1923; and

WHEREAS, at the outbreak of World War I, the Young Turks Regime decided to deport the entire Armenian population of over 2,000,000 to Syria and Mesopotamia; and

WHEREAS, these thousands of Armenians of the Christian Faith held to their beliefs and remained true to the faith of their fathers; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia has long been at the forefront of efforts to insure that the victims and survivors of such Genocide are not forgotten;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Lawrence Douglas Wilder, Governor, do hereby recognize April 24, 1990 as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY and call its significance to the attention of all our citizens

Virginia Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Virginia

April 24, 2001

Certificate of recognition

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

Armenian Martyrs Day

WHEREAS, more than one and one-half million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Turks and others were deported from their homeland between 1915 and 1923; and

WHEREAS, eighty-six years ago, Armenians were forced to witness the slaughter of their relatives and the destruction of their homes; and

WHEREAS, many citizens of our great Commonwealth and nation are Armenians who found refuge in the liberty extolled in American documents and on the lips of her citizens; and

WHEREAS, thousands of Armenian families live and work in our Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS; citizens of Armenian descent actively contribute to the culture and vitality of Virginia through research, education, medicine, law, business, arts, sports and community service;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, James S. Gilmore III, do hereby recognize April 24, 2001, as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

The General Assembly of Virginia

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Virginia

March 9, 2000

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 298Adopted by the Virginia General Assembly March 9, 2000Designating April 24, 2000, as Virginia Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.

WHEREAS, one and one-half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide and massacres of the Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization more than 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, to this day, revisionists still inexplicably deny the existence of these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the genocide and honors the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes; and

WHEREAS, before the implementation of the Jewish holocaust, in order to encourage his followers, Adolph Hitler asked, "Who remembers the Armenians?"; and

WHEREAS, by consistently remembering and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, Virginians are highly sensitive to the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian people have not received reparations for their losses; and

WHEREAS, recognition of the 85th anniversary of this genocide is crucial to ensuring against future genocide by educating people about past horrors; and

WHEREAS, Armenia is now a free and independent republic, having embraced democracy following nearly 70 years of oppressive Soviet domination; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Virginia have greatly enriched the Commonwealth through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate April 24, 2000, as Virginia Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit copies of this resolution to the Governor of Virginia, the Virginia congressional delegation, and the Armenian National Committee of Virginia for appropriate distribution.

The Commonwealth of Virginia

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Virginia

April 24, 1996

CERTIFICATE of RECOGNITION

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitutionin the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia,there is hereby officially recognized:

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY

WHEREAS, the viscous killing of more than one and 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks and the forced deportation of countless others has been remembered every year since 1959 on April 24 as Armenian Martyrs Day; and

WHEREAS, in horror, 81 years ago Armenians were forced to witness the slaughter of their relatives and the loss of their ancestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian people have not received reparation for their losses;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, George Allen, Governor, hereby recognize April 24, 1996, the 81st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY, in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

The Commonwealth of Virginia

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Virginia

April 24, 1990

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY

WHEREAS, at least 1,500,000 people of Armenian ancestry were victims of Genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, at the outbreak of World War I, the Young Turks Regime decided to deport the entire Armenian population of over 2,000,000 to Syria and Mesopotamia; and

WHEREAS, these thousands of Armenians of the Christian Faith held to their beliefs and remained true to the faith of their fathers; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia has long been at the forefront of efforts to insure that the victims and survivors of such Genocide are not forgotten;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Lawrence Douglas Wilder, Governor, do hereby recognize April 24, 1990 as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY and call its significance to the attention of all our citizens.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Massachusetts

February 19, 1986

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

By His Excellency

MICHAEL S. DUKAKIS

Governor

A PROCLAMATION

1986

WHEREAS: April 24 of every year is indelibly imprinted in the memory of the Armenian people, worldwide, since the year 1915, when the mass genocide of the Armenian people began in the Ottoman Turkish Empire, this being the first genocide of the twentieth century; and

WHEREAS: The Armenian citizens of our Commonwealth are dedicated to perpetuating the memory of the martyrs of this genocide that began with the arrest and murder of Armenian community leaders and members of the national parliament; and

WHEREAS: The Armenian families were uprooted from their ancestral homeland, brutally exposed to all kinds of indignities, and slain by the hundreds of thousands so that more than half the Armenian people perished; and

WHEREAS: We consider all atrocities, perpetrated by individuals or governments to be repulsive and abhorrent in civilized societies; and

WHEREAS: In our democracy the principles of humanity and the dignity of man constitute the indestructible foundation for life, liberty, freedom and equality for the pursuit of happiness; and

WHEREAS: In our Commonwealth, Americans of Armenian ancestry have contributed to the good of our Commonwealth in the best traditions of our State and Nation, in war as in peace; and

WHEREAS: Our prayers in the Commonwealth, offered in memory of the Armenian martyrs of 1915, will serve to remind governments of the world that man's inhumanity to man must cease forever;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MICHAEL S. DUKAKIS, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in accordance with Chapter 185 of the Acts of 1978, do hereby proclaim April 24th 1986, as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS' DAY

and urge the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and to participate fittingly in its observance.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this nineteenth day of February, one thousand nine hundred and eighty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and tenth.

(SIGNED)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Massachusetts

March 23, 1990

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

BY HIS EXCELLENCY

MICHAEL S. DUKAKIS

GOVERNOR

A PROCLAMATION

1990

WHEREAS: Since 1915, April 24th of every year has been imprinted in the memory of the Armenian people worldwide. It was then that the mass genocide of the Armenian people began in the Ottoman Turkish Empire, this being the first genocide of the twentieth century; and

WHEREAS: The Armenian citizens of our Commonwealth are dedicated to honoring the memory of the brave men and women who died in this Holocaust; and

WHEREAS: Armenian families were uprooted from their ancestral homeland, brutally exposed to all kinds of indignities, and hundreds of thousands slain, resulting in more than half of all Armenian people killed; and

WHEREAS: We consider all atrocities perpetrated by individuals or governments to be repulsive and abhorrent in civilized societies; and

WHEREAS: In our democracy, the principles of humanity and respect for the dignity of humans constitute the indestructible foundation for life, liberty, freedom, equality and the pursuit of happiness; and

WHEREAS: In our Commonwealth, Americans of Armenian ancestry have contributed to the good of our Commonwealth in the best traditions of our State and Nation, in war as in peace; and

WHEREAS: Our prayers in the Commonwealth, offered in memory of the Armenian martyrs of 1915, will serve to remind governments of the world that persecution, torture, and killing must cease forever; and

WHEREAS: Even natural tragedies, such as the earthquake of 1988, which killed thousands of Armenians, shall serve only as a continued challenge to the resolve and resiliency of the Armenian spit;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MICHAEL S. DUKAKIS, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in accordance with Chapter 185 of the Acts of 1978, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1990, as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS' DAY

and urge the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and to participate fittingly in its observance.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this twenty-third day of March, one thousand nine hundred and ninety, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and fifteenth.

Massachusetts General Court

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April 19, 1990

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the Year One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety

Resolutions on the Occasion of a Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923

Whereas, April 24, 1990 is being observed as a day of remembrance of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923; and

Whereas, one million five hundred thousand people of Armenian ancestry were victims of genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

Whereas, at the outbreak of World War I, the Young Turk regime decide to deport the entire Armenian population of over two million to Syria and Mesopotamia; and

Whereas, Talaat Pasha, leader of the Young Turk Movement, was principal author of the plan to exterminate the Armenians; and

Whereas, the plan of genocide consisted of deporting all Armenians of whatever age or condition of health to the totally barren deserts of what is now Syria; and

Whereas, the Armenians were rounded up and brutally driven from their homes and their land, separated from families, robbed of everything they owned and stripped of all they carried with them; and

Whereas, thousands of Christian Armenians were tortured and murdered for refusing to accept Islam as their religion; and

Whereas, the atrocities inflicted on Armenians on the death marches to the Syrian desert has been viewed as the prototype for the Holocaust of World War II; and

Whereas, the present day Turkish Government has undertaken a policy of denial and distortion of the historical truth about the Armenian Genocide; and

Whereas, the Turkish Government's denial prevents an atonement by the Turkish People; and

Whereas, the Turkish Government's denial makes it an accessory to the Young Turks' crime against humanity, whose legacy Turkey today enjoys; and

Whereas, the massacre of Armenians who escaped deportation and remained in Turkey was called the "most colossal crime of all ages" by the examining American military missions's report to the United States Congress; and

Whereas, in a telegram sent by United States Ambassador Henry Morgenthau to the Secretary of State, Morgenthau warned that "a campaign of race extermination is in progress under a pretext of reprisal against rebellion"; therefore be it

Resolved, that the Massachusetts General Court acknowledges the contribution to our commonwealth and country by the citizens of Armenian origin on the occasion of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 and it calls upon the citizens of the Commonwealth of observe April 24, 1990, by remembering the one million five hundred thousand people of Armenian ancestry who lost their lives in the genocide of 1915-1923; and be it further

Resolved, that a copy of these resolutions be forwarded by the clerk of the House of Representatives to the Armenian National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts and the Armenian Rights Council.

House of Representatives, adopted, April 19, 1990.

Senate, adopted in concurrence, April 19, 1990.

Massachusetts General Court

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April 13, 2006

The Massachusetts General Court

Resolutions

ON THE OCCASION OF THE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923.

WHEREAS , APRIL 24, 2006 IS BEING OBSERVED AS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE NINETY-FIRST ANNIVERSERY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923, ANDWHEREAS, ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE OF ARMENIAN ANCESTRY WERE VICTIMS OF THE GENOCIDE PERPETRATED BY THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE FROM 1915 TO 1923, ANDWHEREAS, AT THE OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR I THE YOUNG TURK REGIME DECIDED TO DEPORT THE ENTIRE ARMENIAN POPULATION OF OVER 3,000,000 TO SYRIA AND MESOPOTAMIA, ANDWHEREAS, TALAAT PASHA, LEADER OF THE YOUNG TURK MOVEMENT, WAS PRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF THE PLAN TO EXTERMINATE THE ARMENIANS, ANDWHEREAS, THE PLAN OF GENOCIDE CONSISTED OF DEPORTING ALL ARMENIANS OF WHATEVER AGE OR CONDITION OF HEALTH TO THE TOTALLY BARREN DESERTS OF WHAT IS NOW SYRIA; ANDWHEREAS, THE ARMENIANS WERE DEPORTED ON FOOT, A DEATH MARCH IN WHICH MORE THAN 1,000,000 DIED OF STARVATION OR WERE KILLED, ANDWHEREAS, ARMENIANS WERE ROUNDED UP AND BRUTALLY DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES AND THEIR LAND, SEPARATED FROM FAMILIES, ROBBED OF EVERYTHING THEY OWNED AND STRIPPED OF ALL THEY CARRIED WITH THEM; ANDWHEREAS, THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIAN ARMENIANS WERE TORTURED AND MURDERED FOR

REFUSING TO ACCEPT ISLAM AS THEIR RELIGION; ANDWHEREAS, THE ATROCITIES INFLICTED ON ARMENIANS ON THE DEATH MARCHES TO THE SYRIAN DESERT HAVE BEEN VIEWED AS THE PROTOTYPE FOR THE HOLOCAUST OF WORLD WAR II, ANDWHEREAS, THE PRESENT DAY TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS UNDERTAKEN A POLICY OF DENIAL AND DISTORTION OF THE HISTORICAL TRUTH ABOUT THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, ANDWHEREAS, THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT'S DENIAL PREVENTS AN ATONEMENT BY THE TURKISH PEOPLE, AND HUMANITY, WHOSE LEGACY TURKEY TODAY ENJOYS, ANDWHEREAS, THE MASSACRES OF ARMENIANS WHO ESCAPED DEPORTATION AND REMAINED IN TURKEY WAS CALLED "THE MOST COLOSSAL CRIME OF ALL AGES". BY THE EXAMINING AMERICAN MILITARY MISSION'S REPORT TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS; ANDWHEREAS, IN A TELEGRAM SENT BY UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR HENRY MORGENTHAU TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, MORGENTHAU WARNED THAT "A CAMPAIGN OF RACE EXTERMINATION IS IN PROGRESS UNDER A PRETEXT OF REPRISAL AGAINST REBELLION"; THEREFORE BE ITRESOLVED,THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL COURT ACKNOWLEDGES THE CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMONWEALTH AND COUNTRY BY THE CITIZENS OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN ON THE OCCASION OF THE NINETY-FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923 AND CALLS UPON THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMONWEALTH TO OBSERVE APRIL 24, 2006, BY REMEMBERING THE 1, 500,000 PEOPLE OF ARMENIAN ANCESTRY WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923; AND BE IT FURTHERRESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THESE RESOLUTIONS BE FORWARDED BY THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO DR. TANER AKCAM.

Georgia State Senate

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February 8, 1999

GEORGIA

SENATE RESOLUTION 118

BY: Senator [Van] Streat [Sr.] of the 19th [district]

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the worldwide victims of genocide and recognizing April 24, 1999, as "Georgia Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923"; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, one and one-half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were the victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide and massacres of Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, the denial of the Armenian genocide by the present-day Turkish government continues to antagonize the Armenian people concerning their own rightful place in history; and

WHEREAS, by consistently remembering and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, Georgians are highly sensitive to the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, recognition of the eighty-fourth anniversary of this genocide is crucial to guarding against the repetition of future genocide and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Georgia is home to over 500 Armenian families; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Georgia have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join the Armenian community in honoring the memory of the victims of genocide throughout the world and recognize April 24, 1999, as "Georgia Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate calls upon the people of Georgia to observe that day by remembering the one and one-half million people of Armenian ancestry who lost their lives during that terrible time.

BE IT FURTHER REOSLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Armenian Independent Cultural Association of Atlanta, Inc.

Georgia Senate Resolution

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April 22, 2011

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Senate Resolution 542

By: Senator Fort of the 39th

Honoring the world-wide victims of genocide and recognizing April 22, 2011, as Georgia's Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, one and a half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were the victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide and massacres of Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, the denial of the Armenian genocide by the present-day Turkish government continues to antagonize the Armenian people concerning their own rightful place in history; and

WHEREAS, by raising awareness of and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, Georgians are reminded of the need for constant vigilance in order to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, recognition of the anniversary of this genocide is crucial to guarding against the repetition of future genocides and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, as home to over 500 Armenian families, Armenian Americans living in Georgia have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join the Armenian community in honoring the memory of the victims of genocide throughout the world and recognize April 22, 2011, as Georgia's Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate calls upon the people of Georgia to observe that day by remembering the one and a half million people of Armenian ancestry who lost their lives during that terrible time.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Armenian Independent Cultural Association of Atlanta, Inc.

Georgia State Resolution

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February 24, 2015

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Senate Resolution 361

By: Senators Parent of the 42nd, Shafer of the 48th, Henson of the 41st, Miller of the 49th, Unterman of the 45th and others

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the month of April, 2015, as Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month at the capitol; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the goal of Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month is to educate the public about the history of previous and contemporary genocides; how to advocate against future genocides; to focus attention on the specter of genocide so that policies, strategies, and programs geared towards combating the evils of genocide can be developed; and to commemorate the victims of genocide; and

WHEREAS, during World War II, a Polish lawyer of Jewish decent, Raphael Lemkin, coined the term "genocide" to describe the coordinated plan of actions aimed at the destruction of essential foundations of the life of certain groups with the aim of annihilating a group itself by disintegrating a group's social institutions, culture, language, national or ethnic identities, religion, and economic existence, while also destroying the personal security, liberty, health, and dignity, as well as the lives, of individuals belonging to the group; and

WHEREAS, throughout history, numerous genocides originated or stemmed from events that occurred in April, and as a result, many institutions around the world have designated April to be a month of genocide prevention and awareness; and

WHEREAS, when coining the term "genocide," Raphael Lemkin was moved to investigate the forced assimilation, deportation, and near complete eradication of the Armenian population beginning in April 1915; prompting Adolf Hitler to remark in 1939, "Who after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"; and

WHEREAS, this April marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian (and other Christian communities') Genocide during the time of the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, in April of 1933, the Nazis issued a decree preparing the way for the "Final Solution" defining non-Aryans as "anyone descended from non-Aryan, especially Jewish, parents or grandparents"; and

WHEREAS, 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of the Cambodian genocide, where in April of 1975, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge took power in Cambodia, conducting wide-spread killings of people belonging to specific groups, as well as an involuntary relocation of all city dwellers to the countryside for forced labor in squalid conditions, resulting in famine and starvation which turned the countryside into killing fields; these acts resulted in the deaths of two million people; and

WHEREAS, 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the 1992-1995 siege of Sarajevo, Srebrenica, and other cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which ultimately led to the deaths of more than 200,000 Bosniaks, or Bosnian Muslims; and

WHEREAS, the Al-Anfal Campaign (1984-1988), under the leadership of Saddam Hussein, sought to destroy and depopulate the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq and notoriously used chemical weapons to this end, which caused the death of over 180,000 Kurds and others, the destruction of over 4,500 villages (90 percent of villages in the region), and resulted in creating millions of refugees and internally displaced persons; and

WHEREAS, in April of 1994, the Rwandan president's airplane was shot down, which led to the slaying of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus by the Interhamwe over the next three months; and

WHEREAS, in April of 2003, the displacement and killing of Darfurians began by the Government of Sudan and led to hundreds of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions which continues unabated today; and

WHEREAS, the so-called Islamic State (ISIS/L) has forcefully caused the civilian population of the Ezidi-Kurdish religious minority in Iraq and Syria, beginning in 2014 through the present day, to flee from their ancestral towns, villages, and holy sites as a result of forced conversion, killing, kidnaping, and enslaving of their population -- particularly women and children and according to their records, this is the 74th genocide throughout the population's history; and

WHEREAS, the Genocide Prevention Task Force released its report on December of 2008 to spotlight genocide prevention as a national priority; and

WHEREAS, in 2011 the President of the United States declared the prevention of mass atrocities and genocide to be a "core national security interest and core moral responsibility" of the United States and ordered the creation of the Atrocities Prevention Board in 2012; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust is a state agency whose mission is to use the lessons of the Holocaust to educate the citizens of Georgia on the consequences of unchecked hate and the need for social justice, and to encourage strong moral character and citizenship; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Coalition to Prevent Genocide operates as a proactive group with a mission to develop a permanent anti-genocide constituency in Georgia, and it depends on citizen support to engage elected officials at the state and national levels through advocacy and action and by creating awareness within the community; and

WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper to recognize the contributions of the Georgia Coalition to Prevent Genocide, Eternal-Life Hemshech of Holocaust Survivors, the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, The Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta, The National Center for Civil and Human Rights, The American Jewish Committee Atlanta Regional Office, and ACCESS Atlanta in their efforts to enhance the security and dignity of minority populations across the globe.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize the month of April, 2015, as Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month at the capitol and commend the Georgia Coalition to Prevent Genocide for its dedicated efforts in preventing genocide.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the Georgia Coalition to Prevent Genocide.

Georgia House Resolution

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March 31, 2015

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House Resolution 904

By: Representatives Douglas of the 78th, Gardner of the 57th, and Oliver of the 82nd

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the world-wide victims of genocide and recognizing April 24, 2015, as Georgia's Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, one and a half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were the victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian genocide and massacres of Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, the denial of the Armenian genocide by the present-day Turkish government continues to antagonize the Armenian people concerning their own rightful place in history; and

WHEREAS, by raising awareness of and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, Georgians are reminded of the need for constant vigilance in order to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, recognition of the anniversary of this genocide is crucial to guarding against the repetition of future genocides and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, as home to over 500 Armenian families, Armenian Americans living in Georgia have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize April 24, 2015, as Georgia's Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 in remembrance of the one and a half million people of Armenian ancestry who lost their lives during that terrible time.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Armenian Independent Cultural Association of Atlanta, Inc.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Pennsylvania

April 19, 1990

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

PROCLAMATION

ARMENIAN MARTYRS' DAY

APRIL 24, 1990

"I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared with the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915." These were the words of Henry Morgenthau, American Ambassador at Constantinople from 1913-1916, in referring to the systematic annihilation of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire in the first quarter of this century.

Seventy-five years ago, on the night of April 23-24, 1915, Armenian political, religious, education and intellectual leaders in Constantinople were arrested, deported in to Anatolia, and put to death. Mass deportations followed. Ambassador Morgenthau states that these deportations were tantamount to a "death warrant to a whole race."

Armenians were driven out, not only from the war zones, but across the Empire and sent to the deserts of Syria and Mesopotamia.

Armenians serving in the Ottoman armies, already segregated into unarmed labor battalions, were systematically executed. The Armenian women and children were then driven for months over treacherous terrain.

All told, more than half of the Armenian population of the Empire perished in this, the first genocide of the 20th century, while the rest were forcibly driven from their ancestral homeland.

On this 75th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, we all join with the Armenian people in mourning this crime against humanity. We must never let our children and grandchildren forget such a great human tragedy and must educate them to ensure that future genocides will never against befall any people anywhere.

Therefore, I Robert P. Casey, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1990, as ARMENIAN MARTYRS' DAY in Pennsylvania. I urge all Pennsylvanians to reflect upon the tragedies which nations and governments have wrought upon each other, and to be united in a new resolve to ensure that our future will be peaceful and harmonious.

GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the City of Harrisburg, this nineteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety, and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and fourteenth.

The General Assembly of Pennsylvania

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Pennsylvania

April 18, 1995

PRINTER'S NO. 1529

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 107

Session of 1995

INTRODUCED BY LAUGHUN1 HERSHEY, CORRIGAN, BUNT, FICHTER, HERMAN, CLARK, GIGLIOTTI, GEIST, PESCI, MARKOSEK, CURRY, LUCYK1 STABACK1 ROBERTS, HUTCHINSON, TRUE, SATHER, McGEEHAN, ROONEY, LEH, COLAFELLA, COLAIZZO, HALUSKA, HESS, CAPPABIANCA, MILLER, TRELLO1 PETTIT, RUBLEY, E. Z. TAYLOR, FAJT, STEIL, JOSEPHS, PITTS, LEDERER, L. I. CQHEN, BELARDI, DENT, LESCOVITZ, D. R. WRIGHT, TIGUE, DELUCA, HENNESSEY, TANGRETTI, B. SMITH, BEBKO-JONES, BAKER, WOGAN, YOUNGBLOOD AND CIVERA, APRIL 10, 1995

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 10 1995

A RESOLUTION

Proclaiming April 24, 1995, as a commemorative day for the victims of the Armenian genocide.

WHEREAS, The Armenians are an ancient people, having settled in the vicinity of Mount Ararat in the seventh century B.C., and have long been fervent believers in Christianity. That religion became the state religion of Armenia in the fourth century A.D., making Armenia one of the first nations to accept Christianity; and

WHEREAS, Through the actions of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the Armenian Apostolic Church was established in the fourth century A.D. and continues to exist to this present day, along with various other Christian communions to be found among Armenians in the United States, in Armenia, and elsewhere throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have always believed in the principles of freedom of conscience and worship and hold these principles sacred to this very day; and WHEREAS, During World War I, some 1,500,000 Armenians were massacred as a result of actions of the Ottoman Empire. Many others were forced to flee from Armenia; and

WHEREAS, These tragic events constitute the first instance of genocide in the 20th century, serving as a precedent to the Holocaust occurring prior to and during World War II and as a reminder of man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans have contributed greatly to the progress of America by their activities in the arts, bueiness, the learned professions, academia, philanthropy, and also in government, wherein Armenian-Americans occupy the highest executive offices; and

WHEREAS, April 24 has been observed for over 70 years as Armenian Martyrs' Day, to honor the memory of those who died for their beliefs and principles; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives proclaim April 24, 1995, as a commemorative day to honor the victims of the Armenian genocide.

The General Assembly of Pennsylvania

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April 12, 1999

PENNSYLVANIA

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 94 Session of 1999

INTRODUCED BY LAUGHLIN, DONATUCCI, GEORGE, PIPPY, BEARDI, CORRIGAN, THOMAS, ORIE, CALTAGIRONE, GANNON, WOGAN, ROBINSON, S. MILLER, MASLAND, CAPPABIANCA, HUTCHINSON, FICTER, MUNDY, PRESTON, PETRONE, TRELLO, TANGRETTI, BEBKO-JONES, E.Z. TAYLOR, MANDERINO, CLYMER, WALKO, BELFANTI, MELIO, KIRKLAND, CLARK, BROWNE, B. SMITH, L.I. COHEN, GIGLIOTTI, LESCOVITZ, RAMOS, ROSS, McNAUGHTON, SAINATO, ARGALL, DeLUCA, LEH, SATHER, CURRY, HARHART, HARHAI, CIVERA, HORSEY, YOUNGBLOOD, MARSICO, FREEMAN, McCALL, BARD, SHANER, JOSEPHS, RUBLEY, HESS, DALEY, TIGUE, GEIST, SEYFERT, MARKOSEK, READSHAW, SANTONI, LEDERER, ROONEY, DAILEY AND FAIRCHILD, MARCH 24, 1999

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 24, 1999.

A RESOLUTION

Proclaiming April 24, 1999, as a commemorative day for the victims of the Armenian genocide.

WHEREAS, The Armenians are an ancient people, having settled in the vicinity of Mount Ararat in the seventh century B.C., and have long been fervent believers in Christianity. That religion became the state religion of Armenia in the fourth century A.D., making Armenia one of the first nations to accept Christianity; and

WHEREAS, Through the actions of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the Armenian Apostolic Church was established in the fourth century A.D. and continues to exist to this present day, along with various other Christian communions to be found among Armenians in the United States, in Armenia, and elsewhere throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have always believed in the principles of freedom of conscience and worship and hold these principles sacred to this very day; and

WHEREAS, During World War I, some 1,555,000 Armenians were massacred as a result of actions of the Ottoman Empire. Many others were forced to flee from Armenia; and

WHEREAS, These tragic events constitute the first instance of genocide in the 20th century, serving as a precedent to the Holocaust occurring prior to and during World War II and as a reminder of man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans have contributed greatly to the progress of America by their activities in the arts, business, the learned professions, academia, philanthropy, and also in government, wherein Armenian-Americans occupy the highest executive offices; and

WHEREAS, April 24 has been observed for over 70 years as Armenian Martyrs' Day, to honor the memory of those who died for their beliefs and principles; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives proclaim April 24, 1999, as a commemorative day to honor the victims of the Armenian genocide.

ADOPTED, APRIL 12, 1999 (195-1)

The General Assembly of Pennsylvania

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April 18, 2000

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 427 Session of 2000

INTRODUCED BY LAUGHLIN, WOJNAROSKI, CAPPABIANCA, ROSS, SHANER, SANTONI, GIGLIOTTI, SOLOBAY, GEORGE, COY, LEDERER, SCHULER, HERMAN, ROBERTS, RUBLEY, ARMSTRONG, CLARK, PETRONE, SATHER, WALKO, READSHAW, HESS, DeWEESE, HARHAI, FAIRCHILD, JOSEPHS, TIGUE, MELIO, PESCI, HERSHEY, ROBINSON, BARRAR, FORCIER, BEBKO-JONES, GRUCELA, E. Z. TAYLOR, CORRIGAN, HUTCHINSON, STEELMAN, MARSICO, STABACK, DALEY, COSTA, CLYMER, LEH, BELFANTI, MANDERINO, RAMOS, BELARDI, BAKER, TANGRETTI, LESCOVITZ, B. SMITH, TULLI, MICOZZIE, TRUE, M. COHEN, BROWNE, EACHUS, TRELLO AND GEIST

A RESOLUTION

Proclaiming April 24, 2000, as a commemorative day for the victims of the Armenian genocide.

WHEREAS, The Armenians are an ancient people, having settled in the vicinity of Mount Ararat in the seventh century B.C., and have long been fervent believers in Christianity. That religion became the state religion of Armenia in the fourth century A.D., making Armenia one of the first nations to accept Christianity; and

WHEREAS, Through the actions of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the Armenian Apostolic Church was established in the fourth century A.D. and continues to exist to this present day, along with various other Christian communions to be found among Armenians in the United States, in Armenia, and elsewhere throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have always believed in the principles of freedom of conscience and worship and hold these principles sacred to this very day; and

WHEREAS, During World War I, some 1,500,000 Armenians were massacred as a result of actions of the Ottoman Empire. Many others were forced to flee from Armenia; and

WHEREAS, These tragic events constitute the first instance of genocide in the 20th century, serving as a precursor of the Holocaust occurring prior to and during World War II and as a reminder of man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans have contributed greatly to the progress of America by their activities in the arts, business, the learned professions, academia, philanthropy, and also in government, wherein Armenian-Americans occupy high executive offices; and

WHEREAS, April 24 has been observed traditionally as Armenian Martyrs' Day, to honor the memory of those who died for their beliefs and principles; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives proclaim April 24, 2000, as a commemorative day to honor the victims of the Armenian genocide.

Pennsylvania House Concurrent Resolution

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May 2, 2001

Pennsylvania House Concurrent Resolution No. 112

Designating April 24, 2001, as "Pennsylvania's Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923."

WHEREAS, One and one-half million men, women and children of Armenian descent were victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide and massacres of the Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization more than 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, Revisionists still inexplicably deny the existence of these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the Armenian genocide and honors the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes; and

WHEREAS, Before the implementation of the Holocaust of European Jews, in order to encourage his followers, Adolf Hitler asked, "Who remembers the Armenians?"; and

WHEREAS, By consistently remembering and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, Pennsylvanians affirm the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian people have not received reparations for their losses; and

WHEREAS, Recognition of the 86th anniversary of the Armenian genocide and education about past horrors is crucial to ensuring against future genocide; and

WHEREAS, Armenia is now a free and independent republic, having embraced democracy following nearly 70 years of oppressive Soviet domination; and

WHEREAS, Armenian Americans living in Pennsylvania have greatly enriched this Commonwealth through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government and the arts; therefore be it

RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania designate April 24, 2001, as "Pennsylvania's Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit copies of this resolution to the Pennsylvania congressional delegation and to the Armenian National Committee of Pennsylvania.

Read the official resolution from the web site of the Pennsylvania legislature.

Pennsylvania House Concurrent Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Pennsylvania

March 15, 2004

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 593 Session of 2004

INTRODUCED BY LEACH, BARRAR, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF, CORRIGAN, CRUZ, CURRY, DALEY, DENLINGER, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, FABRIZIO, FICHTER, FORCIER, FRANKEL, GABIG, GEIST, GEORGE, GERGELY, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HARHAI, HARPER, HERMAN, HERSHEY, HESS, HUTCHINSON, KELLER, LAUGHLIN, LEDERER, LESCOVITZ, MANDERINO, MANN, MARKOSEK, McGEEHAN, S. MILLER, MUSTIO, PALLONE, PISTELLA, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROSS, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SANTONI, TRUE, SCAVELLO, TANGRETTI, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TIGUE, WALKO, WOJNAROSKI AND WHEATLEY, MARCH 15, 2004

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 15, 2004

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Designating April 24, 2004, as "Pennsylvania's Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923."

WHEREAS, One and one-half million men, women and children of Armenian descent were victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide and massacres of the Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization more than 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, Revisionists still inexplicably deny the existence of these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the Armenian genocide and honors the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes; and

WHEREAS, Before the implementation of the Holocaust of European Jews, in order to

encourage his followers, Adolf Hitler asked, "Who remembers the Armenians?"; and

WHEREAS, By consistently remembering and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, Pennsylvanians affirm the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian people have not received reparations for their losses; and

WHEREAS, Recognition of the 89th anniversary of the Armenian genocide and education about past horrors is crucial to ensuring against future genocide; and

WHEREAS, Armenia is now a free and independent republic, having embraced democracy following nearly 70 years of oppressive Soviet domination; and

WHEREAS, Armenian Americans living in Pennsylvania have greatly enriched this Commonwealth through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government and the arts; therefore be it

RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania designate April 24, 2004, as "Pennsylvania's Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit copies of this resolution to the Pennsylvania congressional delegation and to the Armenian National Committee of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania House Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Pennsylvania

March 28, 2005

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

________________________________________

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 172 Session of 2005

________________________________________

INTRODUCED BY LEACH, BALDWIN, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BISHOP, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, CAWLEY, CLYMER, CORRIGAN, CRAHALLA, CREIGHTON, CRUZ, CURRY, DeWEESE, FAIRCHILD, FORCIER, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GABIG, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GOOD, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARPER, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, HESS, JAMES, JOSEPHS, W. KELLER, LEDERER, LEH, MANDERINO, MANN, MARKOSEK, McGEEHAN, PALLONE, PHILLIPS, PISTELLA, QUIGLEY, READSHAW, ROBERTS, ROSS, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SCHRODER, SHANER, SHAPIRO, B. SMITH, E. Z. TAYLOR, TIGUE, TRUE, WALKO, WANSACZ, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD AND FABRIZIO, MARCH 29, 2005

________________________________________

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 29, 2005

________________________________________

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Designating April 24, 2005, as "Pennsylvania's Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923."

WHEREAS, One and one-half million men, women and children of Armenian descent were victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide and massacres of the Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization more than 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, Revisionists still inexplicably deny the existence of these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the Armenian genocide and honors the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes; and

WHEREAS, Before the implementation of the Holocaust of European Jews, in order to encourage his followers, Adolf Hitler asked, "Who remembers the Armenians?"; and

WHEREAS, By consistently remembering and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, Pennsylvanians affirm the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian people have not received reparations for their losses; and

WHEREAS, Recognition of the 89th anniversary of the Armenian genocide and education about past horrors is crucial to ensuring against future genocide; and

WHEREAS, Armenia is now a free and independent republic, having embraced democracy following nearly 70 years of oppressive Soviet domination; and

WHEREAS, Armenian Americans living in Pennsylvania have greatly enriched this Commonwealth through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government and the arts; therefore be it

RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania designate April 24, 2005, as "Pennsylvania's Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit copies of this resolution to the Pennsylvania congressional delegation and to the Armenian National Committee of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania House Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Pennsylvania

April 20, 2015

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THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTIONNo. 265

INTRODUCED BY MURT, BARRAR, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, DONATUCCI, FARINA, FREEMAN, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, HENNESSEY, KINSEY, KIRKLAND, MAHONEY, MAJOR, McNEILL, MILLARD, READSHAW, SCHWEYER, THOMAS, WATSON, WHEELAND, YOUNGBLOOD AND D. COSTA, APRIL 20, 2015

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 20, 2015

A RESOLUTION

Designating April 24, 2015, as "Pennsylvania's Day of Remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923."

WHEREAS, Between 1915 and 1923, the Turkish Ottoman Empire perpetrated genocide on 1.5 million men, women and children of Armenian descent; and

WHEREAS, The massacre of the Armenian people attempted to eliminate all traces of the 3,000-year-old Armenian culture and constituted a crime against humanity; and

WHEREAS, In order to encourage his followers, Adolph Hitler asked, "Who remembers the Armenians?" prior to his initiation of the Holocaust of European Jews; and

WHEREAS, By remembering and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, the Commonwealth affirms the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, Recognition and public awareness of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide is necessary to ensure that similar acts do not occur in the future; and

WHEREAS, Armenia became a free and democratic republic after nearly 70 years of oppressive Soviet rule; and

WHEREAS, Armenian Americans residing in Pennsylvania have greatly enriched this Commonwealth as leaders in business, agriculture, academia, government and the arts; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate April 24, 2015, as "Pennsylvania's Day of Remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Armenian National Committee of America.

Pennsylvania Senate Resolution

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April 21, 2015

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THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

No.89

A RESOLUTION

Designating April 24, 2015, as "Pennsylvania's Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923."

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide, also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, traditionally by Armenians, as Medz Yeghern, which is translated as "Great Crime," was the Ottoman government's systematic extermination of its minority Armenian subjects from their historic homeland within the territory constituting the present-day Republic of Turkey; and

WHEREAS, The starting date of the genocide is conventionally held to be April 24, 1915, the day Ottoman authorities rounded up and arrested some 250 Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople; and

WHEREAS, The genocide was carried out between 1915 and 1923 in two phases resulting in an estimated 1.5 million victims; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide and massacres of the Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization more than 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, By consistently remembering and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, Pennsylvanians affirm the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian people have not received reparations for their losses; and

WHEREAS, Recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide and education about past horrors is crucial to ensuring against future genocide; and

WHEREAS, Armenia is now a free and independent republic, having embraced democracy following nearly 70 years of oppressive Soviet domination; and

WHEREAS, Armenian Americans living in Pennsylvania have greatly enriched this Commonwealth through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government and the arts; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate April 24, 2015, as "Pennsylvania's Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923."

Michigan State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Michigan

March 13, 1986

STATE OF MICHIGAN

GOVERNOR JAMES J. BLANCHARD

Hereby issues this Executive DeclarationIn Observance of

APRIL 24, 1986ASARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY

The year 1986 marks the 71st anniversary of the genocide of the Armenian people perpetrated by the government of the Turkish Ottoman Empire in 1915 during World War I. More than 1,500,000 Armenians were massacred or starved and many more were forced to flee from their homeland.

The Armenians are an ancient people, having settled in the vicinity of Mount Ararat in the seventh century B.C. The Armenian Apostolic church was established in the fourth century A.D., making Armenia one of the first Christian nations. Armenians have always believed in the principles of freedom of conscience and religion.

Today, as free people of the United States, Armenian Americans join in the pursuit of liberty, freedom and peace with other nations. As a community, they have contributed to our quality of life in every profession, the arts, religion and government.

We have learned a lasting lesson from the genocide of the Armenian people. They did not die in vain, but rather serve as a continual source of direction and purpose for all who struggle for humanity and equal rights. The time has come for all people regardless of color, creed, or ethnic origin to exercise a moral conscience by assisting those who need help.

Therefore, I, James J. Blanchard, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby declare April 24, 1986, as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY in Michigan. I urge all citizens to join with me in a moment of reflection for the Armenian people who lost their lives and to join in a steadfast commitment to work for the peach and harmony of our world for future generations.

Given under my hand on this thirteenth day of March in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eighty-six and of the Commonwealth one hundred fiftieth.

(SIGNED)James J. BlanchardGOVERNOR

Michigan State Legislature

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Michigan

March 27, 1990

STATE OF MICHIGAN

MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE

House Concurrent Resolution No. 640

Offered by Representatives Hoffman, Bartnik, Griffin, Bankes, Barnes, Berman, Perry Bullard, Willis Bullard, Clack, DeBeaussaert, DeMars, Dolan, Dunakiss, Giese, Gilmer, Gire, Gnodtke, Gubow, Hart, Hillegonds, Hunter, Jacobetti, Knight, Kosteva, Krause, Kulchitsky, Leland, Munsell, Muxlow, Niederstadt, Ostling, Palamarn, Pitoniak, Porreca, Power, Profit, Rocca, Saunders, Spaniola, Sparks, Stupak, Trim, Varga and Joe Young, Jr. and Senators Arthurhultz, Cropsey, Dingell, Ehlers, Engler, Faxon, Fessler, Geake, Nichols, Schwarz, Shinkle, Vaughn and Welborn

A CONCURRENT REOLUTION COMMEMORATING APRIL 24, 1990, AS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915-1923

WHEREAS, During the genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman Empire, 1.5 million people of Armenian ancestry were victims from 1915 to 1923. At the outbreak of World War I, the Young Turk regime decided to deport the entire Armenian population of about 1.75 million to Syria and Mesopotamia. Talaat Pasha, leader of the Young Turk movement, was the principal author of the plan to exterminate the Armenians. The plan of genocide consisted of deporting all Armenians of whatever age or condition of health to the totally barren Der-El-Zor region of what is now Syria; and

WHEREAS, The Armenians were rounded up, brutally driven from their homes and their land, separated from families, robed of everything they owned, and stripped of possessions they carried with them. On a death march to Der-El-Zor, more than a million died of starvation or were killed. Thousands of Christian Armenians were tortured and murdered for refusing to accept Islam as their religion. The atrocities inflicted on Armenians in concentration camps and on death marches to Der-El-Zor in the Syrian desert resemble those of the Holocaust of World War II; and

WHEREAS, The massacre of Armenians who escaped deportation and remained in Turkey was called the "most colossal crime of all ages" by the examining American military mission's report

to the U.S. Congress. In a telegram sent by U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau to the secretary of state. Morgenthau warned that "a campaign of race extermination is in progress under a pretext of reprisal against rebellion"; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (the Senate concurring), That the Michigan Legislature commemorates April 24, 1990, as a day of remembrance of the 75th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Michigan Legislature calls upon the people of Michigan to observe that day by remember the 1.5 million people of Armenians ancestry who lost their lives during that terrible time.

Adopted by the House of Representatives, March 27, 1990Adopted by the Senate, March 28, 1990

(SIGNED)Secretary of the Senate

(SIGNED)Clerk of the House of Representatives

Michigan State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Michigan

April 16, 1990

STATE OF MICHIGAN

GOVERNOR JAMES J. BLANCHARD

Hereby issues this Executive Declarationin Observance of

APRIL 24, 1990

AS

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY

From as early as 189 B.C., when Armenian won its independence from Seleucid rule, the Armenian people have strived for political and religious freedoms and economic prosperity. Throughout their history they have endured harsh persecution and intolerance at the hands of those who would deny them.

The culmination of this intolerance began in 1915 with the institution of the genocide of Armenians at the hands of the governments of the Ottoman Empire. It is estimated that by 1923, a total of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children had been massacred and 500,000 survivors had been deported.

In Michigan, and particularly in the Metropolitan Detroit area where over 50,000 citizens of Armenian descent reside, this time is observed as the Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man. During this period of remembrance, it is important to recommit ourselves to the highest principles of human rights in memory of the victims of this atrocity.

Therefore, I, James J. Blanchard, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby declare April 24, 1990 as ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY in Michigan. I urge all citizens to recognize this observance by remembering the countless Armenian martyrs whose lives were lost during this dark time and to join me in commemorating this important observance.

Given under my hand on this sixteenth day of April in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety and of the Commonwealth one hundred and fifty-four.

(SIGNED)James J. BlanchardGOVERNOR

Michigan State House of Representatives

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Michigan

April 22, 1999

STATE OF MICHIGAN

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 74

Offered by Representative Andrew Raczkowski

A RESOLUTION OBSERVING THE 84TH COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915-1923

Whereas, On April 25, 1999, at St. John's Armenian church in Southfield, Michigan, the devoted members and guests will observe the 84th Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. It is with heavy hearts that we join with them in recalling this painful chapter in the history of the world and in paying homage to the more than 1,500,000

Armenians whose lives were inhumanely sacrificed and the more than 500,000 Armenians who were forced into exile during this terror. The memory of these victims deserve and, indeed, demand this special observance in their honor; and

Whereas, Suffering and sacrifice of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and their descendants must not be forgotten. What began with the arrest and murder of 200 Armenian religious, intellectual, and political leaders in 1915 ended after eight years of genocide. Armenians were brutally rounded up, separated from loved ones, robbed, tortured, humiliated, and forced on one of history's worst death marches. Those who remained were driven into concentration camps or murdered for not accepting the Islamic faith; and

Whereas, The wounds of this atrocity will long continue to sear the memories of survivors of this genocide and their many descendants. Clearly, all of humanity suffers when such senseless killing is allowed to happen, and all of us must be aware of this evil era so that we will not let it happen again. With more than 35,000 people of Armenian descent living in the Detroit area alone, Michigan will never forget this nightmare of the past; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we observe the 84th Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this document be presented to representatives of the Armenian people as evidence of our respect.

Adopted by the House of Representatives, April 22, 1999

(signed)Gary RandallCLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Michigan House Joint Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Michigan

April 19, 2001

House Resolution No. 58.

"Michigan Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide FOR the purpose of remembering the Armenian Genocide, and designating April 24 as "Michigan Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923."

Whereas, One and one-half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915-1923; and

Whereas, The Armenian genocide and massacres of the Armenian people represented a deliberate attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old. To this day, the Armenian people have not received reparations for their losses; and

Whereas, Revisionists still inexplicably deny the existence of these horrific events. Modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the Armenian genocide and honors the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes; and

Whereas, Prior to the invasion of Poland in 1939, Adolf Hitler, the German Nazi dictator, seeking to dispel fears among his military command regarding the world's response to his genocidal plans, asked "Who, after all, today speaks of the Armenians?"; and

Whereas, Residents of Michigan are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture of people to prevent similar atrocities in the future. Recognition of the 86th anniversary of this genocide is crucial to ensure against the repetition of future genocides and educating people about the atrocities connected to this horrific event; and

Whereas, Armenia is now a free and independent republic, having embraced democracy following nearly 70 years of oppressive Soviet domination; and

Whereas, Armenian-Americans living in Michigan have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body designate April 24 each year as "Michigan Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923"; and be it further

Resolved, That this legislative body encourages our Michigan public schools to develop programs similar to those already established in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York that focus on human rights, with specific attention given to the Armenian genocide; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of the resolution be transmitted to the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, DC.

Read information about the resolution from the official Michigan Legislature web site

Michigan State Legislation

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Michigan

April 26, 2001

HOUSE BILL No. 4674

April 26, 2001, Introduced by Reps. Shulman, Cassis, Raczkowski, Bishop, LaSata, Ruth Johnson, Richner and Rocca and referred to the Committee on House Oversight and Operations.

A bill to establish the Michigan days of remembrance of the Armenian genocide.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 1. (1) The legislature recognizes that 1,500,000 men, women, and children of Armenian descent--more than 1/2 of the Armenian population at the time--were victims of a brutal geno- cide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915-1923. The Armenian genocide represented a deliberate attempt to elimi- nate all traces of a thriving noble civilization over 3,000 years old.

(2) Recognition of the anniversary of this genocide and open condemnation of these crimes against an entire people are crucial to ensure against the repetition of similar future atrocities committed against any culture of people.

(3) Armenians all over the world commemorate this great tragedy on April 24, because it was on that day in 1915 when 300 Armenian leaders, writers, thinkers, and professionals in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) were rounded up, deported, and killed. Also on that day, 5,000 of the poorest Armenians were butchered in the streets and in their homes.

Sec. 2. (1) The legislature declares that April 24 of each year shall be the Michigan day of remembrance of the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923, and that the period beginning on the Sunday before that day through the following Sunday shall be the days of remembrance in this state, in memory of the victims of the genocide, and in honor of the survivors.

(2) The legislature encourages the public schools of this state to develop educational programs similar to those already established in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York that focus on human rights, with specific attention given to the Armenian genocide.

Michigan State Senate

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Michigan

April 23, 2015

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Senate Resolution No. 40Offered by Senators Knollenberg, Kowall, Bieda, Booher, Brandenburg, Colbeck, Green,

Gregory, Hansen, Hertel, Hildenbrand, Hopgood, Horn, MacGregor, Marleau, O'Brien, Pavlov, Proos, Robertson, Schuitmaker, Stamas and Warren

A RESOLUTION MARKING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY

OF THE 1915 ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

WHEREAS, On Apri1 24, 1915, the Ottoman Turkish government began a premeditated campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide against its Christian Armenian minority population, resulting in the death of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians that continued until 1923; and

WHEREAS, On July 16, 1915, U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, wrote to the U.S. Secretary of State, Robert Lansing, and reported: "Deportation of and excesses against peaceful Armenians is increasing and from harrowing reports of eye witnesses it appears that a campaign of race extermination is in progress"; and

WHEREAS, On May 28, 1951, the United States government submitted a statement to the International Criminal Court which stated: "The Roman persecution of the Christians, the Turkish massacres of Armenians, the extermination of millions of Jews and Poles by the Nazis are examples of the crime of genocide"; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. House of Representatives has officially acknowledged the 1915 Armenian Genocide through adopted legislation in 1975 and 1984; and

WHEREAS, On Apri122, 1981, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation which stated: "Like the genocide of the Armenians before it, and the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it--and like too many other such persecutions of too many other peoples--the lessons of the Holocaust must never be forgotten"; and

WHEREAS, The state of Michigan recognizes the Armenian Genocide and the importance of teaching about it in the state of Michigan. Recognition and reaffirmation of this tragedy educates people about the horrors of man's inhumanity to man and works to prevent future occurrences of genocides; and

WHEREAS, We call on the people of the United States and the state of Michigan to observe such day as a day of remembrance for all the victims of genocide, especially those of Armenian ancestry; and

WHEREAS, Armenian Americans contribute richly to Michigan's social mosaic and add to the political, educational, and economic development of this state; now, therefore, be it,

RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That educators in the state of Michigan are encouraged to teach about human rights, the Armenian Genocide, and the consequences of genocide denial beginning at the high school level.

Adopted by the Senate, April 23, 2015.

Illinois State House of Representatives

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Illinois

April 24, 1997

State of Illinois90th General AssemblyLegislation1997

HOUSE RESOLUTION 90 HRO113

WHEREAS, The United States has always been a haven for the persecuted and oppressed, whether by reason of religion or nationality; and

WHEREAS, We who cherish our freedom can never take it for granted; we who respect justice can never be totally secure in it; and

WHEREAS, When freedom is challenged anywhere, all humankind must rise up in protest; we must all use our voices and our influence to meet those challenges and help protect individual life and liberty; and

WHEREAS, No other human rights violation deserves greater protest and attention and demands firmer condemnation by freedom-loving people than genocide; and

WHEREAS, For the Armenian people, the horror and inhumanity of this devastating crime began in 1915 when young men of Armenian origin were drafted into the Turkish army, soon to be disarmed, transferred to labor battalions, and then massacred; and

WHEREAS, On April 24, 1915, authorities of the Ottoman Empire arrested the most prominent intellectuals and leaders of Constantinople; they were exiled to the interior of Anatolia, either perishing on the way or meeting their fate on arrival; and

WHEREAS, The Armenians were rounded up, brutally driven from their homes and their land, separated from families, robbed of everything they owned, and stripped of possessions they carried with them; and

WHEREAS, On a death march to Der-El-Zor, more than a million died of starvation or were killed; thousands of Christian Armenians were tortured and murdered for refusing to accept Islam as their religion; the atrocities inflicted on Armenians in concentration camps and on

death marches to Der-El-Zor in the Syrian desert resemble those of the Holocaust of World War II; and

WHEREAS, During this act of genocide, 1.5 million people of Armenian ancestry were victims from 1915 to 1923; at the outbreak of World War I, the Young Turk regime decided to deport the entire Armenian population of about 1.75 million to Syrian and Mesopotamia; and

WHEREAS, Talaat Pasha, leader of the Young Turk movement, was the principal author of the plan to exterminate the Armenians; the plan of genocide consisted of deporting all Armenians of whatever age or condition of health to the totally barren Der-El-Zor region of what is now Syria; and

WHEREAS, The massacre of Armenians who remained in Turkey was called the "most colossal crime of all ages" by the examining American military mission's report to the United States Congress; and

WHEREAS, In a telegram sent by U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau to the Secretary of State, Morgenthau warned that "a campaign of race extermination is in progress under a pretext of reprisal against rebellion"; and

WHEREAS, Each year, with solemn religious and patriotic ceremony, Armenians in the international community honor those who died in 1915 and remind all people that genocide on any scale is a crime against all humanity; and

WHEREAS, Adolph Hitler, when questioned as to the "final solution" to the Jewish question, said, "Who remembers the Armenians?"; and

WHEREAS, April 24, 1997 will be commemorated by Armenians in this country and throughout the world in remembrance of the first instance of genocide in this century; and

WHEREAS, The People of Illinois, as represented by the General Assembly and the Governor, should be mindful of these tragic events, should further assure that no future tyrant may ever ask the question asked by Hitler and should act in a spirit of justice and humanity to designate April 24, 1997 as Armenian Martyrs Day, a day of remembrance of man's inhumanity to man; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commemorate April 24, 1997 as a day of remembrance of the 82nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call upon the people of Illinois to observe that day by remembering the 1.5 million people of Armenian ancestry who lost their lives during that terrible time; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we request Governor Jim Edgar to proclaim April 24, 1997 as a day of remembrance in honor of the victims of the Armenian Genocide; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Governor Jim Edgar.

Illinois State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Illinois

March 23, 1999

STATE OF ILLINOIS

Executive Department

Proclamation

WHEREAS, THE Armenian community is commemorating the 84th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, 84 YEARS AGO Armenians were forced to witness the genocide of their relatives and the loss of their ancestral homelands; and

WHEREAS, the extermination of 1.5 million Armenians and the forced deportation of countless others by the Ottoman Turks between the years of 1915 and 1923 is recognized every year; and

WHEREAS, the Armenians continue to be a people full of hope, working side-by-side for the future of Armenia. Through their faith and pride in their heritage, the Armenians remain a strong and courageous people working toward rebuilding a firm foundation for Armenia; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans have been forthright in their efforts to preserve their culture, heritage and language;

THEREFORE, I, George H. Ryan, Governor of the State of Illinois, proclaim April 24, 1999, as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY in Illinois in remembrance of the 84th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Illinois to be affixed. Done at the Capitol, in the City of Springfield, this twenty-third day of March, in the Year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine, and of the State of Illinois the one hundred and eighty-first.

Jesee Whitt (Signed) Secretary of State

George H. Ryan (Signed) Governor

[March 23, 1999]

Illinois State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Illinois

April 27, 2000

STATE OF ILLINOISEXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTProclamation

WHEREAS, 85 years ago Armenians were forced to witness the genocide of their relatives and the loss of their ancestral homelands; and

WHEREAS, the examination of 1.5 million Armenians and the forced deportation of countless others between the years of 1915 and 1923 are recognized each year; and

WHEREAS, the Armenians continue to be a people full of hope, working side-by-side for the future of Armenia. Through their faith and pride in their heritage, the Armenians remain a strong and courageous people working toward rebuilding a firm foundation for Armenia; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans have been forthright in their efforts to preserve their culture, heritage and language; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian-American community has made significant contributions in all areas of life including education, medicine, science, business, arts, government and public service in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian community is commemorating the 85th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide;

THEREFORE, I, George H. Ryan, Governor of the State of Illinois, proclaim April 24, 2000, as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY in Illinois in remembrance of the 85th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Illinois to be affixed.Done at the Capitol in the City of Springfieldthis seventeenth day of April, inthe Year of Our Lord two thousand andof the State of Illinois the one hundred andeighty-second.

Illinois State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Illinois

March 11, 2005

STATE OF ILLINOIS

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the Armenian community, as well as the global community, remembers the Armenian Genocide, which occurred 90 years ago; and

WHEREAS, during this tragic historical period between the years of 1915 and 1923, Armenians were forced to witness the genocide of their loved one, and the loss of their ancestral homelands; and

WHEREAS, this extermination of and forced relocation of over 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks is recognized every year; and

WHEREAS, Armenians continue to be a people full of hope, courage, faith and pride in their heritage, working together to rebuild a firm foundation for Armenia; and

WHEREAS, many of the fifteen-thousand Armenian-Americans in Illinois are descendents or survivors of the Armenian genocide, and have been forthright in their efforts to preserve their culture, heritage, and language, while contributing much to our state and our nation's diverse society and economy; and

WHEREAS, both recognition and education concerning past atrocities such as the Armenian Genocide is crucial in the prevention of future crime against humanity.

THEREFORE, I, Rod Blagojevich, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2005 as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY in Illinois, in honor of the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto Set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Illinois to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the City of Springfield this Eleventh Day of March, in the Year of Our Lord two Thousand and Five, and of the State of Illinois the one hundred and eighty-seventh.

(Signed)

Rod Blagojevich, Governor

State of Illinois

Colorado State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Colorado

April 23, 1981

STATE OF COLORADO

EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS

DENVER

EXECTUTIVE ORDER

PROCLAMATIONARMENIAN MARTYRS' DAYApril 24, 1981

WHEREAS, sixty-six years ago, one and a half million Armenians were massacred and millions more fled in terror from their ancient homeland; and

WHEREAS, the world was shocked, for the murder and exile of the Armenians was seen as a deliberate attempt to exterminate an entire nation; and

WHEREAS, on April 24, Armenian throughout the world commemorate "Martyrs' Day" as a reminder of the day in 1915 when the Ottoman Turks arrested and killed 250 Armenian community leaders and intellectuals--an act which signaled the terrible events that followed; and

WHEREAS, all Coloradans should join our fellow citizens of Armenian heritage in honoring the memory of those martyrs in the hope that the conscience of the world can bring a halt to senseless slaughter, an end to all human suffering and a reawakening of the sense of justice and human rights; and

WHEREAS, let us also pay tribute to the survivors of the Armenian tragedy, especially to the hundreds of thousands who have made this Nation their home and have become hard-working, loyal citizens; and

WHERAS, in observing April 24, as a reminder of man's inhumanity to man, Armenians also regard it as a time for renewal and rededication, and for subdued celebrations of their survival;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Richard D. Lamm, Governor of the State of Colorado, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1981, as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS' DAY

in the State of Colorado.

GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado, this twenty-third day of April, A.D., 1981.

Colorado State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Colorado

April 3, 1986

STATE OF COLORADO

EXECUTIVE ORDER

PROCLAMATION

ARMENIAN MARTYRS' DAY

APRIL 24, 1986

WHEREAS, seventy-one years ago, one and one-half million Armenians were massacred and millions more fled in terror from their ancient homeland; and

WHEREAS, the world was shocked, for the murder and exile of the Armenians was seen as a deliberate attempt to exterminated an entire nation; and

WHEREAS, on April 24, Armenian throughout the world commemorate "Martyrs' Day" as a reminder of the day in 1915 when Ottoman Turks arrested and killed 250 Armenian community leaders and intellectuals -- an act signaling the terrible events that followed; and

WHEREAS, all Coloradans should join our fellow citizens of Armenian heritage in honoring the memory of those martyrs in the hope that the conscience of the world can bring a halt to senseless slaughter, an end to all human suffering and a reawakening of the sense of justice and human rights; and

WHEREAS, let us also pay tribute to the survivors of the Armenian tragedy, especially to the hundreds of thousands who have made this nation their home and have become hard-working, loyal citizens; and

WHEREAS, in observing April 24, as a reminder of man's inhumanity to man, Armenians also regard it as a time for renewal and rededication, and for subdued celebrations of their survival;

NOW, THERFORE, I, Richard D. Lamm, Governor of the State of Colorado, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1986, as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS' DAY

in the State of Colorado.

GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado, this third day of April, A.D. 1986.

Colorado State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Colorado

April 10, 1987

STATE OF COLORADO

EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS

HONORARY PROCLAMATION

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAYAPRIL 24, 1987

WHEREAS, on April 24, 1915, the Ottoman Turks arrested and killed 250 Armenian community leaders and intellectuals, an act which signaled the genocide that was to follow; and

WHEREAS, the Turks then massacred 1.5 million Armenians and drove many millions more into exile from their ancient homeland; and

WHEREAS, some of those exiles eventually found a new home in the United States; and

WHEREAS, in honor of the suffering of the ancestors of their compatriots, all Coloradans should take time to recall the memory of the Armenian martyrs and yet another epoch in history when justice and compassion gave way to senseless slaughter and hatred;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Roy Romer, Governor of Colorado, proclaim April 24, 1987, as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY

in the State of Colorado.

GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado, this tenth day of April, A.D. 1987

Colorado State Joint Senate Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Colorado

April 24, 2002

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 02-022 BY SENATOR(S) Takis, Phillips, Chlouber, Andrews, Dyer, Entz, Epps, FitzGerald, Hagedorn, Hanna, Hillman, Matsunaka, Musgrave, Nichol, Pascoe, Perlmutter, Tupa, Windels, Anderson, Arnold, Cairns, Evans, Gordon, Hernandez, Isgar, Lamborn, Linkhart, May, McElhany, Reeves, Tate, Taylor and Thiebaut;also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Tochtrop, Borodkin, Coleman, Groff, Grossman, Hodge, Johnson, Marshall, Plant, Romanoff, Saliman, Sanchez, Stafford, Tapia, Vigil, Alexander, Bacon, Berry, Boyd, Cadman, Chavez, Clapp, Cloer, Crane, Jameson, Kester, King, Larson, Lawrence, Lee, Mace, Madden, Miller, Mitchell, Paschall, Ragsdale, Rhodes, Rippy, Schultheis, Scott, Sinclair, Smith, Snook, Spence, Spradley, Stengel, Swenson, Veiga, Webster, Weddig, White, Williams S., Williams T., Witwer, and Young.

CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF APRIL 24 AS "COLORADO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" IN COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE FROM 1915 TO 1923 AND HONORING ARMENIAN AMERICANS.

WHEREAS, 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of this devoted people. I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the suffering of the Armenian race in 1915. The killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic

destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years"; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers, such as the New York Times,carried headlines including "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed" and "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile"; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide has been acknowledged by the countries and international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the council of Europe, Cyprus, the European Parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece, Lebanon, Russia, the United Nations, and Uruguay; and

WHEREAS, Each year Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915-1923, and all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian Genocide because it stands as an ugly testament to man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, We must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help people better understand the necessity of eliminating hatred from our own communities; and

WHEREAS, Residents of Colorado are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Colorado have greatly enriched our State through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-third General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

That the General Assembly of the State of Colorado hereby designates April 24 as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide."

That the State of Colorado respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to likewise commemorate the Armenian Genocide.

Be It Further Resolved. That copies of this Joint Resolution be transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation, the Honorable Bill Owens, Governor of Colorado, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, and the Armenian National Committee in Washington.

Colorado State House Joint Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Colorado

April 16, 2004

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 04-1050

BY REPRESENTATIVES Tochtrop, Borodkin, Williams S., Berry, Boyd, Briggs, Brophy, Butcher, Cadman, Carroll, Cerbo, Clapp, Cloer, Coleman, Crane, Decker, Fairbank, Frangas, Garcia, Hall, Harvey, Hefley, Hodge, Hoppe, Jahn, Johnson R., Judd, King, Larson, Lee, Lundberg, Madden, Marshall, May M., McCluskey, McFadyen, McGihon, Merrifield, Miller, Mitchell, Paccione, Plant, Pommer, Ragsdale, Rhodes, Rippy, Romanoff, Rose, Salazar, Schultheis, Sinclair, Smith, Spence, Spradley, Stafford, Stengel, Vigil, Weddig, Weissmann, Welker, White, Wiens, Williams T., Witwer, and Young;also SENATORS Takis, Anderson, Andrews, Arnold, Cairns, Chlouber, Dyer, Entz, Evans, Fitz-Gerald, Gordon, Groff, Grossman, Hagedorn, Hanna, Hillman, Isgar, Johnson S., Jones, Keller, Kester, Lamborn, May R., McElhany, Nichol, Owen, Phillips, Reeves, Sandoval, Tapia, Taylor, Teck, Tupa, Veiga, and Windels.

CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF EACH APRIL 24 AS "COLORADO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE".

WHEREAS, From 1915 to 1923, 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were murdered during the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire, 500,000 more were exiled, and 500,000 were able to escape the regime of terror and establish themselves in new foreign lands, and, as a result, today there are only 100,000 people of Armenian heritage left residing within the borders of modern Turkey; and

WHEREAS, The United States' Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of this devoted people. I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915. The killing of the Armenian people was accompanied by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years."; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers, such as the New York Times, carried headlines including "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed", "Million Armenians killed or in Exile", and "Wholesale Massacre of Armenians by Turks"; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide has been acknowledged by countries and international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the council of Europe, Cyprus, the European parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece, Lebanon, Russia, the United Nations, and Uruguay; and

WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the genocide and to

honor the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian people have been denied the right to self-determination on their ancestral lands and have received no form of reparations for their tragic loss; and

WHEREAS, Each year, Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923, and all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian Genocide and condemn any attempt to deny its historical truth or mischaracterize the episode as anything less than genocide, a crime against humanity; and

WHEREAS, We must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help people better understand the necessity of eliminating hatred in our own communities, and to that end, we support the efforts of Armenians of Colorado, Inc., to encourage the educators in Colorado to include the Armenian Genocide in the school curriculum; and

WHEREAS, Residents of Colorado are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, On April 11, 2002, and April 24, 2003, this legislative body unanimously passed a similar joint resolution to which the roll calls were added as cosponsors designating April 24 as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Colorado have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-fourth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:

1. That this legislative body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 89th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide to be recognized at a memorial service on Sunday, April 25, 2004, at the Armenian Genocide memorial plaque located in the northeast quadrant on the State Capitol grounds;

2. That we, the members of the General Assembly, hereby designate each April 24 as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide";

3. That the State of Colorado respectfully urges the United States Congress to likewise commemorate the Armenian Genocide.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation; the Honorable Bill Owens, Governor of Colorado; the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, D.C.; and the Armenian National Committee in Washington, D.C.

Lola SpradleySPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

John AndrewsPRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Judith RodrigueCHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mona HeustisSECRETARY OF THE SENATE

Colorado State Senate Joint Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Colorado

April 24, 2005

State of Colorado Senate Joint Resolution 05-022

BY SENATOR(S) Tochtrop, Takis, Anderson, Bacon, Dyer, Entz, Evans, Fitz-Gerald, Gordon, Groff, Grossman, Hagedorn, Hanna, Hillman, Isgar, Johnson, Jones, Keller, Kester, Lamborn, May R., EcElhany, Mitchell, Owen, Sandoval, Shaffer, Spence, Tapia, Taylor, Teck, Tupa, Veiga, Wiens, Williams, and Windels;

Also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Romanoff, Benefield, Berens, Borodkin, Boyd, Brophy, Buescher, Butcher, Cadman, Carroll M., Carroll T., Cerbo, Clapp, Cloer, Coleman, Crane, Curry, Decker, Frangas, Gallegos, Garcia, Green, Hall, Hefley, Hodge, Hoppe, Jahn, Kerr, King, Knoedler, Larson, Lindstrom, Liston, Lundberg, Madden, Marshall, Massey, May M., McCluskey, McFayden, McGihon, McKinley, Merrifield, Paccione, Penry, Plant, Ragsdale, Riesberg, Rose, Schultheis, Solano, Soper, Stafford, Stengel, Sullivan, Todd, Vigil, Weissmann, Welker, and Witmer.

CONCERNING REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ON APRIL 24, 2005, AND EVERY APRIL 24 HEREAFTER, AS "COLORADO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE".

WHEREAS, This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, when 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, 500,000 people of Armenian heritage left residing with the borders of modern Turkey; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of this devoted people. I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915. The killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic

destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years."; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers, such as the New York Times, carried headlines detailing the genocide, including "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed", "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile", and "Wholesale Massacre of Armenians by Turks"; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide has been acknowledged by countries and international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Council of Europe, Cyprus, the European Parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece, Lebanon, Russia, the United Nations, and Uruguay; and

WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the genocide and to honor the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes; and WHEREAS, The Armenian people have been denied the right to self-determination on their ancestral lands and have received no form of reparation for this tragic loss; and

WHEREAS, Each year Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923, and all people of the world should commemorate the Armenian genocide and condemn any attempt to deny its historical truth or mischaracterize the episode as anything less than genocide, a crime against humanity; and

WHEREAS, We must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide, not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help people better understand the necessity of eliminating hatred in their own communities. To that end, we support the efforts of Armenians of Colorado, Inc., to encourage the educators in Colorado to include the Armenian genocide in the school curriculum; and

WHEREAS, Residents of Colorado are highly sensitive to the need to consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, For three consecutive years this legislative body unanimously passed a similar join resolution in which the roll calls were added as co-sponsors designating April 24 as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide", and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Colorado have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

(1)

That this legislative body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide to be recognized at a memorial service on Sunday, April 24, 2005, at the Armenian genocide memorial plaque located in the northeast quadrant on the State Capitol grounds.

(2)

That we, the members of the General Assembly, hereby acknowledge April 24, 2005, and every April 24 hereafter, as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide".

(3)

That the State of Colorado respectfully urges the United States Congress to likewise commemorate the Armenian genocide.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to United States President George W. Bush, Colorado Governor Bill Owens, the members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, D.C., and the Armenian National Committee in Washington, D.C.

Colorado State Senate Joint Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Colorado

April 10, 2006

View PDF of document

"Senate Joint Resolution 06-023 Concerning remembrance of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2006, and every April 24 thereafter, as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide", adopted by the Colorado Sixty-fifth General Assembly."

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 06-023

BY SENATOR(S) Tochtrop, Lamborn, Bacon, Boyd, Brophy, Dyer, Entz, Evans, Fitz-Gerald, Gordon, Groff, Grossman, Isgar, Johnson, Jones, Keller, Kester, May R., McElhany, Mitchell, Owen, Sandoval, Shaffer, Spence, Takis, Tapia, Taylor, Teck, Traylor, Tupa, Veiga, Wiens, Williams, and Windels;

also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Garcia, Balmer, Benefield, Berens, Borodkin, Buescher, Butcher, Cadman, Carroll M., Carroll T., Cerbo, Clapp, Cloer, Coleman, Crane, Curry, Decker, Frangas, Gallegos, Gardner, Green, Hall, Harvey, Hefley, Hodge, Hoppe, Jahn, Judd, Kerr A., Kerr J., King, Knoedler, Larson, Lindstrom, Liston, Lundberg, Madden, Marshall, Massey, May M., McCluskey, McFadyen, McGihon, McKinley, Merrifield, Paccione, Penry, Plant, Pommer, Ragsdale, Riesberg, Romanoff, Rose, Schultheis, Solano, Soper, Stafford, Stengel, Sullivan, Todd, Vigil, Weissmann, Welker, White, and Witwer.

CONCERNING REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ON APRIL 24, 2006, AND EVERY APRIL 24 HEREAFTER, AS "COLORADO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE".

WHEREAS, This year marks the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, during which 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, An additional 500,000 Armenians were exiled, and 500,000 were able to escape the regime of terror and establish themselves in new foreign lands, and, as a result, today there are only 100,000 people of Armenian heritage left residing within the borders of modern Turkey; and

WHEREAS, The United States' Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of this devoted people. I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915. The killing of the Armenian people was followed by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments that continues to this day in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years."; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers, such as the New York Times, carried headlines that read "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed", "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile", and "Wholesale Massacre of Armenians by Turks"; and

WHEREAS, The term "genocide" was coined by international law scholar Raphael Lemkin in 1943, and he referenced the Armenian massacres as a seminal example of such an atrocity, a crime against humanity; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide has been acknowledged by countries and international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Council of Europe, Cyprus, the European parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece, Lebanon, Russia, the United Nations, and Uruguay; and

WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the genocide and to honor the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian people have been denied the right to self determination on their ancestral lands and have received no form of reparations for their tragic loss; and

WHEREAS, Each year Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923, and all the world's people should join them in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide and condemnation of any attempt to deny its historical truth or mischaracterize the episode as anything less than genocide; and

WHEREAS, We must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide, not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help people better understand the necessity of eliminating hatred in our own communities, and to that end, we support the efforts of Armenians of Colorado, Inc., to encourage the educators in Colorado to include the Armenian Genocide in the school curriculum; and

WHEREAS, We also commend our local PBS stations KRMA and KBDI for airing the documentary "The Armenian Genocide" by filmmaker Andrew Goldberg, scheduled for April 17th and April 26th, respectively, and we encourage our legislative colleagues to watch the program; and

WHEREAS, For four consecutive years, this legislative body has passed a similar Joint Resolution in which the roll calls were added as co sponsors designating April 24 as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; and

WHEREAS, Armenian Americans living in Colorado have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

(1) That this legislative body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide to be recognized at a memorial service on Sunday, April 23, 2006, at the Armenian Genocide memorial plaque located in the northeast quadrant on the State Capitol grounds;

(2) That we, the members of the General Assembly, hereby acknowledge April 24, 2006, and every April 24 of each year hereafter, as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; and

(3) That the General Assembly respectfully urges the United States Congress to likewise commemorate the Armenian Genocide.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation; the members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, which Colorado Congressmen Mark Udall and Bob Beauprez have joined; the Honorable Bill Owens, Governor of Colorado; the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, D.C.; and the Armenian National Committee in Washington, D.C.

Colorado State Senate Joint Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Colorado

April 24, 2007

"CONCERNING REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ON APRIL 24, 2007, AND EVERY APRIL 24 HEREAFTER, AS "COLORADO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE"."

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 07-030

BY SENATOR(S) Tochtrop, Takis, Bacon, Boyd, Brophy, Fitz-Gerald, Gordon, Groff, Hagedorn, Harvey, Isgar, Johnson, Keller, Kopp, May R., McElhany, Mitchell S., Morse, Penry, Renfroe, Romer, Sandoval, Schultheis, Schwartz, Shaffer, Spence, Tapia, Taylor, Tupa, Ward, Wiens, Williams, and Windels; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Garcia, Balmer, Benefield, Borodkin, Buescher, Butcher, Cadman, Carroll M., Carroll T., Casso, Cerbo, Curry, Fischer, Frangas, Gagliardi, Gallegos, Gardner B., Gardner C., Gibbs, Green, Hicks, Hodge, Jahn, Kefalas, Kerr A., Kerr J., King, Labuda, Lambert, Levy, Looper, Lundberg, Madden, Marostica, Marshall, Massey, May M., McFadyen, McGihon, McKinley, McNulty, Merrifield, Mitchell V., Peniston, Pommer, Primavera, Rice, Riesberg, Roberts, Romanoff, Rose, Solano, Sonnenberg, Soper, Stafford, Stephens, Summers, Todd, Vaad, Weissmann, White, and Witwer.

CONCERNING REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ON APRIL 24, 2007, AND EVERY APRIL 24 HEREAFTER, AS "COLORADO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE".

WHEREAS, This year marks the 92nd anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian Genocide, or what has been aptly named "The Forgotten Genocide", when 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, 500,000 refugees escaped the regime of terror and established themselves in new foreign lands and, as a result, there are today only 100,000 ethnic Armenians living on Armenia's ancestral lands, which now lie within the borders of Turkey; and

WHEREAS, The United States' Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of this devoted people. I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and

persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915."; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers, such as the New York Times, carried headlines that read "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed", "Million Armenians Killed", and "Wholesale Massacre of Armenians by Turks"; and

WHEREAS, The killing of the Armenian people was followed by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments that continues to this day in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years; and

WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the genocide and to honor the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes, despite the acknowledgment of the Armenian atrocities as genocide by the International Association of Genocide Scholars, most western governments, and international organizations such as the United Nations; and

WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to persecute its citizens who acknowledge or refer to the Armenian Genocide, such as Nobel Prize winner in Literature Orhan Pamuk and Hrant Dink, the editor of the Armenian-Turkish weekly newspaper Agos, who was murdered by a Turkish nationalist on January 19, 2007; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian people have been denied the right to self-determination on their ancestral lands and have received no form of reparations for their tragic loss; and

WHEREAS, Each year, Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923, and all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian Genocide and condemn any attempt to deny its historical truth or mischaracterize the episode as anything less than genocide, the term coined by Raphael Lemkin in 1944, who referenced the Armenian massacres as a seminal example of such an atrocity, a crime against humanity; and

WHEREAS, We must do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide, not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help people to better understand the necessity of eliminating hatred in their own communities; and

WHEREAS, We must fight against new injustices, such as the first genocide of the 21st century in Darfur; to that end, we commend Armenians of Colorado, Inc. for sponsoring Amnesty International "prisoner of conscience" Professor Taner Akcam's lecture A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility, at Denver's Mizel Museum; and

WHEREAS, We also encourage Coloradans to attend an evocative dual exhibit by the Mizel Museum and the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action (CCGAA), The Dead Weight of Complacency and 10 Glocal Artists Interpret Genocide, being shown through April 27, 2007; And

WHEREAS, We also encourage the people of Colorado to attend the evocative dual exhibition by the Mizel Museum and the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action (CCGAA), The Dead Weight of Complacency and 10 "Glocal" Artists Interpret Genocide, being shown through April 27; and

WHEREAS, For five consecutive years, this legislative body has passed a similar Joint Resolution in which the roll calls were added as co-sponsors designating April 24 as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-sixth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

1. That this legislative body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, to be recognized at a memorial service to be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 22, 2007, at the Armenian Genocide memorial plaque located in the northeast quadrant of the State Capitol grounds;

2. That we, the members of the General Assembly, hereby acknowledge April 24, 2007, and every year hereafter, as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; and

3. That the General Assembly respectfully urges the United States Congress to likewise commemorate the Armenian Genocide.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation; the members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues; the Turkish Ambassador to the United States; the Honorable Bill Ritter, Governor of Colorado; Armenians of Colorado, Inc.; the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, D.C.; and the Armenian National Committee of America in Washington, D.C.

Colorado Senate Joint Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Colorado

April 24, 2008

2008

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 08-024

BY SENATOR(S) Tochtrop, Bacon, Boyd, Brophy, Gibbs, Gordon, Groff, Hagedorn, Harvey, Isgar, Johnson, Keller, Kester, Kopp, Mitchell S., Morse, Renfroe, Romer, Sandoval, Schultheis, Schwartz, Shaffer, Spence, Takis, Tapia, Taylor, Veiga, Weins, Williams, and Windels;also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Peniston, Balmer, Benefield, Borodkin, Buescher, Butcher, Carroll M., Casso, Curry, Ferrandino, Fischer, Frangas, Gagliardi, Gallegos, Gardner B., Gardner C., Garza-

Hicks, Green, Hodge, Jahn, Kefalas, Kerr A., Kerr J., King, Labuda, Lambert, Levy, Liston, Looper, Lundberg, Madden, Massey, May M., McFayden, McGihon, McNulty, Merrifield, Middleton, Mitchell V., Pommer, Primavera, Rice, Riesberg, Roberts, Romanoff, Rose, Solano, Sonnenberg, Soper, Stafford, Stephens, Summers, Swalm, Todd, Vaad, Weismann, White, and Witwer.

CONCERNING REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ON APRIL 24, 2008, AND EVERY YEAR HEREAFTER, AS "COLORADO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE".

WHEREAS,This year marks the 93rd anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian Genocide, or what has been aptly named "The Forgotten Genocide", when 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, 50,000 refugees were able to escape the regime of terror and establish themselves in new foreign lands, and, as a result, there are only a few thousand indigenous Armenians living within the borders of modern Turkey; and

WHEREAS, The former United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustices the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of this devoted people. I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this."; and

WHEREAS, The killing of the Armenian people was followed by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments that continues to this day in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers such as the New York Times carried headlines that read 'Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed", "Million Armenians Killed", and "Wholesale Massacre of Armenians by Turks"; and

WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the genocide and to honor the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes, despite the acknowledgment of the Armenian atrocities as genocide by the International Association of Genocide Scholars, most western governments, and international organizations such as the United Nations; and

WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to persecute its citizens who acknowledge or refer to the Armenian Genocide, such as the 2006 Nobel Prize winner for Literature, Orhan Pamuk, and the editor of the Armenian-Turkish weekly newspaper Agos, Hrant Dink, who was murdered by a Turkish nationalist on January 19, 2007; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian people have been denied the right to self-determination on their ancestral lands and have received no form of reparations for their tragic loss; and

WHEREAS, Each year, Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923, and all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian Genocide and condemn any attempt to deny its historical truth or mischaracterize the episode as anything less than genocide, the term coined by Raphael Lemkin in 1944, who referenced the

PAGE 2- SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 08-024

Armenian massacres as a seminal example of such an atrocity, a crime against humanity; and

WHEREAS, We must all fight against new injustices, such as the first genocide of the 21st century in Darfur and the Turkish government's support for the Sudanese regime, an example of how the cycle of genocide continues with impunity; and

WHEREAS, We commend Armenians of Colorado, Inc., for sponsoring a lecture by Harvard Professor David L. Nersessian, JD, PhD, entitled "The Power of a Word -- Recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a Path to Reconciliation", held at the University of Denver on Saturday, April 19, 2008; now therefore,

Be it Resolved by the Senate of the Sixthhy-sixth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

(1) That this legislative body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 93rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, to be recognized at a memorial service at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2008, at the Armenian Genocide memorial plaque in the Armenian Garden, located in the northeast quadrant on the State Capitol grounds; and

(2) That we, the members of the General Assembly, hereby acknowledge April 24, 2008, and April 24 of every year hereafter, as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide".

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation; the members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues; Nabi Sensoy, the Turkish Ambassador to the United States; Ross L. Wilson, the United States Ambassador to Turkey; the Honorable Bill Ritter, Governor of Colorado; the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington D.C.; the Armenian

Colorado State Senate Joint Resolution

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April 24, 2010

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 10-038

BY SENATOR(S) Tochtrop, Bacon, Boyd, Brophy, Cadman, Carroll M., Foster, Harvey, Heath, Hodge, Hudak, Johnston, Keller, King K., Kopp, Lundberg, Morse, Newell, Penry, Renfroe,

Romer, Sandoval, Scheffel, Schwartz, Shaffre B., Spence, Steadman, Tapia, White, Whitehead, Williams;

Also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Ryden, Acree, Apuan, Balmer, Baumgardner, Benefield, Bradford, Casso, Court, Curry, DelGrosso, Ferrandino, Fischer, Frangas, Gagliardi, Gardner B., Gardner C., Gerou, Hullinghorst, Kagan, Kefalas, Kerr A., Kerr J., King S., Lambert, Levy, Looper, Massey, May, McCann, McFadyen, McNulty, Merrifield, Middleton, Miklosi, Murry, Nikkel, Pace, Peniston, Pommer, Primavera, Priola, Rice, Riesberg, Roberts, Scanlan, Schafer S., Solano, Sonnenberg, Soper, Stephens, Summers, Swalm, Tipton, Todd, Tyler, Vigil, Waller, Weissmann, Carroll T.

CONCERNING REMEMBERANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ON APRIL 24, 2010, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, DESIGNATING EVERY APRIL 24 HEREAFTER AS "COLORODO DAY OF REMEMBERANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE".

WHEREAS, This year marks the 95th anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian Genocide, when 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Government from 1915 to 1923 and, as a result, there are fewer than 75,000 indigenous Armenians living within the borders of modern Turkey; and

WHEREAS, The former United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau Sr.,stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive,became the daily misfortunes of these devoted people."; and

WHEREAS, The killings of the Armenian people was followed by the systematic destruction of destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and

cultural monuments that continues to this day in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years; and

WHEREAS, The New York Times recently reported a newly exposed official Ottoman document revealing that 972,000 Armenians disappeared from population records within one year; and

Whereas, Despite overwhelming evidence, modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the genocide, honor the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes, and persecute its citizens who acknowledge or even allude to the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, Each April, Armenians throughout the world honor their martyrs, and all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian Genocide and condemn any attempt to deny its historical truth or mischaracterize it as anything less than genocide a term coined by Raphael Lemkin in 1944 referencing the Armenian extermination as a seminal example of genocide; and

Whereas We must all fight against current injustices, such as the ongoing first genocide of the 21st century in Darfur that is being denied by the Turkish government, an ally of the Sudanese regime, which demonstrates how the cycle of genocide continues; and

WHEREAS, We commend Armenians of Colorado, Inc., for organizing the April 2010 genocide commemoration events, which include a keynote speech by attorney Mark Geragos entitled "Reparations: Beyond Recognition", held April 17th at Arapahoe Community College; and

WHEREAS, We commend the growing number of Turkish citizens, including academics, writers, and journalists, who challenge their government's official account of history amid threats of prosecution and imprisonment under article 301 of the Turkish penal code, which forbids denigration of the Turkish nation and the Turkish government; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-seventh General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

(1)That this legislative body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, to be recognized at a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 24, 2010, at the Genocide memorial plaque in the Armenian Garden, located in the northeast quadrant on the State Capitol grounds; and

(2)That we, the members of the General Assembly, hereby acknowledge April 24, 2010, and April 24 of each year hereafter, as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide".

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States; the members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation; the members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues; the Honorable Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of Colorado; the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington D.C.; the Armenian National Committee in Washington D.C.; and the Armenian and Turkish Embassies in Washington, D.C.

Colorado Governor Proclamation

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April 24, 2010

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Honorary Proclamation

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY

April 24, 2010

WHEREAS, the Armenian people were subject to severe persecution and brutal injustice at the hands of their oppressors during the "First Genocide of the Twentieth Century," or the "Forgotten Genocide;" and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide began with the murder of hundreds of Armenian intellectuals and political, religious, and business leaders who were arrested and taken from their homes in Constantinople before dawn on April 24, 1915; and

WHEREAS, the 1.5 million American Armenians who have made the United States their home have greatly enriched our nation through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, science, and the arts; and

WHEREAS, April 24 serves as a reminder of the Armenian Genocide and provides Armenians around the world with an opportunity to observe a time of renewal, rededication, and subdued celebration of their survival; and

WHEREAS, the State of Colorado joins the Armenian-American community in its annual observance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 - 1923 to raise awareness of this unconscionable tragedy so that we may better understand the importance of eliminating hatred in our own communities;

Therefore, I, Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of the State of Colorado, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2010,

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY

in the State of Colorado.

GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado, this twenty-second day of April, 2010

Colorado Senate Joint Resolution

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April 21, 2011

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2008

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 11-035

BY SENATOR(S) Tochtrop, Aguilar, Bacon, Boyd, Brophy, Cadman, Carroll, Foster, Giron, Grantham, Guzman, Harvey, Heath, Hodge, Hudak, Jahn, Johnston, King K., King S., Kopp, Lambert, Lundberg, Mitchell, Morse, Newell, Nicholson, Renfroe, Scheffel, Schwartz, Shaffer B., Spence, Steadman, White, Williams S.; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Ryden, Acree, Barker, Baumgardner, Beezley, Bradford, Brown, Casso, Conti, DelGrosso, Duran, Ferrandino, Fields, Gardner B., Gardner D., Gerou, Hamner, Hullinghorst, Jones, Joshi, Kagan, Kerr A., Kerr J., Lee, Levy, Looper, Massey, McCann, McKinley, Miklosi, Murray, Nikkel, Pabon, Pace, Priola, Riesberg, Schafer S., Scott, Solano, Soper, Stephens, Summers, Swalm, Swerdfeger, Szabo, Tyler, Vaad, Vigil, Waller, Williams A., McNulty.

CONCERNING REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ON APRIL 24, 2011, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, DESIGNATING EVERY APRIL 24 HEREAFTER AS "COLORADO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE".

WHEREAS, This year marks the 96th anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian genocide, when 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923 and, as a result, there are fewer than 75,000 indigenous Armenians living within the borders of modern Turkey; and

WHEREAS, The former United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of this devoted people."; and

WHEREAS, The killing of the Armenian people was followed by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments that continues to this day in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years; and

WHEREAS, In 2009, The New York Times reported on a newly exposed official Ottoman document revealing that 972,000 Armenians disappeared from population records within one year; and

WHEREAS, Despite overwhelming evidence, modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the genocide, honor the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes, and persecute its citizens who acknowledge or even allude to the Armenian genocide; and

WHEREAS, Each April, Armenians throughout the world honor their martyrs, and all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian genocide and condemn any attempt to deny its historical truth or mischaracterize it as anything less than genocide, a term coined by Raphael Lemkin in 1944 referencing the Armenian extermination as a seminal example of genocide;and

WHEREAS, We must all fight against current injustices, such as the ongoing first genocide of the 21st century in Darfur that is being denied by the Turkish government, an ally of the Sudanese regime, which demonstrates how the cycle of genocide continues; and

WHEREAS, We remain concerned about the welfare of Christian communities within Turkey, the rights of Christians living in Turkey to freely worship and practice their faith, and the legal

status and condition of Christian churches, monasteries, schools, monuments, relics, holy sites, places of worship, and other religious properties in Turkey; and

WHEREAS, Ottoman Turkey's genocide, between 1915 and 1923, against its ancient Christian populations, including over two million Armenians, Assyrians, Pontian Greeks, and Syriacs, has left only a handful of Christian faithful to care for the vast religious heritage within modern Turkey that, to this day, continues to represent an integral part of these groups' Christian faith and cultural identity; and

WHEREAS, The Republic of Turkey, through neglect, theft, acts of violence, intolerance, and other means of denying basic human rights, has destroyed or stolen much of the Christian heritage within its borders; and

WHEREAS, The Republic of Turkey, through official and unofficial acts of discrimination, intolerance, and intimidation, has prevented the remaining Christians in its territory from freely practicing their faith; and

WHEREAS, We commend Armenians of Colorado, Inc., for their ongoing efforts to bring awareness and educate the community at large and the student population of Colorado about the Armenian genocide and the challenges facing the minority population in the Republic of Turkey; and

WHEREAS, We commend the growing number of Turkish citizens, including academics, writers, and journalists, who challenge their government's official account of history amid threats of prosecution and imprisonment under article 301 of the Turkish penal code, which forbids denigration of the Turkish nation and the Turkish government; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-eighth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

(1) That this legislative body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 96th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, to be recognized at a memorial service at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2011, at the Armenian genocide memorial plaque in the Armenian Garden, located in the northeast quadrant on the State Capitol grounds;

(2) That we, the members of the General Assembly, hereby acknowledge April 24, 2011, and April 24 of each year hereafter, as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; and

(3) That we ask the government of Turkey to honor its obligations under international treaties and human rights law to return all that has been confiscated and compensate for all destroyed Christian churches, monasteries, schools, monuments, holy sites, places of worship, and other religious properties, including movable properties such as artwork, manuscripts, and other artifacts, to their rightful owners; to allow the rightful Christian church and lay owners of these properties to preserve, reconstruct, and repair all such properties; and to allow them to freely, and without hindrance or restriction, organize prayer, worship, education, religious community gatherings, ministry to the needs of the poor and infirm, and other activities in all Christian churches, monasteries, schools, monuments, holy sites, places of worship, and other religious properties within Turkey.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States; the members of the Colorado Congressional delegation; the members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues; the Honorable John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado; the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, D.C.; the Armenian National Committee in Washington, D.C.; and the Armenian and Turkish Embassies in Washington, D.C.

Colorado Governor Proclamation

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April 21, 2011

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STATE OF COLORADO

A PROCLAMATION by the Governor of the State of Colorado

WHEREAS, the Armenian people were subject to severe persecution and brutal injustice at the hands of their oppressors during the 'First Genocide of the 20th Century', or the 'Forgotten Genocide'; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide began with the murder of hundreds of Armenian intellectuals and political, religious, and business leaders who were arrested and taken from their homes in Constantinople before dawn on April 24, 1915; and

WHEREAS, the 1.5 million American Armenians who have made the United States their home have greatly enriched our nation through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, science, and the arts; and

WHEREAS, April 24 serves as a reminder of the Armenian Genocide and provides Armenians around the world with an opportunity to observe a time of renewal, rededication, and subdued celebration of their survival; and

WHEREAS, the State of Colorado joins the Armenian-American community in its annual observance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 - 1923 to raise awareness of this unconscionable tragedy so that we may better understand the importance of eliminating hatred in our own communities; and

Therefore, I, John Hickenlooper, Governor of the State of Colorado, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2011,

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY

GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado, this twenty-first day of April, 2011

Colorado Senate Joint Resolution

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April 24, 2014

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 14-034

BY SENATOR(S) Tochtrop, Aguilar, Balmer, Baumgardner, Brophy, Cadman, Crowder, Grantham, Guzman, Harvey, Heath, Herpin, Hill, Hodge, Jahn, Johnston, Jones, Kefalas, Kerr, King, Lambert, Lundberg, Marble, Newell, Nicholson, Renfroe, Rivera, Roberts, Scheffel, Schwartz, Steadman, Todd, Ulibarri, Zenzinger, Carroll; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Moreno, Becker, Buck, Conti, Coram, Court, DelGrosso, Dore, Exum, Fields, Fischer, Foote, Garcia, Gardner, Gerou, Ginal, Hamner, Holbert, Humphrey, Joshi, Kagan, Kraft-Tharp, Labuda, Lawrence, Lee, May, McLachlan, McNulty, Melton, Mitsch Bush, Murray, Navarro, Nordberg, Peniston, Pettersen, Primavera, Priola, Rankin, Rosenthal, Ryden, Salazar, Schafer, Singer, Sonnenberg, SwaIm, Szabo, Tyler, Vigil, Waller, Williams, Wright, Young.

CONCERNING THE "COLORADO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THEARMENlAN GENOCIDE" ON APRIL 24, 2014.

WHEREAS, This year marks the 99th anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian genocide, when 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, As a result, there are fewer than 75,000 indigenous Armenians living within the borders of modem Turkey today; and

WHEREAS, The former United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated in 1915, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of this devoted people."; and WHEREAS, The killing of the Armenian people was followed by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments that continues to this day in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years; and

WHEREAS, Colorado newspapers widely reported the extermination of the Armenian people, and Colorado communities generously raised funds to assist the survivors, known at that time as the "Starving Armenians", as illustrated in the January 16, 1919, Denver Post front-page story titled "Campaign for Armenian Relief is Making Splendid Headway" and a July 30, 1922, Denver Post front-page story titled "$60,000,000 from U.S. Keeps Armenians from Extinction"; and

WHEREAS, In 2009, the New York Times reported on an official Ottoman document revealing that 972,000 Armenians disappeared from population records within one year, between 1915 and 1916; and

WHEREAS, Despite overwhelming evidence, modem Turkey continues to deny the facts ofthe genocide, honor the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes, and persecute its citizens who acknowledge or even allude to the Armenian genocide; and

WHEREAS, Each April, Armenians throughout the world honor their martyrs and commemorate the Armenian genocide, a term first used by Raphael Lemkin, the legal scholar who coined the word "genocide" and drafted the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, explaining on CBS television in 1949 that he "became interested in genocide because it happened to the Armenians; and... their criminals... were not punished"; and

WHEREAS, We commend Armenians of Colorado, Inc., the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action, and other human rights organizations for their ongoing efforts to bring awareness and to educate the community, including our youth, about the Armenian genocide; and

WHEREAS, We commend the growing number of Turkish citizens, including academics, writers, journalists, and municipal officials in Diyarbakir, Turkey, who challenge the national government's official account of history amid threats of prosecution and imprisonment; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-ninth General Assembly of the State a/Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

(1) That we pause in our deliberations to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the Armenian genocide,which will be formally recognized at a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2014, at the Armenian Garden, located in the northeast quadrant on the State Capitol grounds;

(2) That we, the members of the General Assembly, hereby acknowledge April 24, 2014, and April 24 of each year thereafter, as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; and

(3) That we ask the government of Turkey to honor its obligations under international treaties and human rights law to return all that has been confiscated and to compensate for all destroyed Christian properties and sacred sites, allow for the reconstruction and preservation of these properties, and allow the Christian minorities to practice and teach their religion as

requested by Congressional House Resolution 306, overwhelmingly adopted in December 2011.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States; the members of Colorado's congressional delegation; the members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues; the Honorable John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado; the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, D.C.; the Armenian National Committee of America in Washington, D.C.; the Armenian and Turkish Embassies in Washington, D.C.; the Armenian Genocide Museum- Institute in Yerevan, Armenia; the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action; and Armenians of Colorado, Inc.

Colorado Senate Joint Resolution

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April 9, 2015

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 15-027

BY SENATOR(S) Guzman and Lundberg, Aguilar, Balmer, Baumgardner, Carroll, Cooke, Crowder, Donovan, Garcia, Grantham, Heath, Hill, Hodge, Holbert, Jahn, Johnston, Jones, Kefalas, Kerr, Lambert, Marble, Martinez Humenik, Merrifield, Neville T., Newell, Roberts, Scheffel, Scott, Sonnenberg, Steadman, Todd, Ulibarri, Woods, Cadman; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Moreno, Arndt, Becker J., Becker K., Brown, Buck, Carver, Conti, Coram, Court, Danielson, DelGrosso, Dore, Duran, Esgar, Everett, Fields, Foote, Garnett, Ginal, Hamner, Humphrey, Joshi, Kagan, Keyser, Klingenschmitt, Kraft-Tharp, Landgraf, Lawrence, Lebsock, Lee, Lontine, Lundeen, McCann, Melton, Mitsch Bush, Navarro, Neville P., Nordberg, Pabon, Pettersen, Primavera, Priola, Rankin, Ransom, Rosenthal, Roupe, Ryden, Saine, Salazar, Sias, Singer, Tate, Thurlow, Tyler, Van Winkle, Vigil, Willett, Williams, Wilson, Windholz, Winter, Young, Hullinghorst.

CONCERNING THE "COLORADO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" ON APRIL 24, 2015.

WHEREAS, This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian genocide, when 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, As a result, there are fewer than 75,000 indigenous Armenians living within the borders of modern Turkey today; and WHEREAS, The former United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated in 1915, "Whatever crimes the most

perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of this devoted people."; and

WHEREAS, The killing of the Armenian people was followed by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments that continues to this day in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years; and WHEREAS, Colorado newspapers widely reported the extermination of the Armenian people, and Colorado communities generously raised funds to assist the survivors, known at that time as the "Starving Armenians", as illustrated in the January 16, 1919, Denver Post front-page story titled "Campaign for Armenian Relief is Making Splendid Headway" and a July 30, 1922, Denver Post front-page story titled "$60,000,000 from U.S. Keeps Armenians from Extinction"; and

WHEREAS, In response to the genocide and at the behest of President Woodrow Wilson and the U.S. State Department, the Near East Relief organization was founded and became the first Congressionally sanctioned American philanthropic effort created exclusively to provide humanitarian assistance and rescue the Armenian Nation and other Christian minorities from annihilation, and many of those rescued went on to survive, revive, and thrive outside of their ancestral homeland all over the world and specifically in the state of Colorado; and

WHEREAS, Near East Relief succeeded, with the active participation of many Coloradans, including Governor Oliver Shoup, who concurrently served as Colorado State Chairman for Near East Relief, in delivering $117 million of assistance and saving more than one million refugees, including 132,000 orphans, between 1915 and 1930 by delivering food, clothing, and materials for shelter and setting up refugee camps, clinics, hospitals, and orphanages; and

WHEREAS, In 2009, the New York Times reported on an official Ottoman document revealing that 972,000 Armenians disappeared from population records within one year, between 1915 and 1916; and

WHEREAS, Each April, Armenians throughout the world honor their martyrs and commemorate the Armenian genocide, a term first used by Raphael Lemkin, the legal scholar who coined the word "genocide" and drafted the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, explaining on CBS television in 1949 that he "became interested in genocide because it happened to the Armenians; and... their criminals... were not punished"; and

WHEREAS, We commend Armenians of Colorado, Inc., the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action, and other human rights organizations for their ongoing efforts to bring awareness and to educate the community, including our youth, about the Armenian genocide; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventieth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

(1) That we pause in our deliberations to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, which will be formally recognized at a memorial service at 12:00 p.m. on

Friday, April 24, 2015, at the newly renovated Armenian Garden, established in 1982 in the northeast quadrant on the State Capitol grounds, and which service will include the unveiling of a cultural monument crafted in Armenia that honors the victims of all crimes against humanity;

(2) That we, the members of the General Assembly, hereby acknowledge April 24, 2015, and April 24 of each year thereafter, as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; and

(3) That we express support for efforts toward constructive and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon acknowledgment of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity. Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States; the members of Colorado's congressional delegation; the members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues; the Honorable John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado; the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, D.C.; the Armenian National Committee of America in Washington, D.C.; the Armenian Embassy in Washington, D.C.; the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute in Yerevan, Armenia; the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action; Rocky Mountain Hye Advocates; and Armenians of Colorado, Inc.

Colorado Senate Joint Resolution

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April 26, 2017

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 17-042

BY SENATOR(S) Martinez Humenik and Fields, Aguilar, Baumgardner, Cooke, Coram, Court, Crowder, Donovan, Fenberg, Garcia, Gardner, Guzman, Hill, Holbert, Jahn, Jones, Kagan, Kefalas, Kerr, Lambert, Lundberg, Marble, Merrifield, Moreno, Neville T., Priola, Scott, Smallwood, Sonnenberg, Tate, Todd, Williams A., Zenzinger, Grantham; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Rosenthal and Wist, Arndt, Becker J., Becker K., Beckman, Benavidez, Bridges, Buck, Buckner, Carver, Catlin, Coleman, Covarrubias, Danielson, Esgar, Everett, Exum, Foote, Garnett, Ginal, Gray, Hamner, Hansen, Herod, Hooton, Humphrey, Jackson, Kennedy, Kraft-Tharp, Landgraf, Lawrence, Lebsock, Lee, Leonard, Lewis, Liston, Lontine, Lundeen, McKean, McLachlan, Melton, Michaelson Jenet, Mitsch Bush, Navarro, Neville P., Nordberg,

Pabon, Pettersen, Rankin, Ransom, Saine, Salazar, Sias, Singer, Thurlow, Valdez, Van Winkle, Weissman, Willett, Williams D., Wilson, Winter, Young, Duran.

CONCERNING THE "COLORADO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" ON APRIL 26, 2017.

WHEREAS, This year marks the 102nd anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian genocide, when 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, As a result, there are fewer than 75,000 indigenous Armenians living within the borders of modern Turkey today; and

WHEREAS, The contemporary United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated in 1915, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of this devoted people."; and

WHEREAS, The killing of the Armenian people was followed by the systematic destruction of many of the world's oldest churches, cathedrals, and cross-stones, as well as schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments that continues to this day in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years; and

WHEREAS, Colorado newspapers widely reported the extermination of the Armenian people, and Colorado communities generously raised funds to assist the survivors, known at that time as the "Starving Armenians", as illustrated in the January 16, 1919, Denver Post front-page story titled "Campaign for Armenian Relief is Making Splendid Headway" and a July 30, 1922, Denver Post front-page story titled "$60,000,000 from U.S. Keeps Armenians from Extinction"; and

WHEREAS, In response to the genocide and at the behest of President Woodrow Wilson and the U.S. State Department, the Near East Relief organization was founded and became the first congressionally sanctioned American philanthropic effort created exclusively to provide humanitarian assistance and rescue the Armenian Nation and other Christian minorities from annihilation, and many of those rescued went on to survive, revive, and thrive outside of their ancestral homeland all over the world and specifically in the state of Colorado; and

WHEREAS, Near East Relief succeeded, with the active participation of many Coloradans, including Governor Oliver Shoup, who concurrently served as Colorado State Chairman for Near East Relief, in delivering $117 million of assistance and saving more than one million refugees, including 132,000 orphans, between 1915 and 1930 by delivering food, clothing, and materials for shelter and setting up refugee camps, clinics, hospitals, and orphanages; and

WHEREAS, Each April, Armenians throughout the world honor their martyrs and commemorate the Armenian genocide, a term first used by Raphael Lemkin, the legal scholar who coined the word "genocide" and drafted the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, explaining on CBS television in 1949 that he "became interested in genocide because it happened to the Armenians; and... their criminals... were not punished"; and

WHEREAS, We commend Armenians of Colorado, Inc., the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action, and other human rights organizations for their ongoing efforts to bring awareness and to educate the community, including our youth, about the Armenian genocide, as illustrated in the recent production of Emmy-winning composer Denise Gentilini's I AM ALIVE musical; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-first General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

(1) That we pause in our deliberations to commemorate the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian genocide, which was formally recognized at a memorial service at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 23, 2017, at the Armenian Garden, established in 1982 in the northeast quadrant on the State Capitol grounds with a memorial plaque, and renovated and renewed in 2015 with the addition of the khachkar memorial, a replica of a destroyed medieval Armenian headstone;

(2) That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly, hereby acknowledge April 26, 2017, and April 26 of each year thereafter, as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; and

(3) That we express support for efforts toward constructive and durable relations between the country of Armenia, the homeland for the Armenian people, and its neighbors, based upon acknowledgment of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States; the members of Colorado's congressional delegation; the members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues; the Honorable John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado; the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, D.C.; the Armenian National Committee of America in Washington, D.C.; the Armenian Embassy in Washington, D.C.; the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute in Yerevan, Armenia; the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action; and Armenians of Colorado, Inc.

Kevin 'l. Grantham Cris anta Duran

PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Colorado Senate Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Colorado

April 24, 2019

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First Regular Session

Seventy-second General Assembly

STATE OF COLORADO

INTRODUCED

LLS NO. R19-1095.01 Cara Meeker x2044

SR19-012

SENATE SPONSORSHIP

Senate Committees

SENATE RESOLUTION 19-012

CONCERNING THE "COLORADO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE 102 ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" ON APRIL 24, 2019

WHEREAS, This year marks the 104th anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian genocide, when 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, as a result of which there are fewer than 75,000 indigenous Armenians living within the borders of modern Turkey today; and

WHEREAS, The contemporary United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated in 1915, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of this devoted people."; and

WHEREAS, The killing of the Armenian people was followed by the systematic destruction of many of the world's oldest churches, cathedrals, and cross-stones, as well as schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments that continues to this day in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years; and

WHEREAS, Colorado newspapers widely reported the extermination of the Armenian people, and Colorado communities led by Governor Oliver Shoup generously raised funds in support of national efforts to assist the survivors, known at that time as the "Starving Armenians", as illustrated in the January 16, 1919, Denver Post front-page story titled "Campaign for

Armenian Relief is Making Splendid Headway" and a July 30, 1922, Denver Post front-page story titled "$60,000,000 from U.S. Keeps Armenians from Extinction"; and

WHEREAS, In February 1921, the Colorado General Assembly expressed unanimous support for "Armenia, the oldest Christian nation and most martyred of the allies in the World War"; and

WHEREAS, In response to the genocide and at the behest of President Woodrow Wilson and the U.S. State Department, the Near East Relief organization was founded and became the first congressionally sanctioned American philanthropic effort created exclusively to provide humanitarian assistance and rescue the Armenian Nation and other Christian minorities from annihilation, and many of those rescued went on to survive, revive, and thrive outside of their ancestral homeland all over the world and specifically in the state of Colorado; and

WHEREAS, Near East Relief, a national philanthropic organization supported by the federal government, succeeded, with the active participation of many Coloradans in delivering $117 million of assistance and saving more than one million refugees, including 132,000 orphans, between 1915 and 1930 by delivering food, clothing, and materials for shelter and setting up refugee camps, clinics, hospitals, and orphanages; and

WHEREAS, This legislative body has commemorated the Armenian Genocide through annual resolutions since 2002, as well as authorized the 2015 improvements to the Capitol grounds' Armenian Genocide Memorial Garden, established in 1982, including the addition of a Khachkar monument, and establishing in 2018 the Sardarapat Armenian Memorial Highway in commemoration of the battle that saved the Armenian homeland from complete extinction; and

WHEREAS, The ongoing impunity for and state-sponsored denial of the Armenian Genocide, which inspired Nazi Germany's explicit conviction that it would undoubtedly escape accountability for its own genocidal crimes, as demonstrated in Adolf Hitler's August 22, 1939, rhetorical question to his Wehrmacht commanders, ''Who today remembers the extermination of the Armenians?'', poses not only an existential threat to the Armenian homeland but also to human rights everywhere; and

WHEREAS, The ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide and its impunity include the Turkish-Azerbaijani blockade of the already-landlocked sister states of the Armenian homeland, the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh; and

WHEREAS, Turkey's unpunished denial of the Armenian Genocide and ongoing desecration of Armenian sacred sites without accountability has inspired and enabled the recent execution of an unparalleled cultural genocide of the entire indigenous Christian Armenian heritage in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan, where between the years of 1997 and 2006 the Azerbaijan Government eradicated every trace of the region's ancient Armenian past of an estimated 90 churches and 6,000 intricately-carved cross-stones, including the celebrated Djulfa khachkars, one of which was replicated in 2015 for the Colorado State Capitol Armenian Genocide Memorial Garden; and

WHEREAS, Each April, Armenians throughout the world honor their martyrs and commemorate the Armenian genocide, a term first used by Raphael Lemkin, the legal scholar who coined the word "genocide" and drafted the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, explaining on CBS television in 1949

that he "became interested in genocide because it happened to the Armenians; and... their criminals... were not punished"; and

WHEREAS, The Honorable Governor Jared Polis has designated the month of April as Genocide Awareness Month by a proclamation, which designates genocide denial as "genocidal policy" and urges statewide genocide and Holocaust education; and

WHEREAS, We commend Armenians of Colorado, Inc., the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region, the Coalition Against Global Genocide, and other human rights organizations for their ongoing efforts to bring awareness and to educate the community, including our youth, about the Armenian genocide and all genocides and crimes against humanity; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-second General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

(1) That we pause in our deliberations to commemorate the 104th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, which will be formally recognized at a memorial service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 28, 2019, at the Armenian Genocide Memorial Garden, established in 1982 in the northeast quadrant on the State Capitol grounds with a memorial plaque, and renovated and renewed in 2015 with the addition of the khachkar memorial, a replica of a destroyed medieval Djulfa headstone;

(2) That we, the members of the Senate of the Colorado General Assembly, hereby acknowledge April 24, 2019, and April 24 of each year thereafter, as the "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; and

(3) That we express support for efforts toward constructive and durable relations between the country of Armenia, the homeland for the Armenian people, and its neighbors, based upon acknowledgment of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this unpunished crime against humanity.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Resolution be sent to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States; the members of Colorado's congressional delegation; the members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues; the Honorable Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado; the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, D.C.; the Armenian National Committee of America in Washington, D.C.; the Armenian Embassy in Washington, D.C.; the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute in Yerevan, Armenia; the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action; and Armenians of Colorado, Inc.

New Jersey State General Assembly

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New Jersey

April 1, 1975

A Heroic Posterity

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

State House, Trenton, N.J.

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONBy Assemblyman KleinAdopted April 7, 1975

WHEREAS, April 24, 1975, marks the 60th Anniversary of the launching of a systematic genocide whereby between 1,500,000 and 2,000,000 Armenians dwelling in Turkey were exterminated between 1915 and 1918; and,

WHEREAS, The history of the Armenian people, who through the ages have suffered repeated subjugation and persecution by more powerful nations, from ancient Persia and Rome to modern Turkey and Russia, is emblematic of the frequent recrudescence of inhumanity which have from time to time threatened the stability of world civilization; and,

WHEREAS, There is currently pending in the Congress of the United States legislation (House Joint Resolution 148) to designate April 24, 1975 as a "National Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man"; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

That April 24, 1975, is hereby designated as a "Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man" in this State, and the Governor is hereby requested to issue his proclamation calling on the people of New Jersey to observe such day as a day of remembrance for all the victims of genocide, especially those of Armenian ancestry who succumbed to the genocide perpetrated in Turkey in 1915-18, and in whose memory this date is commemorated by all Armenians and their friends throughout the world.

New Jersey State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New Jersey

April 14, 1975

A Heroic Posterity

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Executive Department

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, two hundred years ago, our nation committed itself to oppose tyranny and oppression, and began its historic struggle for independence; and

WHEREAS, that struggle has given hope and inspiration to millions of victims of persecution and oppression all over the world, many of whom have found refuge in our country; and

WHEREAS, sixty years ago, millions of Armenians fled in terror from their ancient homeland, and one and half million Armenians were massacred in an attempt by the Turkish authorities of that time to exterminate the Armenian race; and

WHEREAS, on April 24, Armenians the world over commemorate Martyrs' Day, the day in 1915 when the Turks arrested and killed 250 Armenian community leaders and intellectuals; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting to honor the memory of those martyrs, in the hope that the conscience of the world can bring a halt to senseless slaughter, an end to all human suffering, and a reawakening of a sense of justice for the Armenian people; and

WHEREAS, it is also appropriate to pay tribute to the survivors of the Armenian tragedy, especially to the hundreds of thousands who have made their home in our country and have become hard-working, loyal citizens, many of whom we are proud to have reside in our own State of New Jersey;

NOW, THERFORE, I, BRENDAN BYRNE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, do hereby proclaim

APRIL 24, 1975

as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY

in New Jersey, and urge all citizens to duly support its observance, for we must never be indifferent, never forget, never ignore injustice and human suffering.

GIVEN, under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of New Jersey, this fourteenth day of April in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventy-five, and in the Independence of the United States, the one hundred and ninety-ninth.

New Jersey State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New Jersey

April 7, 1986

STATE OF NEW JERSEYEXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

WHEREAS, April 24, 1986, will mark the 71st Anniversary of the massacre of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children living in the Turkish Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, this day serves as an unfortunate reminder of man's inhumanity to man, and a reminder that this genocide is totally against the principles of all who uphold human rights; and

WHEREAS, the rights of free conscience and free worship for which the Armenian martyrs died are principles still held most sacred by the Armenian people; and

WHEREAS, we should also remember the accomplishments of a scattered people once they found a new home in the United States where their communities flourished; and

WHEREAS, the works and contributions to business, the art, the professions, academia, government and philanthropic endeavors which the descendants of these immigrants have created are records of which all Americans and all Armenian-Americans can be proud;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, THOMAS H. KEAN, Governor of the State of New Jersey, do hereby proclaim

APRIL 24, 1986

as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS' DAY

in New Jersey,

GIVEN, under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of New Jersey, this seventh day of April in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eighty-six and of the Independence of the United States, the two hundred and tenth.

New Jersey State General Assembly

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New Jersey

April 5, 1990

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 113

INTRODUCED MARCH 22, 1990

By Assemblymen HAYTAIAN, DORIA, Russo, Littell, Assemblywoman Ford and Assemblyman Felice

AN ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION memorializing the Congress of the United States to pass, and the President of the United States to sign, Senate Joint Resolution 212 and House Joint Resolution 417 which would designate April 24th, 1990 as Armenian Martyrs' Day.

WHEREAS, The Armenian people have made substantial contributions to the scientific, cultural and artistic life of the United States in the years following their forced departure from Armenia; and

WHEREAS, The United States has always been a haven for the persecuted and oppressed, whether by reason of religion or nationality; and

WHEREAS, The United States has also not failed to recognize the injustices perpetuated by its own government and has in a spirit of justice and humanity attempted to rectify them, as in the case of compensation to be granted to those of Japanese descent interned during World War II; and

WHEREAS, April 24, 1990 will be commemorated by Armenians in this country and throughout the world as the seventy-fifth anniversary of Armenian Martyrs' Day in remembrance of the time seventy-five years ago when 235 Armenian civic, political, religious and intellectual leaders were arrested, tortured, and eventually murdered in Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks, an event which was followed by the widespread persecution, expulsion and killing of the Armenians, resulting in the first instance of genocide in this century; and

WHEREAS, Senate Joint Resolution 212 and House Joint Resolution 417 have been introduced in the Congress of the United States designating April 24, 1990 as "Armenian Martyrs' Day," commemorating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the systematic destruction of the Armenian people in the period from 1915 to 1923, and calling on the people of the United States to join the millions of Armenians and other people around the world to observe April 24th as a day of national remembrance of the one-and-one half million Armenian people who were victims of the genocide of the governments of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, Adolph Hitler said, when questioned as to the "final solution" to the Jewish question, "Who remembers the Armenians?"; and

WHEREAS, The United States, as represented by the Congress and the President, should be mindful of these tragic events, should further assure that no future tyrant may ever ask the question asked by Hitler, and act in a spirit of justice and humanity to designate April 24, 1990 as Armenian Martyrs' Day; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House respectfully memorializes the Congress of the United States to pass, and the President of the United States to sign, Senate Joint Resolution 212 and House Joint Resolution 417 which would designate April 24, 1990 as Armenian Martyrs' Day and thereby recognize that the tragic events of 1915 and of later years did actually happen and should be remembered by those of us living today.

2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and every member of Congress from this States.

STATEMENT

This resolution memorializes the Congress of the United States to pass, and the President to sign, Senate Joint Resolution 212 and House Joint Resolution 417 which would designate April 24, 1990 as Armenian Martyrs' Day.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Memorializes Congress and the President to designate April 24, 1990 as Armenian Martyrs' Day.

Passed by Voice Vote on April 5, 1990

New Jersey State Governor

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April 1, 2002

STATE OF NEW JERSEYEXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

Proclamation

WHEAREAS, April 24th is the traditional day to remember Armenians who died in 1915, fighting for the rights of freedom of religion and freedom of conscience; and,

WHEAREAS, this day serves as an important reminder prompting us to renew our vigilance against tyranny and promote the principles of human dignity and human rights worldwide; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian American people have a proud heritage and continue to make valuable contributions to the cultural, economic, social and political development of New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate that we join with the Armenian American community in New Jersey to commemorate the memory of the victims, in hopes that we, as a state and as individual citizens, will strive to overcom prejudice, hatred and indifference through learning, tolerance and remembrance;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES E. McGREEVEY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, do herby proclaim

APRIL 24, 2002

As

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY

in New Jersey.

GIVEN, under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of New Jersey, this first day of April in the year of Our Lord two thousand two and of the Independence of the United States, the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

New Jersey Joint Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New Jersey

May 5, 2005

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 125

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

211th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED MAY 5, 2005

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman JOAN VOSS

District 38 (Bergen)

Assemblyman ROBERT GORDON

District 38 (Bergen)

SYNOPSIS

Recognizes 90th anniversary of Armenian Genocide.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

A JOINT RESOLUTION recognizing the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

WHEREAS, From 1915 to 1923, 1.5 million Armenian people were systematically persecuted and executed by the governments of the Ottoman Empire in the first genocide of the twentieth century; and

WHEREAS, The genocide began on the night of April 24, 1915, when the Turkish government arrested more than 200 Armenian community leaders in Constantinople and hundreds more soon after; and

WHEREAS, Most of the prominent public figures of the Armenian community were summarily executed; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian people were then systematically subject to deportation, expropriation, abduction, torture, massacre and starvation; and

WHEREAS, Hundreds of thousands of Armenian men, women and children were forcibly removed from their homes and deported to the Syrian desert, where the majority of the deportees died of dehydration and starvation; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that by 1918, approximately one million people had perished, while hundreds of thousands had become homeless and stateless refugees; and

WHEREAS, By 1923, the entire landmass of Asia Minor and historic West Armenia had been expunged of its Armenian population; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This joint resolution recognizes the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and acknowledges the criminal mistreatment of the Armenians by the governments of the Ottoman Empire as an issue of international and historic significance.

2. The Governor and the Legislature shall call upon the citizens of the State of New Jersey to recognize the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and honor the memory of the 1.5 million people who died as a result.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution recognizes the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide by the governments of the Ottoman Empire. The Governor and the Legislature shall call upon the citizens of New Jersey to recognize the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and to remember those who died as a result.

New Jersey State Governor

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April 18, 2006

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STATE OF NEW JERSEYEXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

Proclamation

WHEREAS, from 1915 to 1923, 1.5 million Armenian people were systematically persecuted and executed by the governments of the Ottoman Empire in the first genocide of the twentieth century; and

WHEREAS, the genocide began on the night of April 24, 1915, when the Turkish government arrested more than 200 Armenian community leaders in Constantinople and hundreds more soon after; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian people were then systematically subject to deportation, expropriations, abduction, torture, massacre and starvation; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of Armenian men, women and children were forcible removed from their homes and deported to the Syrian Desert, where the majority of the deportees died of dehydration and starvation; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that by 1918, approximately one million people had perished, while hundreds of thousands had become homeless and stateless refugees; and

WHEREAS, by 1923, the entire landmass of Asia Minor and historic West Armenia had been expunged of its Armenian population; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian-American people have a proud heritage and continue to make valuable contributions to the cultural, economic, social and political development of New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, April 24, 2006 serves as an important reminder of those who died in 1915 fighting for the rights of freedom of religion and freedom of conscience, a day that allow us to renew our vigilance against tyranny and promote the principles of human dignity and human rights worldwide; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian-American people commemorate the 91st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate that we join with the Armenian-American community in New Jersey to commemorate the memory of the victims, in hopes that we, as a State and as individual citizens, will strive to overcome prejudice, hatred and indifference through learning, tolerance and remembrance;

WHEREAS, The Armenian-American Political Action Committee (ARMENPAC) is an independent, bipartisan political action committee, which raises awareness of, and advocates for, policies that help create peace, security and stability in the Caucasus region; and

WHEREAS, ARMENPAC along with Knights of Vartan, a fraternal organization, are dedicated to the memory of the 1.5 million victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide and host a Commemoration Event in New York City; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JON S. CORZINE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, do hereby proclaim

APRIL 24, 2006as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY IN NEW JERSEY

GIVEN, under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of New Jersey, this eighteenth day of April in the year two thousand six and of the Independence of the United States, the two

hundred and thirtieth.

New Jersey Senate Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New Jersey

June 21, 2007

SENATE RESOLUTION No. 115

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

212th LEGISLATURE

Sponsored by:

Senator GERALD CARDINALE

District 39 (Bergen)

Senator JOSEPH M. KYRILLOS, JR.

District 13 (Middlesex and Monmouth)

SYNOPSIS Designates April 24, 2008 as "Armenian Martyrs' Day."

A SENATE RESOLUTION designating April 24, 2008 as "Armenian Martyrs' Day."

WHEREAS, On April 24, 1915, under the leadership of the Young Turk Party of the Ottoman Empire, about 300 Armenian leaders, writers, thinkers, and professionals were rounded up, deported, and killed in Constantinople or present-day Istanbul, Turkey; and

WHEREAS, On that same day, about 5,000 of the poorest Armenians were butchered by battalions in their homes and in the streets; and

WHEREAS, These events are emblematic of what is today recognized by scholars, governments, and civil society all over the world as the Armenian Genocide of World War I, when from 1915 through 1923, the Young Turk leadership of the Ottoman Empire orchestrated the persecution and death of approximately 1.5 million of the 2.5 million Armenians then living in Anatolia or present-day Turkey; and

WHEREAS, In the face of so much evidence to the contrary it is dangerous to deny, as the government of Turkey does today, that the Armenian Genocide ever happened; and

WHEREAS, The danger of denial manifested itself as early as the 1920s when, on the eve of sending his troops into Poland in World War II, Hitler himself said: "Go, kill without mercy... Who today remembers the annihilation of the Armenians?"; and

WHEREAS, We shall commemorate with the Armenian community in New Jersey, the United States, Armenia, and the world these events that today call upon us to ensure that such history does not repeat itself; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House designates April 24, 2008 as "Armenian Martyrs' Day," and urges Governor Jon S. Corzine to memorialize this day in recognition that the tragic events of 1915 and the following years should be remembered by those of us living today.

2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Senate President and attested by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to Governor Jon S. Corzine.

STATEMENT

This resolution designates April 24, 2008 as "Armenian Martyrs' Day," in commemoration of the persecution and death of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915 through 1923 in Anatolia, present- day Turkey, under the rule of the Young Turk Party of the Ottoman Empire. These events are widely recognized today by scholars, governments, and civil society groups around the world as the Armenian Genocide of World War I.

New Jersey Assembly Joint Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New Jersey

December 29, 2009

View PDF of document

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 12

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

214th LEGISLATURE

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman JOAN M. VOSS

District 38 (Bergen)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Chivukula

SYNOPSIS

Recognizes 90th anniversary of Armenian Genocide.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

A JOINT RESOLUTION recognizing the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

WHEREAS, From 1915 to 1923, 1.5 million Armenian people were systematically persecuted and executed by the governments of the Ottoman Empire in the first genocide of the twentieth century; and

WHEREAS, The genocide began on the night of April 24, 1915, when the Turkish government arrested more than 200 Armenian community leaders in Constantinople and hundreds more soon after; and

WHEREAS, Most of the prominent public figures of the Armenian community were summarily executed; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian people were then systematically subject to deportation, expropriation, abduction, torture, massacre and starvation; and

WHEREAS, Hundreds of thousands of Armenian men, women and children were forcibly removed from their homes and deported to the Syrian desert, where the majority of the deportees died of dehydration and starvation; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that by 1918, approximately one million people had perished, while hundreds of thousands had become homeless and stateless refugees; and

WHEREAS, By 1923, the entire landmass of Asia Minor and historic West Armenia had been expunged of its Armenian population; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This joint resolution recognizes the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and acknowledges the criminal mistreatment of the Armenians by the governments of the Ottoman Empire as an issue of international and historic significance.

2. The Governor and the Legislature shall call upon the citizens of the State of New Jersey to recognize the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and honor the memory of the 1.5 million people who died as a result.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution recognizes the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide by the governments of the Ottoman Empire and acknowledges the criminal mistreatment of the Armenians by the governments of the Ottoman Empire as an issue of international and historic significance.

From 1915 to 1923, 1.5 million Armenian people were systematically persecuted and executed in the first genocide of the twentieth century.

New York State Legislature

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New York

April 24, 1975

NEW YORK STATE

THE LEGISLATURE

JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY memorializing Governor Hugh Carey to proclaim April twenty-four, nineteen hundred seventy-five as "Armenian Martyrs Day"

Whereas, From 1894 to 1918, 1,900,000 Armenians were massacred in an attempt to eliminate the race; and

Whereas, April twenty-fourth commemorates the sixtieth (60th) anniversary of the massacre of 1,500,000 Armenians by the Turks; and

Whereas, These massacres represented the culmination of over four centuries of persecution of the Armenians following the overthrow of the last Armenian dynasty; and

Whereas, The deaths of these Armenian martyrs lead to the creation of an independent Armenian state; and

Whereas, This independent Armenia was crushed by superior outside forces; and

Whereas, The independent Armenian nation for which these martyrs died was forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union; and

Whereas, These martyrs give their lives for the cause of freedom; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, The that the Legislature of the State of New York expresses its admiration for the strength and independent spirit displayed by the Armenian people throughout their history; and be it further

Resolved, That Governor Hugh Carey is hereby respectfully memorialized to proclaim April twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred seventy-five as "Armenian Martyrs Day".

New York State Assembly

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New York

April 4, 1986

STATE OF NEW YORK

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

ASSEMBLY NO. 776

BY; The Committee on Rules (at the request of Messrs. Hevesi, Seminerio, Koppell, Murtaugh, Bennett, Boyland, Brennan, Butler, Catapano, Colman, Conners, Ms. Daniels, Del Toro, Diaz, Ms. Dugan, Farrell, Feldman, Gottfied, Graber, Mrs. Greene, Halpin, Harenberg, Healey, Hinchey, Hoyt, Kramer, Lafayette, Lasher, Leibell, Lentol, Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. McPhillips, H.M. Miller, Nadler, Ms. Nolan, O'Neil, Proskin, Proud, Rivera, Schimminger, Seabrook, Siegel, Ms. Slaughter, E.C. Sullivan, Tedisco, Tocci, Tonko, Waldon, Ms. Weinstein and Yevoli)

DENOUNCING THE Ottomanmassacres of Armenians

WHEREAS, The Armenian Nation was founded around 700 B.C. by a tribe of Indo-Europeans who settled on a small pocket of land between Asia, Africa and Europe; a peaceful society, the Armenians developed their own language and culture over the centuries and became the first people to accept Christianity as their official religion shortly after 300 A.D.; and

WHEREAS, The land became a vital trade route between the East and West and was coveted by the Persians, the Medes, the Mongolians, the Russians, the Greeks, the Romans and the Arabs; however, the Christian Armenians were able to peacefully coexist with invading Armies until the birth of the Ottoman Nation, when the Turks established dominion over an empire stretching some one thousand five hundred miles from Vienna to the Caucasus Mountains; and

WHEREAS, The Turks could neither tolerate nor integrate the independent Armenians, who spoke their own language and practiced their own religion; and

WHEREAS, Turkey was an Islamic theocracy, with the sultan both head of state and absolute religious ruler; the pressure to maintain control over the multi-ethnic Ottoman Empire became explosive as the Ottoman government exercised harsh repression, leading to the death of hundreds of thousands of Armenians in the 1890's; and

WHEREAS, A new Turkish regime was installed and the Young Turks turned to a policy of pan-Turanism, under which all peoples in the Empire would be forced to become Turkish; and

WHEREAS, Pan-Turanism led to harsher measures in suppressing Armenian nationalism, and in 1909, more than thirty thousand Armenians were massacred in villages along the Cilician plains; and

WHEREAS, The early part of this century saw European powers choosing sides during the First World War, and Turkey joined forces with Germany against the Allies; and

WHEREAS, The immediate slaughter of all the Armenian elite, including the clergy, the intellectuals, the professionals and members of the business community, ordered by the Turks on April 24, 1915, is commemorated by Armenians as the beginning of the Armenian genocide; and WHEREAS, The horrors to which Armenian Christians were subjected during this, the first holocaust of the twentieth century, are unspeakable and such crimes are morally offensive and outrageous to the basic principles and values of civilization; and

WHEREAS, History attests to the devastation of the Armenian community with the extermination of more than one and one-half million Armenians in 1915 alone, as well as the wholesale massacres of hundreds of thousands more between 1896 and 1923; and

WHEREAS, The only Armenian American member of Congress, Representative Charles Pashayan, Jr., has produced evidence confirming that eight United States Presidents; namely, Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover and Warren G. Harding; were aware of the Christian Armenian massacres and were concerned about the fate of the Armenian population; and

WHEREAS, As early as 1894, President Benjamin Harrison wrote that "my indignation and sympathy have been greatly aroused by the press reports of the fearful outrages practiced on the Armenians."; and

WHEREAS, President Grover Cleveland, in his 1895 Annual Message to Congress, discussed "the reported massacres of Christians in Armenia," describing the conduct of the Turkish government as "fanatical brutality"; and

WHEREAS, President Theodore Roosevelt stated in his 1904 Annual Message to Congress, "Our nation should ensure eagerly to give expression to its horror,... when it witnesses such systematic and long-extended cruelty and oppression as the cruelty and oppression of which the Armenians have been the victims, and which have won for them the indignant pity of the civilized world."; and

WHEREAS, President William Howard Taft, in his 1920 Papers on the League of Nations, wrote that "the people of the Jewish race have suffered more in this war, as non-combatants, than any other people, unless it be the Serbians and the Armenians."; and

WHEREAS, In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson defined specific boundaries for establishing a free and independent Armenia under the auspices of the United States, constituting one of his Fourteen Points of Peace for the League of Nations; and

WHEREAS, President Wilson later advocated direct military intervention on behalf of the Armenians in 1919; and

WHEREAS, President Warren G. Harding wrote to his Secretary of State in 1921 that "If it is believed that a warship can be sent to an Armenian port on the Mediterranean I should have very little hesitancy in making such a suggestion on behalf of these stricken people."; and

WHEREAS, Professor Raphael Lemkin, a survivor of Nazi Poland, who first coined the term "genocide" to describe the deliberate destruction of a people, was outraged by the extermination of the Armenians in Ottoman Turkey and was the first person to characterize the atrocities of 1915 to 1923 as the "Armenian genocide"; and

WHEREAS, Professor Lemkin's persistence and determination to urge the United Nations, in the name of justice, to recognize and educate the public as to the crimes, prompted Representatives Coelho, Pashayan, Conte, Dornan and Aspin and United States Senators Levin and D'Amato to introduce a Joint Resolution during the First Session of the 99th Congress "To designate April 24, 1985, as 'National Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man'," which read, "Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of American in Congress assembled, That April 24, 1985, is hereby designated as 'National Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man', and the President of the United States is authorized and requested to issued a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such a day as a day of remembrance for all victims of genocide, especially the more than one and one-half million people of Armenian ancestry who were victims of the genocide perpetrated in Turkey between 1915 and 1923, and in whose memory this date is commemorated by all Armenians and their friends throughout the world."; and

WHEREAS, The United States Senate, on February 19, 1986, endorsed the Genocide Convention by a vote of 87-11; and

WHEREAS, Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole described the treaty as having enormous symbolic value as a worldwide statement of outrage and condemnation over very real horrors - "As real as the Armenian genocide and Hitler's death camps"; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Legislature has long been at the forefront of efforts to ensure that the victims and survivors of such holocausts are not forgotten; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to denounce the Ottoman massacres of Armenians and, mindful of the presidential statements which reflect an American policy of recognition of the Armenian genocide for nearly a century, focus collectively on the prevention of genocide through cooperation between nations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Armenian Assembly of America 122 C Street, N.W., Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20001.

ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY ONApril 4, 1986

By order of the Assembly,(SIGNED)

New York State Senate

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New York

May 6, 1986

STATE OF NEW YORK

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

SENATE NO. 810

BY: Senators Weinstein and Marchi

DENOUCING the Ottoman massacres of Armenians

WHEREAS, The Armenian Nation was founded around 700 B.C. by a tribe of Indo-Europeans who settled on a small pocket of land between Asia, Africa and Europe; a peaceful society, the Armenians developed their own language and culture over the centuries and became the first people to accept Christianity as their official religion shortly after 300 A.D.; and

WHEREAS, The land became a vital trade route between the East and West and was coveted by the Persians, the Medes, the Mongolians, the Russians, the Greeks, the Romans and the Arabs; however, the Christian Armenians were able to peacefully coexist with invading Armies until the birth of the Ottoman Nation, when the Turks established dominion over an empire stretching one thousand five hundred miles from Vienna to the Caucasus Mountains; and

WHEREAS, The Ottomans could neither tolerate nor integrate the independent Armenians, who spoke their own language and practiced their own religion; and

WHEREAS, The Ottomans functioned as a theocracy, with the sultan both head of state and absolute religious ruler; the pressure to maintain control over the multi-ethnic Ottoman Empire became explosive as the Ottoman government exercised harsh repression, leading to the death of hundreds of thousands of Armenians in the 1890's; and

WHERAS, A new regime was installed and the Ottoman successors turned to a policy of pan-Turanism, under which all peoples in the Empire would be forced to lose their right to self determination, a right denied this very day to over four million Armenians in the Soviet Union; and

WHEREAS, Pan-Turanism led to harsher measures in suppressing Armenian nationalism, and in 1909, more than thirty thousand Armenians were massacred in villages along the Cilician plains; and

WHEREAS, The early part of this century saw European powers choosing sides during the First World War, and Turkey joined forces with Germany against the Allies; and

WHEREAS, The immediate slaughter of all the Armenian elite, including the clergy, the intellectuals, the professionals and members of the business community, which was ordered on April 24, 1915, is commemorated by Armenians as the beginning of the Armenian genocide; and

WHEREAS, The horrors to which Armenian Christians were subjected during this, the first holocaust of the twentieth century, are unspeakable and such crimes are morally offensive and outrageous to the basic principles and values of civilization; and

WHEREAS, History attests to the devastation of the Armenian community with the extermination of more than one and one-half million Armenians in 1915 alone, as well as the wholesale massacres of hundreds of thousands more between 1896 and 1923; and

WHEREAS, The only Armenian American member of Congress, Representative Charles Pashayan, Jr., has produced evidence confirming that eight United States Presidents; namely, Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover and Warren G. Harding; were aware of the Christian Armenian massacres and were concerned about the fate of the Armenian population; and

WHEREAS, As early as 1894, President Benjamin Harrison wrote that "my indignation and sympathy have been greatly aroused by the press reports of the fearful outrages practiced on the Armenians."; and

WHEREAS, President Grover Cleveland, in his 1895 Annual Message to Congress, discussed "the reported massacres of Christians in Armenia," describing the conduct of the Turkish government as "fanatical brutality"; and

WHEREAS, President Theodore Roosevelt stated in his 1904 Annual Message to Congress, "Our nation should desire eagerly to give expression to its horror... when it witnesses such systematic and long-extended cruelty and oppression as the cruelty and oppression of which the Armenians have been the victims, and which have won for them the indignant pity of the civilized world."; and

WHEREAS, President William Howard Taft, in his 1920 Papers on the League of Nations, wrote that "the people of the Jewish race have suffered more in this war, as non-combatants, than any other people, unless it be the Serbians and the Armenians."; and

WHEREAS, in 1918, President Woodrow Wilson defined specific boundaries for establishing a free and independent Armenia under the auspices of the United States, constituting one of his Fourteen Points of Peace for the League of Nations; and

WHEREAS, President Wilson later advocated direct military intervention on behalf of the Armenians in 1919; and

WHEREAS, President Warren G. Harding wrote to his Secretary of State in 1921 that "If it is believed that a warship can be sent to an Armenian port on the Mediterranean I should have very little hesitancy in making such a suggestion on behalf of these stricken people."; and

WHEREAS, Turkey was proclaimed a republic in 1923, with Kemal Ataturk as its president, the Caliphate was abolished and the Sultan exiled, and religious freedom established; and

WHEREAS, Turkey in World War II supported the Allied Powers and today is a member of NATO and fought alongside American troops in Korea; and

WHEREAS, The memory of the Armenian tragedy is still recalled and Professor Raphael Lemkin, a survivor of Nazi Poland, who first coined the term "genocide" to describe the deliberate destruction of a people, was outraged by the extermination of the Armenians and was the first person to characterize the atrocities of 1915 to 1923 as the "Armenian genocide"; and

WHEREAS, Professor Lemkin's persistence and determination to urge the United Nations, in the name of justice, to recognize and educate the public as to the crimes, prompted Representative Coelho, Pashayan, Conte, Dornan and Aspin and United States Senators Levin and D'Amato to introduce a Joint Resolution during the First Session of the 99th Congress "To designate April 24, 1985, as 'National Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man," which read, "Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That April 24, 1985, is hereby designated as 'National Day of Remembrance of Man's Inhumanity to Man', and the President of the United States is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such a day as a day of remembrance for all victims of genocide, especially the more than one and one-half million people of Armenian ancestry who were victims of the genocide perpetrated in Turkey between 1915 and 1923, and in whose memory this date is commemorated by all Armenians and their friends throughout the world."; and

WHEREAS, The United States Senate, on February 19, 1986, endorsed the Genocide Convention by a vote of 87-11; and

WHEREAS, Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole described the treaty as having enormous symbolic value as a world wise statement of outrage and condemnation over very real horrors - "As real as the Armenian genocide and Hitler's death camps"; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Legislature has long been at the forefront of efforts to ensure that the victims and survivors of such holocausts are not forgotten; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to denounce the Ottoman massacres of Armenians and, mindful of the presidential statements which reflect an American policy of recognition of the Armenian genocide for nearly a century, focus collectively on the prevention of genocide through cooperation between nations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Armenian Assembly of America, 122 C Street, N.W., Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20001.

ADOPTED IN SENATE ON

New York State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New York

April 24, 1999

STATE OF NEW YORK

EXECUTIVE CHAMBER

WHEREAS, the citizens of the Empire State have a longstanding tradition of acknowledging significant milestones and events of great importance in world history; therefore, they are proud to recognize activities that seek to honor the memory of those whose lives were taken during the twentieth century's first genocide; the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923; and

WHEREAS, the events that unfolded during those tragic years cost the lives of 1.5 million Armenians who fell victim to rapid, government-sanctioned extermination at the hands of the Ottoman Empire; some of the most extreme examples of man's inhumanity were commonplace during this period of suffering; sadly, the outcry of officials, diplomats and others willing to speak on behalf of Armenians failed to garner the support needed to end their hardship; and

WHEREAS, New York, a center of immigration and a State blessed by the presence of a large concentration of the Nation's estimated one million Armenian Americans, provides a fitting venue for the many community events that seek to make known the occurrence of the Armenian Genocide and the burden carried by its aging survivors; the citizens of our State, mindful of this tragedy, support efforts that promote lessons that help our youth to be more tolerant of other cultures, races, religions and points of view; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting for all New Yorkers of goodwill to join Armenian Americans in their collective remembrance and desire to ensure that the crime of the Genocide is not buttressed, legitimized or forgotten, and that efforts to advance and further healing are to be supported;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE E. PATAKI, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim official recognition to April 24, 1999 as

ARMENIAN REMEMBRANCE DAY

in the Empire State.

New York State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New York

April 17, 2000

State of New York

Executive Chamber

Proclamation

Whereas, the Empire State is home to many ethnic communities whose members benefit from the freedom and democracy upon which our Nation was founded; as a global leader in many areas of basic human and social rights, New York State has a prominent role in acknowledging events in history-- many of them tragic and distressing-- that teach valuable lessons from which out greater society benefits; one such event is the Armenian Genocide, during which an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed; and

Whereas, Armenian immigration to New York State began in the 1830's and continued into the early 1900's with an influx of individuals and families hopeful of finding a new life; they were people with distinct language and culture who possessed solid character and were primarily of the Christian faith; many Armenians came to this country seeking freedom as the survivors of the 20th century's first genocide; and

Whereas, The Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 was an organized campaign initiated by the Ottoman Turkish Government, which sought to deliberately exterminate Armenians by employing cruel and inhumane tactics; this documented mass killing contributed to modern society's understanding and use of the term "genocide"; as it occurred, the attack on Armenian civilians was widely noticed but largely unchecked by the world community, and it was a foreshadowing of subsequent acts of human tragedy, such as the Holocaust; and

Whereas, the results of this large-scale catastrophe were profound for all Armenians, especially the loss of a great deal of their ancestral land; the population, language and culture were near extinction and many Armenian people were separated and scattered to various parts of the world; today the nation of Armenia-- a proud democratic republic free of decades of Soviet influence and oppression-- occupies only a small part of its original territory; and

Whereas, attempts to deny, rebut or downplay the details of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23 are unwelcome to freedom-loving citizens who are guided and strengthened by truth; the crime of denial is a subsequent transgression against Armenian Genocide martyrs and survivors, and directly counteracts the effort to promote greater understanding of this event; it is believed by many that acknowledgment and awareness of this shameful event will not only teach future generations, but also will help mankind prevent such crimes from being repeated; this concept is particularly important as our State works to instill in youth, a universal respect for other cultures, races, religions and viewpoints; and

Whereas, during the 85th anniversary of the onset o the Armenian Genocide, as the number of actual survivors diminishes with the passage of time, it is fitting that people worldwide join the Armenian-American community as it observes what is commonly referred to as Martyrs' Day; likewise, the people of New York State share in the solemn commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1925-23, and join with the Armenian-American community and its many religious, communal and philanthropic organizations as they honor the sacrifices and memory of their noble ancestors;

Now, Therefore, I, George E. Pataki, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2000 as

ARMENIAN REMEMBRANCE DAY

in the Empire State.

GIVEN under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at the Capitol in the City of Albany this seventeenth day of April in the year two thousand.

(SIGNED)

New York State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New York

April 21, 2001

Proclamation

Whereas, the Empire State has a special role in acknowledging events in world history which have had a meaningful impact on our Nation's ethnic, cultural and religious landscape; many of New York's citizens have a learned appreciation for humanitarian causes that comes from their homeland's history or the circumstances of their coming to America in search of opportunities offered only in this great country; and

Whereas, the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23 -- a tragedy that took the lives of an estimated 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children -- was one such occurrence; this mass killing was a deliberate act by the Ottoman Turkish Government to eliminate the Armenian people; cruel methods that included outright killings of civilians and food and water deprivation during forced marches across harsh, arid terrain proved successful for the perpetrators of genocide, who harbored a prejudice against their Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Christian subjects; at the time, former President Theodore Roosevelt said the Armenian Genocide was "the greatest crime" of World War I; and

Whereas, the Empire State praises the forward-thinking group of international and local legislatures that have acknowledged the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23 during this Genocide recognition cycle; various nations in both hemispheres and many localities across our Nation have entered into their public records the details of this tragedy and have done so prior to the U.S. Congress, a body that is rarely reluctant to express its opinion on matters of human rights; and

Whereas, the previous White House Administration, yielding to pressure from opponents of Armenian Genocide recognition, successfully convinced Congressional leaders to deny passage of a House Resolution acknowledging the Genocide to come to a vote last session; that regrettable action and its result are sources of disappointment for all who desire to see the Armenian Genocide recognized as it should be, and only serves to delay its upcoming full

acknowledgment amid the Genocide recognition community's ongoing, worthwhile efforts; and

Whereas, it is fitting that all New Yorkers of good will join the Armenian-American community in their annual observance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23, with hopes that many more citizens of our great Nation and the world community become aware of this tragic chapter in the history of mankind;

Now, Therefore, I, George E. Pataki, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, April 24, 2001 as

ARMENIAN REMEMBRANCE DAY

New York State Legislature

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New York

April 19, 2002

J4589 MALTESESenators Maltese, Brown, DeFrancisco, Farley, Gentile, Gonzalez, Hannon, Hassell-Thompson, Hoffmann, Johnson, Kuhl, Lachman, Lack, Larkin, LaValle, Marcellino, Marchi, Mariarz, McGee, Meier, Mendez, M

STATUSResolutions, LegislativeTITLE... Commemorating the 87th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 19, 200203/25/02 REFERRED TO FINANCE03/26/02 REPORTED TO CALANDER FOR CONSIDERATION03/26/02 ADOPTED

NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 87th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 19, 2002

WHEREAS, This Resolution arises from a sense of human decency and respect for the Armenian people and their history; and

WHEREAS, Towards the end of the 19th Century, the Turkish Government began to systematically persecute their citizens of Armenian heritage; and

WHEREAS, From 1894 to 1896, Sultan Abdu-Hamid II ordered the massacre of 300,000 Armenians living within the boundaries of the Turkish Empire; and

WHEREAS, In 1909, 30,000 more Armenian men, women and children were slaughtered by Turkish armies in the mountain village of Cilicia; and

WHEREAS, Nonetheless, by the onset of World War I, there still remained 2,500,000 Armenians who made their homes within the Ottoman Empire; of these, over 250,000 were faithful soldiers who loyally fought within the ranks of its armies in an effort to defend their homeland; and

WHEREAS, On April 24, 1915, hundreds of Armenian religious, political and intellectual leaders were rounded up, exiled and eventually murdered in secret death camps hidden in mountainsides; and

WHEREAS, Over the course of the next six months, the Armenian soldiers on active duty in the army were disarmed and placed in forced labor battalions, whereupon many either starved or were summarily executed behind the fences of these camps; and

WHEREAS, Deprived of their leaders and the young men who could defend these helpless communities, the remaining Armenians became an easy target for the government raids and found themselves at the mercy of cruel and often barbaric persecutors; and

WHEREAS, A total of 1,500,000 Armenian men, women and children were massacred; 500,000 more were exiled; and 500,000 were able to escape the reign of terror and establish themselves in new foreign lands; as a result, today there are only 100,000 people of Armenian heritage left residing within the borders of modern Turkey; and

WHEREAS, The devastation which resulted from this "ethnic cleansing" practiced by the rulers of the Ottoman Empire occurred in a similar ratio to that caused by the Jewish Holocaust of 1940, yet most of the world's peoples do not realize the gravity of the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian people have been denied the right to self-determination on their ancestral lands; they have received no form of reparations for their tragic losses; and

WHEREAS, Members of the Armenian community honor the memory of the victims of this genocide and emphasize that crimes against humanity must be condemned and never be allowed; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 87th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide to be recognized at a reception on Friday, April 19, 2002, at the New York Hemsley Hotel, New York, New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Resolution is intended to counter the tide of revisionist history which purports that the Armenian Genocide never took place; and be it further

RESOLVED, that this Resolution is intended to counter the tide of revisionist history which purports that the Armenian Genocide never took place; and be it further

RESOLVED, that copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Alex Sarafian, Chairman, Armenian National Committee of New York and Friends of ANC-NY.

New York State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New York

April 22, 2002

State of New York

Executive Chamber

Proclamation

Whereas, the Empire State is proud to be the place where countless citizens of the world have settled to become leaders in various areas of endeavor, mindful that the journey taken by many of these fine men and women did not always begin voluntarily or happily; many of New York and the Nation's Armenian citizens who arrived in the early part of the last century came here as a result of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23, a tragic event that nearly ended the lives of all Armenians; and

Whereas, the time between most Armenians' arrival up until their modern presence here has been notably fruitful for them and for the greater community of New York and America, but a sincere effort at acknowledging the circumstances of their bittersweet trek to our welcoming shores helps us understand and admire Armenians far better; a learned appreciation for their history will also teach people a sad lesson in man's inhumanity to his fellow man, and the lengths to which neglect by the world community can cause the already- tragic taking of one life to multiply into a tremendously costly, genuine exercise in genocide; and

Whereas, the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23 was an organized extermination campaign employed by the Ottoman Turkish authorities, under whose imperial authority most Armenians lived; agents of the Turkish Government who included military personnel and willing civilian volunteers utilized some of the cruelest methods ever used against people to wipe out Armenian men, women and children; those Armenians spared a quick and violent death by blade, bullet or beating were starved and dehydrated during exile marches that represent a different, unspeakable, type of journey for Armenians and also for Greeks and Assyrians, two other Christian minorities singled out by the Turks for their differences; and

Whereas, the final result of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23 was the near extermination of the Armenian people, the loss of the majority of their ancestral lands and the dispersing into many areas of the world the scarred survivors of this extreme crime against people; today

Armenians throughout their diaspora struggle to support their homeland, a shadow of a once-proud nation that was the first state-in 301 A.D. -- ever to adopt Christianity as its official religion; every endeavor to preserve the rich language, cultural and religious traditions of Armenia must now be viewed as a step toward compensating for the damage done by the Genocide; few cultures save the Jews, who endured the Holocaust years after the Armenian Genocide, must carry such a burden; and

Whereas, denial of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23 is an abomination that occupies no proper place in debates carried out by New Yorkers, who represent some of the most intellectual by also the most morally certain people anywhere; as the movement toward full recognition of the Genocide follows its steady pace, every human being wanting to be counted as an Armenian Genocide recognition supporter can be considered a citizen of New York or an honorary citizen of New York; that is, they will be a friendly neighbor among a growing but still cherished community of people who treasure the truth;

Now, Therefore, I, George E. Pataki, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2002 as

ARMENIAN REMEMBRANCE DAY

in the Empire State.

Given under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at the Capitol in the City of Albany this twenty-second day of April in the year two thousand and two.

New York State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New York

April 24, 2003

Proclamation

WHEREAS, the Empire State acknowledges events in history that have changed the course of the world and which have had a meaningful impact on our own Nation's ethnic, cultural and religious landscape; as a global leader in basic human and social rights, our State and its citizens have a prominent role in highlighting humanitarian concerns and important lessons that can be derived from mankind's past transgressions; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23 marks a tragic episode that resulted in the loss of an estimated 1.5 million lives and nearly extinguished the entire Armenian population; this campaign, organized by the ruling Ottoman authorities under whose imperial authority most Armenians lived, sought to deliberately exterminate Armenians by employing cruel and

inhumane tactics; as they occured, the atrocities committed against Armenian civilians were widely noticed but unchecked by the world community; and

WHEREAS, many of New York and the Nation's Armenian citizens who arrived in the early 1900's came here seeking freedom as survivors of the 20th century's first genocide; from the arrival of the first Armenians to our shores, the community has been a fruitful and noteworthy presence, however, greater effort at acknowledging the circumstances of their bittersweet trek to this country can help us understand the Armenian community far better; and

WHEREAS, the final result of the Armenian Genocide was the near extermination of the Armenian people, the loss of the majority of thier ancestral lands, the dispersal of deeply scarred survivors of this extreme crime against people; today Armenians throughout their diaspora struggle to preseve the rich language, cultural and religious traditions of their homeland - a proud democratic republic free of decades of Soviet influence and oppression, but which occupies only a small part of its original territory; and

WHEREAS, denial of the Armenian Genocide is an injustice to the people of Armenia and their history; as progress for full recognition of the Genocide follows a steady pace toward global realization, every human being who acknowledges this historical fact is part of a growing community of people who treasure the truth and who respect other cultures, religions and races; and

WHEREAS, during the 88th anniversary of the onset of the Armenian Genocide, as the number of actual survivors diminishes with the passage of time, it is fitting that people worldwide join the Armenian-American community as it observes what is commonly referred to as Martyrs' Day; likewise, the citizens of New York State share in the solemn commemoration of this tragedy and join with many religious, communal and philanthropic organizations as they honor the sacrifices and memory of their noble Armenian ancestors;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, George E. Pataki, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2003 as

ARMENIAN REMEMBRANCE DAY

New York State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New York

April 24, 2004

State of New York

,

Executive Chamber

Proclamation

Whereas, the Empire State is proud to commemorate events whose discussion contributes to our understanding of world history while promoting tolerance for other races, religions, and points of view; as a global leader in basic human and social rights, our State and its citizens have a prominent role in highlighting humanitarian concerns and teaching future generations the critical lessons that can be derived from mankind's past transgressions and the tragic consequences of intolerance; and

Whereas, the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 was a catastrophic event during which an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman authorities under whose imperial rule most Armenians lived; alongside their Greek and Assyrian imperial co-subjects, and singled out for their ethnicity and Christian faith, Armenian men, women and children met their end in mass killings, organized death marches, starvation tactics and other brutal methods employed against civilians; and

Whereas, the 20th century's first such calculated effort to destroy people on a massive scale, the Armenian Genocide led academics to coin and utilize the very term genocide and it is believed that, had the Armenian Genocide been stopped through diplomatic or interventionist means, the resulting precedent for peace could have prevented the Holocaust that befell the Jewish people; and

Whereas, the Armenian Genocide caused the bulk displacement of the Armenian people from their ancestral lands, the loss of two-thirds of the these lands and the orphaning of countless Armenian children; Armenians' expulsion from their ancient territories was so extreme that almost every Armenian-American family can trace its immigration history from the Genocide, to the loving Christian missionaries in the Middle East that housed children, to the European continent and --finally--to the United States; and

Whereas,New York proudly accepts leadership in acknowledging the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 with recognition that the number of survivors is dwindling and that their courage and testimonials have put a human face on the documentary, photographic and journalistic evidence that supports this very real crime against people; armed with this evidence and with the memory of the elderly who experienced and witnessed its occurrence, the community rightfully seeks fullest recognition of the Genocide; and

Whereas, it is fitting that all New Yorkers appreciate the hardships Armenians faced, if not only for the purpose of preventing tragedies such as the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 from reoccurring, then to understand better how the Unites States' role as a refuge for all oppressed peoples has been a noble one;

Now, Therefore, I, George E. Pataki, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2004 as

Armenian Remembrance Day

In the Empire State and offer the community hopes for success in educating the broader community during the 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Given under my hand and the Privy Seal of the Stateat the Capitol in the City of Albany this twenty-fourthday of April in theyear two thousand four.

Signed George E. Pataki Governor

New York State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New York

April 19, 2006

View image of document

STATE OF NEW YORKEXECUTIVE CHAMBER

Proclamation

Whereas, the Empire State is proud to be the site of efforts to recognize important historical milestones that enable New Yorkers and Americans of diverse backgrounds to appreciate the context of our chiefly-immigrant population's resettlement here; as a State whose people have gone well beyond simply learning from one another -- to where they empathize with, assist and truly accept others -- New York has a unique role in America's promise to welcome the needy masses; and

Whereas, Armenian-Americans are one group of immigrants whose history in their historic homeland caused them to see America as that great refuge for weary but determined pioneers on a quest for a life renewed; the event most closely associated with Armenians' existence as a mostly diasporic community worldwide and with their arrival on American shores is the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23; during this awful atrocity, 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children were killed by agents of the Ottoman Empire, under whose authority most Armenians lived; ample incontrovertible evidence -- which helped scholars adopt the term "genocide" -- reveals that the perpetrators of these crimes acted with stated intent, indeed were organized and used some of the cruelest methods ever employed against humankind; and

Whereas, the challenges Armenians face because of the Genocide include not only dealing with the loss of life but also the confiscation of two thirds of the Armenians' ancestral land and

the near-destruction of the rich Armenian culture and language; following their forced expulsion from familiar territories, Armenians made their way to relief agencies in the Middle East, to Europe and in many instances, to the United States; here in New York, despite this tremendous setback for their people, Armenians have progressed to where they occupy positions of leadership in many areas of endeavor; and

Whereas, for Armenian-Americans, recognition of their genocide is the number one cause for young and old alike, and it is an issue which transcends other divergent views and persuasions Armenians may have; sadly, more often than ever, an insidious attempt to cover up details of the Genocide is in full swing in many areas of thought and learning; this occurs wherever Armenians -- and even international scholars -- exercise their free expression to tell the story; the cover-up and pressure to coerce individuals, legislatures and even global organizations to stop the use of the term "genocide" not only contradicts documented historical facts archived in places such as the United States Library of Congress, it is in the opinion of dwindling Genocide survivors another attack on their person; and

Whereas, just as New York has a proud legacy of responding to the plight of suffering peoples of the world over, it has a wonderful record of involvement in ameliorating the suffering caused by the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23; much of the money raised to support efforts of organizations such as Near East Relief was collected here in New York; much of the raising of awareness on the issue of Genocide during its occurrence is illustrated in the spoken words of President Theodore Roosevelt and then-Ambassador from the U.S. to Constantinople Henry Morgenthau, and over 145 articles on the Armenian Genocide were printed in The New York Times in 1915 alone; it is fitting that all New Yorkers stand in solidarity with custodians of truth by joining their Armenian-American neighbors in acknowledging the 91st anniversary of the onset of the Genocide;

Now, Therefore, I, George E. Pataki, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2006 as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY

in the Empire State.

[SEAL]

Given under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at the Capitol in the City of Albany this nineteenth day of April in the year two thousand six.

[signed]George E. Pataki

New York State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > New York

April 24, 2009

STATE OF NEW YORKEXECUTIVE CHAMBER

Proclamation

Whereas, a global leader in human and social rights, the Empire State has a prominent role in highlighting humanitarian concerns and teaching future generations critical lessons derived from mankind's past transgressions and intolerance, and we acknowledge the importance of discussing such events that contribute to our understanding of world history while promoting tolerance for people of all races, religions and points of view; and

Whereas, the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23 was a catastrophic event during which an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman authorities under whose imperial rule most Armenians lived; alongside their Greek and Assyrian imperial co-subjects, Armenian men, woman and children met their end in mass killings, organized death marches, starvation tactics and other brutal methods employed against civilians; and

Whereas, a deliberate effort to destroy people on a massive scale, the Armenian Genocide led academics to use the term genocide and it is believed that, had the Armenian Genocide been stopped through diplomatic or interventionist means, the resulting precedent for peace could have prevented the Holocaust that befell the Jewish people; and

Whereas, the Armenian Genocide caused the displacement of the Armenian people from their ancestral lands, the loss of two-thirds of the these lands and the orphaning of countless Armenian children; Armenians' expulsion from their ancient territories was so extreme that almost every Armenian-American family can trace its immigration history to the Genocide and to the missionaries in the Middle East that housed children, the European continent, and ultimately to the United States; and

Whereas, New York recognizes that the number of survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23 is dwindling and the memory of the elderly who experienced and witnessed its occurrence has led to courageous testimonials that have put a human face on this event; and

Whereas, it is fitting that all New Yorkers recognize the hardships Armenians faced, for the purpose of preventing tragedies such as the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23 from recurring, and to appreciate the United State's role as a refuge for all oppressed people;

Now, Therefore, I, David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2009 as

ARMENIAN REMEMBRANCE DAY

in the Empire State and join with the entire community in commemorating the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

G i v e n under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at the Capitol in the City of Albany this thirtieth day of March in the year two thousand nine.

SignedDavid A. PatersonGovernor

SignedLarry SchwartzSecretary to the Governor

Rhode Island State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

June 29, 1990

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS

EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, PROVIDENCE

Edward D. DiPreteGovernor

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, 75 years ago, millions of Armenians were forcibly exiled from their ancient homeland, and one-half million Armenians were massacred in an attempt by Ottoman Turkey to exterminate the Armenian race; and

WHEREAS, on April 24, Armenians from all over the world commemorate Martyrs' Day, the day in 1915 when the Turks arrested and killed 250 Armenians community leaders and intellectuals; and

WHEREAS, in honoring the memory of those martyrs, hope if renewed that the conscience of the world can bring a halt to senseless slaughter, an end to all human suffering and a reawakening of a sense of justice for the Armenian people; and

WEHREAS, America, with a commitment to the opposition of tyranny and oppression rooted in our historic struggle for independence, joins gladly with all those who strive for liberty in the face of persecution;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDWARD D. DiPRETE, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM

APRIL 24, 1990 AS

ARMENIAN MARTYRS' DAY

In the State of Rhode Island and all on all citizens to join with me in honoring these people for their immeasurable contributions to the cause of liberty.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the State of Rhode Island to be affixed this twenty-ninth day of June, one thousand nine hundred and ninety, and of Independence, the two hundred and fourteenth.

Rhode Island State House of Representatives

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

April 24, 1996

71

96-H 9021

Passed in House

Apr. 24, 1996.

HOUSE RESOLUTION DECLARING APRIL 24TH, 1996 AS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915-1923

WHEREAS, At the outbreak of World War I, the young Turk regime of the Ottoman Empire, led by Toloat Pasha, decided to deport the entire Armenian population of about 1.5 million people to Syria and Mesopotamia planning to exterminate them by driving all Armenians, regardless of age or condition of health, to the totally barren Der-El-Zor region of what is now Syria; and

WHEREAS, The Armenians were rounded up, brutally driven from their homes and their land, separated from their families, robbed of everything they owned and stripped of possessions they carried with them, and on a death march to Der-El-Zor, more than a million died of starvation or were killed; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of Christian Armenians were tortured and murdered for refusing to accept Islam as their religion, and the atrocities inflicted upon them in concentration camps and on death marches to Der-El-Zor resemble those suffered by the victims of the Holocaust in World War II; and

WHEREAS, The massacre of Armenians who escaped deportation and remained in Turkey was called the "most colossal crime of all ages" by the American examining military mission's report

to the U.S. Congress; and a telegram sent by U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau to the Secretary of State, Morgenthau warned that "a campaign of race extermination is in progress under a pretext of reprisal against rebellion"; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 1.5 million people of Armenian ancestry perished in the genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman Empire from 1915-1923; and

WHEREAS, Many Armenians emigrated to the United States, where they and their descendents have contributed much to the economic and cultural vitality in our society, and kept alive the memory of their friends and relatives who perished during the systematic campaign of extermination; and

WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the Genocide and honors the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes; and

WHEREAS, The continued denial of the Armenian Genocide by the present-day Turkish Government deprives the Armenian people of the right to their own history; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian People have not received reparations for their losses; and

WHEREAS, Ancestral Armenian lands have not been returned to the Armenian People; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby commemorates this 81st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 1996 and urges the citizenry of Rhode Island to do the same; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State of Rhode Island calls on the President of the United States to obtain from the present Turkish Government an acknowledgement of the Genocide perpetrated against the Armenians from 1915-1923; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, the members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Armenian National Committee of Rhode Island, and the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Committee of Rhode Island.

Rhode Island State House of Representatives

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

April 24, 1997

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 1997

HOUSE RESOLUTION

DECLARING APRIL 24TH, 1997 AS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915-1923

Introduced By: Representatives Simonian and Bramley

Date Introduced: April 24, 1997

Referred To: Read and Passed

WHEREAS, At the outbreak of World War I, the young Turk regime of the Ottoman Empire, led by Toloat Pasha, decided to deport the entire Armenian population of about 1.5 million people to Syria and Mesopotamia planning to exterminate them by driving all Armenians, regardless of age or condition of health, to the totally barren Der-El-Zor region of what is now Syria; and

WHEREAS, The Armenians were rounded up, brutally driven from their homes and their land, separated from their families, robbed of everything they owned and stripped of possessions they carried with them, and on a death march to Der-El-Zor, more than a million died of starvation or were killed; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of Christian Armenians were tortured and murdered for refusing to accept Islam as their religion, and the atrocities inflicted upon them in concentration camps and on death marches to Der-El-Zor resemble those suffered by the victims of the Holocaust in World War II; and

WHEREAS, The massacre of Armenians who escaped deportation and remained in Turkey was called the "most colossal crime of all ages" by the American examining military mission's report to the U.S. Congress; and a telegram sent by U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau to the Secretary of State, Morgenthau warned that "a campaign of race extermination is in progress under a pretext of reprisal against rebellion"; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 1.5 million people of Armenian ancestry perished in the genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman Empire from 1915-1923; and

WHEREAS, Many Armenians emigrated to the United States, where they and their descendents have contributed much to the economic and cultural vitality in our society, and kept alive the memory of their friends and relatives who perished during the systematic campaign of extermination; and

WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the Genocide and honors the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes; and

WHEREAS, The continued denial of the Armenian Genocide by the present-day Turkish Government deprives the Armenian people of the right to their own history; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian People have not received reparations for their losses; and

WHEREAS, Ancestral Armenian lands have not been returned to the Armenian People; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby commemorates this 82nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 1997 and urges the citizenry of Rhode Island to do the same; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State of Rhode Island calls on the President of the United States to obtain from the present Turkish Government an acknowledgement of the Genocide perpetrated against the Armenians from 1915-1923; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, the members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Armenian National Committee of Rhode Island, and the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Committee of Rhode Island.

Rhode Island State Senate

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

April 13, 2000

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2000

SENATE RESOLUTION

DECLARING APRIL 24TH, 2000 AS A DAY OF REMEMBERANCE FOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE 1915-1923

Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Kelly, Issa, Algiere and Goodwin

Date Introduced: April 13, 2000

Referred To: Read and Passed

WHEREAS, At the outbreak of World War I, the young Turk regime of the Ottoman Empire, led by Toloat Pasha, decided to deport the entire Armenian population of about 1.5 million people to Syria and Mesopotamia planning to exterminate them by driving all Armenians, regardless of age or condition of health, to the totally barren Der-El-Zor region of what is now Syria; and

WHEREAS, The Armenians were rounded up, brutally driven from their homes and their land, separated from their families, robbed of everything they owned and stripped of possessions they carried with them, and on a death march to Der-El-Zor, more than a million died of starvation or were killed; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of Christian Armenians were tortued and murdered for refusing to accept Islam as their religion, and the atrocities inflicted upon them in concentration camps and on death marches to Der-El-Zor resemble those suffered by the victims of the Holacaust in World War II; and

WHEREAS, The massacre of Armenians who escaped deportation and remained in Turkey was called the "most colossal crime of all ages" by the American examining military mission's report to the U.S. Congress; and a telegram sent by the U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau to the Secretary of State, Morgenthau warned that "a campaign of race extermination is in progress under a pretext of reprisal against rebellion"; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 1.5 million people of Armenian ancestry perished in the genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman Empire from 1915-1923; and

WHEREAS, Many Armenians emigrated to the United States. Where they and their descendents have contributed much to the economic and cultural vitality in our society, and kept alive the memory of their friends and relatives who perished during the systematic campaign of extermination; and

WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the Genocide and honors the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes; and

WHEREAS, The continued denial of the Armenian Genocide by the present-day Turkish Government deprives the Armenian people of the right to their own history; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian People have not received reparations for their losses; and

WHEREAS, Ancestral Armenian lands have not been returned to the Armenian People; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby commemorates this 85th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2000 and urges the citizenry of Rhode Island to do the same; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State of Rhode Island calls on the President of the United States to obtain from the present Turkish Government an acknowledgement of the Genocide perpetrated against the Armenians from 1915-1923; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, the members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Armenian National Committee of Rhode Island, and the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Committee of Rhode Island.

Rhode Island Senate Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

April 24, 2001

Senate resolution designating April 24, 2001 as "Rhode Island Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923"

WHEREAS, Armenians living in their historic homeland in Asia Minor were subjected to severe persecution and brutal injustice by the Turkish rulers of the Ottoman Empire before and after the turn of the twentieth century, including widespread acts of destruction, mayhem, and murder during the period from 1894 to 1896, and again in 1909; and

WHEREAS, The horrible experience of the Armenians at the hands of their Turkish oppressors culminated with what is known by historians as the "First Genocide of the Twentieth Century," or the "Forgotten Genocide"; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide began with the murder of hundreds of Armenian intellectuals, and political, religious, and business leaders who were arrested and taken from their homes in Constantinople before dawn on April 24, 1915; and

WHEREAS, The Young Turk regime then in control of the empire planned and executed the unspeakable atrocities committed against the Armenians from 1915 through 1923, including the torture, starvation, and murder of 1.5 million Armenians, death marches into the Syrian desert, and the exile of more than 500,000 innocent people; and

WHEREAS, While there were some Turks who jeopardized their safety in order to protect Armenians form the slaughter being perpetrated by the Young Turk regime, the massacres of the Armenians constituted one of the most atrocious violations of human rights in the history of the world; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of this devoted people, I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915. The killing of the Armenian people was accompanied by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years."; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers like the New York Times carried headlines including, "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed," "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile," and "Wholesale Massacre of Armenians by Turks"; and

WHEREAS, Adolph Hitler, in persuading his army commanders that the merciless persecution and killing of Jews, Poles, and other groups of people would bring no retribution, declared, "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians"; and

WHEREAS, Unlike other groups and governments that have admitted the abuses and crimes of predecessor regimes, and despite the overwhelming weight of the evidence, the Republic of Turkey has denied the occurrence of the crimes against humanity committed by the Young Turk rulers, and those denials compound the grief of the few remaining survivors of the atrocities and desecrate the memory of the victims; and

WHEREAS, Nations of the world have suffered reprisals and condemnations by Turkey because of efforts to commemorate the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, There have been concerted efforts to revise history through the dissemination of propaganda suggesting that Armenians were responsible for their fate in the period from 1915 through 1923 and by the funding of programs at American educational institutions for the purpose of furthering the cause of this revisionism and to counter, in the works of a Turkish official, "the Armenian view"; and

WHEREAS, Leaders of nations with strategic, commercial, and cultural ties to the Republic of Turkey should be reminded of their duty to encourage Turkish officials to cease efforts to distort facts and deny the history of events surrounding the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, The accelerated level and scope of denial and revisionism, coupled with the passage of time and the fact that very few survivors remain who serve as reminders of indescribable brutality and tormented lives, compel a sense of urgency in efforts to solidify recognition of historical truth; and

WHEREAS, By consistently remembering and forcefully condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians and honoring the survivors, as well as other victims of similar heinous conduct, we guard against repetition of those acts of genocide; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island is home to a large population of Armenians, and those citizens have enriched our state through their leadership in the fields of business, agriculture, academia, medicine, government, and the arts and are proud and patriotic practitioners of American citizenship; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby designates April 24, 2001 as "Rhode Island Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915 - 1923"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State of Rhode Island respectfully memorializes the Congress of the United States to likewise act to commemorate the Armenian Genocide; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, Members of the Rhode Island delegation to the United States Congress, the Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington and the Armenian National Committee of Rhode Island.

Read the official resolution from the web site of the Rhode Island General Assembly

Rhode Island State House Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

April 24, 2002

State of Rhode Island

In General AssemblyJanuary Session, A.D. 2002House Resolution (H 8056)

PROCLAIMING APRIL 24TH AS "RHODE ISLAND DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCDE" IN COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE FROM 1915 TO 1923 AND HONORING ARMENIAN-AMERICANS

Introduced By: Representative John S. Simonian

Date Introduced: April 24, 2002

Referred To: House read and passed

WHEREAS, 1.5 million men, women and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of these devoted people. I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915. The killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years"; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers, such as the New York Times, carried headlines including "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed" and "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile"; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide has been acknowledged by countries and international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Council of Europe, Cyprus, the European

Parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece, Lebanon, Russia, the United Nations, and Uruguay; and

WHEREAS, Each year Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923, and all the worlds people should commemorate the Armenian genocide because it stands as an ugly testament to man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, We must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help better understand the necessity of eliminating hatred from our own communities; and

WHEREAS, Residents of Rhode Island are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Rhode Island have greatly enriched our State through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby proclaims April 24th as "Rhode Island Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to likewise commemorate the Armenian Genocide; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Honorable Lincoln Almond, Governor of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, and the Armenian National Committee in Washington.

Rhode Island State House Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

April 10, 2003

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2003

2003 -- H 6336

HOUSE RESOLUTION

PROCLAIMING APRIL 24TH, 2003 AS "RHODE ISLAND DAY OF REMEBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" IN COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE FROM 1915-1923 AND

HONORING ARMENIAN-AMERICANS

Introduced By: Representatives Fox and Watson

Date Introduced: April 10, 2003

Referred To: House read and passed

WHEREAS, 1.5 million men, women and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of these devoted people. I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915. The killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years"; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers, such as the New York Times, carried headlines including "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed" and "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile"; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide has been acknowledged by countries and international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Council of Europe, Cyprus, the European Parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece, Lebanon, Russia, the United Nations, and

WHEREAS, We must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide not only because it is an undeniable chaper of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionalbe tragedy will help better understand the necesity of eliminating hatred from our own communities

WHEREAS, Residents of Rhode Island are highly sensitive to the need for consistenly remebering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Rhode Island have greatly enriched our State through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby proclaims April 24th, 2003 as "Rhode Island Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; and be further

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to likewise commemorate the Armenian Genocide; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resoluiton to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Honorable Donald Carcieri, Governor of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, and the Armenian National Committee in Washington.

Rhode Island State Senate Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

April 22, 2004

04-R 1932004 -- S 3016

Enacted 04/22/04

SENATE RESOLUTIONPROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 2004 AS "RHODE ISLAND DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" IN COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDEFROM 1915 TO 1923 AND HONORING ARMENIAN-AMERICANS

Introduced By: Senators Gallo, and IssaDate Introduced: April 01, 2004

WHEREAS, 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of these devoted people. I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great

massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915. The killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years"; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers, such as the New York Times, carried headlines including "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed" and "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile"; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide has been acknowledged by countries and international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Council of Europe, Cyprus, the European Parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece, Lebanon, Russia, the United Nations, and Uruguay; and

WHEREAS, Each year Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923, and all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian Genocide because it stands as an ugly testament to man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, We must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help better understand the necessity of eliminating hatred from our own communities; and

WHEREAS, Residents of Rhode Island are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Rhode Island have greatly enriched our State through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby proclaims April 24, 2004 as "Rhode Island Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to likewise commemorate the Armenian Genocide; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Honorable Donald Carcieri, Governor of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, and the Armenian National Committee in Washington.

LC01232

Read the official resolution from the Web site of the Rhode Island State Senate.

Rhode Island State House Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

April 11, 2005

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2005 HOUSE RESOLUTION

PROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 2005 AS "RHODE ISLAND DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" IN COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE FROM 1915 TO 1923 AND HONORING ARMENIAN-AMERICANS

INTRODUCED BY: Representatives Fox, Watson, Corvese, Giannini, and Ajello DATE INTRODUCED: March 31, 2005 REFERRED TO: House read and passed

WHEREAS, One and one half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinement of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of these "devoted people." The killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than three thousand years; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers, such as the New York Times, carried headlines including "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed" and "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile"; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide has been acknowledged by countries and international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Council of Europe, Cyprus, the European Parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece, Lebanon, Russia, the United Nations, and Uruguay; and

WHEREAS, Each year Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923, and all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian genocide because it stands as an ugly testament to man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, We must do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help better understand the necessity of eliminating hatred from our own communities; and

WHEREAS, Residents of Rhode Island are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people in order to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Rhode Island have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence plantations hereby proclaims April 25, 2005 as "Rhode Island Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this House respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to likewise commemorate the Armenian Genocide; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Honorable Donald Carcieri, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, and the Armenian National Committee in Washington.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations this, eleventh day of April, A.D. 2005.

(Signed)

Daniel J. Meuse, Acting Deputy Secretary of State

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

Rhode Island State Senate Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

April 12, 2006

2006 -- S 3011

=======LC02927=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2006

____________

SENATE RESOLUTION

PROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 2006 AS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" TO COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923 AND IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN-

AMERICANS

Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Issa, Raptakis, Walaska, and P Fogarty

Date Introduced: April 12, 2006

Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

WHEREAS, One and one half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of these devoted people." The genocide of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, works of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspaper accounts, in the New York Times, and other publications, carried headlines such as "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed" and "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile": and

WHEREAS, Each year, Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished in the period 1915 to 1923, and all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian genocide because it stands as a testament to man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, We must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this

unconscionable tragedy will help all peoples understand the necessity of eliminating hatred from our communities; and

WHEREAS, In order to prevent similar atrocities in the future, resident of Rhode Island must be highly sensitive to the need for remembrance and open condemnation of the crimes committed against any culture or people; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Rhode Island have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby recognizes April 24, 2006 as "Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to likewise commemorate the Armenian genocide and acknowledge that genocide is relevant to and affects all nations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Honorable Donald Carcieri, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, and the Armenian National Committee in Washington.

SENATE RESOLUTION

PROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 2006 AS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY' TO COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923 AND IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN-

AMERICANS

Rhode Island State House Resolution April 24, 2007

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

July 13, 2007

07-R1982007 -- H 6307

Enacted 04/24/07

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O NPROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 2007 AS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

REMEMBRANCE DAY" TO COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDEOF 1915 TO 1923 AND IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN-AMERICANS

Introduced By: Representatives Corvese, Costantino, Schadone, McCauley, and Shanley

Date Introduced: April 24, 2007

Refered To:House read and passed

WHEREAS, One and one half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of these devoted people." The killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than three thousand years; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers, such as the New York Times, carried headlines including "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed" and "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile"; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide has been acknowledged by countries and international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Council of Europe, Cyprus, the European Parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece, Lebanon, Russia, the United Nations, and Uruguay; and

WHEREAS, Each year Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923, and all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian genocide because it stands as an ugly testament to man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, We must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help better understand the necessity of eliminating hatred from our own communities; and

WHEREAS, Residents of Rhode Island are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people in order to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Rhode Island have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby recognizes April 24, 2007 as "Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this House respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to likewise commemorate the Armenian genocide and acknowledge that genocide is relevant to and affects all nations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Honorable Donald Carcieri, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, and the Armenian National Committee in Washington.

Rhode Island House Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

April 24, 2008

View image of document

2008--H 8205

LC00108

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2008

HOUSE RESOLUTION

PROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 2008 AS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" TO COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923 AND IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN-

AMERICANS

Introduced By: Representatives Corvese, Giannini, Schadone, Malik, and McNamara

Date Introduced: April 24, 2008

Referred To: House read and passed

WHEREAS, One and a half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr. stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of these devoted people."; and

WHEREAS, The killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than three thousand years; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers, such as the New York Times, carried headlines including "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed" and "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile"; and

WHEREAS, Around the globe the Armenian Genocide has been acknowledged by countries and international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Council of Europe, Cyprus, the European Parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece, Lebanon, Russia, the United Nations, and Uruguay; and

WHEREAS, Each year Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923, but truly all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian genocide because it stands as an ugly testament to man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, We must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscious tragedy will better help us understand the necessity of eliminating hatred from our own communities; and

WHEREAS, Residents of Rhode Island are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people in order to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Rhode Island have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby recognizes April 24, 2008 as "Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this House respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to likewise commemorate the Armenian genocide and acknowledge that genocide is relevant to and affects all nations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Honorable Donald Carcieri, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, and the Armenian National Committee in Washington.

LC00108

HOUSE RESOLUTION

PROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 2008 AS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" TO COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923 AND IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN

AMERICANS

House Resolution on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

April 26, 2011

View PDF of document

2011 -- H 6070

S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N DIN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2011

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O NPROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 2011, AS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" TO

COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923 AND IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN-AMERICANS

Introduced By: Representatives Corvese, Kennedy, Schadone, Palumbo, and San Bento Date Introduced: April 26, 2011 Referred To: House read and passed

WHEREAS, One and a half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915, and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of these devoted people." The killing of the Armenian people was 6 accomplished by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than three thousand years; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers, such as the New York Times, carried headlines including "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed" and "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile"; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide has been acknowledged by countries and international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Council of Europe, Cyprus, the European Parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece, Lebanon, Russia, the United Nations, and Uruguay; and

WHEREAS, Each year Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923, and all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian genocide because it 18 stands as an ugly testament to man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, We must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter in world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help us to better understand the necessity of eliminating hatred from our own communities; and

WHEREAS, Residents of Rhode Island are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people in order to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Rhode Island have greatly enriched our state 8 through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby recognizes April 24, 2011, as "Armenia n Genocide Remembrance Day" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this House respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to likewise commemorate the Armenian genocide and acknowledge that genocide is relevant to and affects all nations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, The Honorable Lincoln Chafee, 19 Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, D.C., 20 and the Armenian National Committee in Washington, D.C.

House Resolution on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

April 24, 2012

View PDF of document

2012 -- H 8077

LC00144

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

HOUSE RESOLUTION

PROCLAMATION APRIL 24, 2012, AS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" TO COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923 AND IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN --AMERICANS

Introduced By: Representatives Corvese, Jacquard, Schadone, Malik, and Gallison

Date Introduced: April 24, 2012

Referred To: House Read and passed

WHEREAS, One and a half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of these devoted people." The killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, andcultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than three thousand years; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers, such as the New York Times, carried headlines including "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed" and "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile"; and

WHEREAS, Around the globe the Armenian genocide has been acknowledged by countries and international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Council of Europe, Cyprus, the European Parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece, Lebanon, Russia, the United Nations, and Uruguay; and

WHEREAS, Each year Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923, but truly all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian genocide because it stands as an ugly testament to man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, We must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide, not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will better help us understand the necessity of eliminating hatred from our own communities; and

WHEREAS, Residents of Rhode Island are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people in order to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Rhode Island have greatly enriched our state through the leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby recognizes April 24, 2012, as "Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day" in the state of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this House respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to likewise commemorate the Armenian genocide and acknowledge that genocide is relevant to and affects all nations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he herby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Honorable Lincoln D. Chafee, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, and the Armenian National Committee in Washington.

Rhode Island House Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

April 24, 2013

View PDF of document

2013 -- H 6034

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL

ASSEMBLY JANUARY

SESSION, A.D. 2013

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

DESIGNATING APRIL 24TH, 2013, AS "RHODE ISLAND REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915-1923"

Introduced By: Representatives Kazarian, Corvese, Nunes, Mattiello, and Chippendale Date Introduced: April 24, 2013 Referred To: House read and passed

WHEREAS, Armenians living in their historic homeland in Asia Minor were subjected to severe persecution and brutal injustice by the Turkish rulers of the Ottoman Empire before and after the turn of the twentieth century, including widespread acts of destruction, mayhem, and murder during the period from 1894 to 1896, and again in 1909; and

WHEREAS, The horrible experience of the Armenians at the hands of their Turkish oppressors culminated with what is known by historians as the "First Genocide of the Twentieth Century" or the "Forgotten Genocide"; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide began with the murder of hundreds of Armenian intellectuals and political, religious, and business leaders who were arrested and taken from their homes in Constantinople before dawn on April 24, 1915; and

WHEREAS, The Young Turk regime then in control of the empire planned and executed the unspeakable atrocities committed against the Armenians from 1915 through 1923, including the torture, starvation, and murder of 1.5 million Armenians, death marches into the Syrian desert, and the exile of more than 500,000 innocent people; and

WHEREAS, While there were some Turks who jeopardized their safety in order to protect Armenians from the slaughter being perpetrated by the Young Turk regime, the massacres of the Armenians constituted one of the most atrocious violations of human rights in the history of the world; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau Sr., stated "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of other devoted people. I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915. The killing of the Armenian people was accompanied by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years"; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers like the New York Times carried headlines including, "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed," "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile," and "Wholesale Massacre of Armenians by Turks"; and

WHEREAS, Adolph Hitler, in persuading his army commanders that the merciless persecution and killing of Jews, Poles, and other groups of people would bring no retribution, declared, "Who after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians"; and

WHEREAS, Unlike other groups and governments that have admitted the abuses and crimes of predecessor regimes, and despite the overwhelming weight of the evidence, the Republic of Turkey has denied the occurrence of the crimes against humanity committed by the Young

Turk rulers, and those denials compound the grief of the few remaining survivors of the atrocities and desecrate the memory of the victims; and

WHEREAS, Nations of the world have suffered reprisals and condemnations by Turkey because of efforts to commemorate the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, There have been concerted efforts to revise history through the dissemination of propaganda suggesting that Armenians were responsible for their fate in the period from 1915 through 1923 and by the funding of programs at American educational institutions for the purpose of furthering the cause of this revisionism and to counter, in the words of a Turkish official, "the Armenian view"; and

WHEREAS, Leaders of nations with strategic, commercial, and cultural ties to the Republic of Turkey should be reminded of their duty to encourage Turkish officials to cease efforts to distort facts and deny the history of events surrounding the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, The accelerated level and scope of denial and revisionism, coupled with the passage of time and the fact that very few survivors remain who serve as reminders of indescribable brutality and tormented lives, compel a sense of urgency in efforts to solidify recognition of historical truth; and

WHEREAS, By consistently remembering and forcefully condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians and honoring the survivors, as well as other victims of similar heinous conduct, we guard against repetition of those acts of genocide; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island is home to a large population of Armenians, and those citizens have enriched our state through their leadership in the fields of business, agriculture, academia, medicine, government, and the arts and are proud and patriotic practitioners of American citizenship; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby designates April 24, 2013, as "Rhode Island Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 - 1923"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this House hereby respectfully memorializes the Congress of the United States to likewise act to commemorate the Armenian Genocide; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to The Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, The Honorable Lincoln Chafee, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, and The Armenian National Committee in Washington, D.C.

Rhode Island House Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

April 30, 2014

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2014 -- H 8108

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

HOUSE RESOLUTION

PROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 2014, AS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" TO COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923 AND IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN-

AMERICANS

Introduced By: Representatives Kazarian, Corvese, Mattiello, Casey, and Palangio Date Introduced: April 30, 2014 Referred To: House read and passed

WHEREAS, One and a half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire in 1915 and thereafter; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Turkish Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of these devoted people."; and

WHEREAS, The killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than three thousand years; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers, such as the New York Times, carried headlines including "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed" and "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile"; and

WHEREAS, Around the globe the Armenian genocide has been acknowledged by countries and international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, and the United Nations; and

WHEREAS, Each year Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished from 1915 to 1923, but truly all the world's people should commemorate the Armenian genocide because it stands as an ugly testament to man's inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, We must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian genocide, not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will better help us understand the necessity of eliminating hatred from our own communities; and

WHEREAS, Residents of Rhode Island are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people in order to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Rhode Island have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby recognizes April 24, 2014, as "Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this House respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to likewise commemorate the Armenian genocide and acknowledge that genocide is relevant to and affects all nations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Honorable Lincoln D. Chafee, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, and the Armenian National Committee in Washington.

Rhode Island Senate Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

June 9, 2015

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2015 -- S 0834

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

SENATE RESOLUTION

PROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 2015, AS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" TO COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923 AND IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN-

AMERICANS

Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Ruggerio, Goodwin, Jabour, and McCaffrey

Date Introduced: April 15, 2015

Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, and resulted in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000 Armenians, of whom 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed, and the remaining 500,000 survived but were expelled from their homes. This act succeeded in the elimination of the Armenians from their historic ancestral homeland where they had resided for over 2,500 years; and

WHEREAS, On May 24, 1915, for the first time ever, the Allied Powers of England, France, and Russia, jointly issued a statement explicitly charging another government of committing "a crime against humanity"; and

WHEREAS, This joint statement declared, "the Allied Governments announce publicly to the Sublime Porte that they will hold personally responsible for these crimes all members of the Ottoman Government, as well as those of their agents who are implicated in such massacres"; and

WHEREAS, United States Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, Sr. explicitly described the policy of the Ottoman Empire's government to the United States Department of State as "a campaign of race extermination," and on July 16, 1915, was informed by United States Secretary of State Robert Lansing that the "Department approves your procedure... to stop Armenian persecution"; and

WHEREAS, The post-World War I Turkish government indicted the top leaders involved in the organization and execution of the Armenian Genocide and in the "massacre and destruction of the Armenians," and in a series of court-martials, officials of the Young Turk regime were charged, tried and convicted, for organizing and executing massacres against the Armenian people; and

WHEREAS, In 1948, the United Nations War Crimes Commission invoked the Armenian Genocide as "precisely... one of the types of acts which the modern term 'crimes against humanity' is intended to cover" as a precedent for the Nuremberg tribunals; and

WHEREAS, The United States National Archives and Record Administration holds extensive and thorough documentation on the Armenian Genocide, especially in its holdings under Record Group 59 of the United States Department of State, files 867.00 and 867.40, which are open and widely available to the public and interested institutions; and

WHEREAS, The United States Holocaust Memorial Council, an independent federal agency, unanimously resolved on April 30, 1981, that the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum would include the Armenian Genocide in the museum and has since done so; and

WHEREAS, When one enters the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, there is an exhibit depicting Adolf Hitler, who on ordering his military commanders to attack Poland without provocation in 1939, dismissed objections by stating "[w]ho, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?", thus setting the stage for the Holocaust; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby recognizes April 24, 2015, as "Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate, on the occasion of the Centennial Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, respectfully requests the President of the United States and the United States Congress to call on the government of Turkey to face history and acknowledge this crime of genocide committed by the Ottoman Turks in 1915 and further, urge the Turkish government to make restitution for the loss of lives, confiscated properties, and general unlawful deportations, separating the indigenous population from their homeland ; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate expresses its deepest sympathy to the Armenian-American community of Rhode Island and assures them that this genocide will always be commemorated and never forgotten; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Honorable Gina Raimondo, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, and the Armenian National Committee in Washington.

Rhode Island Senate Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

June 9, 2015

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2015 -- S 0834

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

SENATE RESOLUTION

PROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 2015, AS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" TO COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923 AND IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN-

AMERICANS

Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Ruggerio, Goodwin, Jabour, and McCaffrey

Date Introduced: April 15, 2015

Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, and resulted in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000 Armenians, of whom 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed, and the remaining 500,000 survived but were expelled from their homes. This act succeeded in the elimination of the Armenians from their historic ancestral homeland where they had resided for over 2,500 years; and

WHEREAS, On May 24, 1915, for the first time ever, the Allied Powers of England, France, and Russia, jointly issued a statement explicitly charging another government of committing "a crime against humanity"; and

WHEREAS, This joint statement declared, "the Allied Governments announce publicly to the Sublime Porte that they will hold personally responsible for these crimes all members of the Ottoman Government, as well as those of their agents who are implicated in such massacres"; and

WHEREAS, United States Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, Sr. explicitly described the policy of the Ottoman Empire's government to the United States Department of State as "a campaign of race extermination," and on July 16, 1915, was informed by United States Secretary of State Robert Lansing that the "Department approves your procedure... to stop Armenian persecution"; and

WHEREAS, The post-World War I Turkish government indicted the top leaders involved in the organization and execution of the Armenian Genocide and in the "massacre and destruction of the Armenians," and in a series of court-martials, officials of the Young Turk regime were charged, tried and convicted, for organizing and executing massacres against the Armenian people; and

WHEREAS, In 1948, the United Nations War Crimes Commission invoked the Armenian Genocide as "precisely... one of the types of acts which the modern term 'crimes against humanity' is intended to cover" as a precedent for the Nuremberg tribunals; and

WHEREAS, The United States National Archives and Record Administration holds extensive and thorough documentation on the Armenian Genocide, especially in its holdings under Record Group 59 of the United States Department of State, files 867.00 and 867.40, which are open and widely available to the public and interested institutions; and

WHEREAS, The United States Holocaust Memorial Council, an independent federal agency, unanimously resolved on April 30, 1981, that the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum would include the Armenian Genocide in the museum and has since done so; and

WHEREAS, When one enters the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, there is an exhibit depicting Adolf Hitler, who on ordering his military commanders to attack Poland without provocation in 1939, dismissed objections by stating "[w]ho, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?", thus setting the stage for the Holocaust; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby recognizes April 24, 2015, as "Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate, on the occasion of the Centennial Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, respectfully requests the President of the United States and the United States Congress to call on the government of Turkey to face history and acknowledge this crime of genocide committed by the Ottoman Turks in 1915 and further, urge the Turkish government to make restitution for the loss of lives, confiscated properties, and general unlawful deportations, separating the indigenous population from their homeland ; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate expresses its deepest sympathy to the Armenian-American community of Rhode Island and assures them that this genocide will always be commemorated and never forgotten; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Honorable Gina Raimondo, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, and the Armenian National Committee in Washington.

Rhode Island State House Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

May 10, 2018

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2018 – H 8185

LC005632

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018HOUSE RESOLUTION

STRONGLY SUPPORTING HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE EDUCATION IN RHODE ISLAND'S SCHOOLS

Introduced By: Representatives Knight, Regunberg, Ackerman, Kazarian, and Morgan

Date Introduced: May 10, 2018

Referred To: House read and passed

WHEREAS, In 2016, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and the Armenian community spearheaded the drive to amend the Rhode Island General Laws in order to require more comprehensive and inclusive educational requirements on the subjects of Holocaust and Genocide; and

WHEREAS, Resultantly, House Bill 7488 SUB A and Senate Bill 2396 SUB A were passed by the General Assembly and subsequently signed into law by the Governor on June 17, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island's law now requires the Rhode Island Board of Education to include instruction on the subjects of Holocaust and Genocide studies in an appropriate place in the curriculum, for all middle and high school students; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island and Michigan were two of the first states to enact legislation mandating such education subsequently, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Illinois, California, Indiana, and Pennsylvania have passed laws requiring some form of Holocaust and Genocide Education, and Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia and a dozen other states have committed to enacting similar legislation; and

WHEREAS, The Holocaust is defined as the destruction of six million European Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators between 1933 and 1945. Genocide is defined as "acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group" and "… a series of purposeful actions by a perpetrator(s) to destroy a collectivity through mass or selective murders of group members and suppressing the biological and social reproduction of the collectivity"; and

WHEREAS, Holocaust and Genocide Education seeks to enhance education, cultural production, and public memory about the incidence of these atrocities – in the distant and not-so5 distant past. Educators must embrace the teaching and study of the topic and students must be motivated to employ critical thinking skills; and

WHEREAS, Holocaust and Genocide Education has additional prevalence in that it demonstrates what can happen when bullying, hate speech, and other forms of intimidation, often faced by today's students, are allowed to escalate into stereotyping, prejudice, racism, and worse; and

WHEREAS, It is essential to our state and our nation that we educate our youth about the millions of men, women and children who have and continue to be slaughtered and ostracized simply because of their beliefs and their heritage, or their strengths or their frailties, and we must firmly avow that the atrocities of the Holocaust and Genocide will never be repeated; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby strongly supports Holocaust and Genocide Education in Rhode Island's schools, reaffirms our pledge to work to eradicate bigotry, prejudice, brutality and injustice, and urges Rhode Island educators and students to learn about and learn from these atrocities so they may never blight our world again; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Rhode Island Holocaust Museum, the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island, the Jewish Community Center of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, and the Armenian National Committee in Washington.

Rhode Island Senate Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > Rhode Island

April 30, 2019

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2018 – S 0814

LC002366

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019SENATE RESOLUTION

PROCLAIMING APRIL 24, 2019, AS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" TO COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923, AND IN HONOR OF

ARMENIAN-AMERCIANS

Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Goodwin, and Metts

Date Introduced: April 30, 2019

Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, and resulted in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000 Armenians, of whom 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed, and the remaining 500,000 survived but were expelled from their homes. This act succeeded in the elimination of the Armenians from their historic ancestral homeland where they had resided for over 2,500 years; and

WHEREAS, On May 24, 1915, for the first time ever, the Allied Powers of England, France, and Russia, jointly issued a statement explicitly charging another government of committing "a crime against humanity"; and

WHEREAS, This joint statement declared, "the Allied Governments announce publicly to the Sublime Porte that they will hold personally responsible for these crimes all members of the Ottoman Government, as well as those of their agents who are implicated in such massacres"; and

WHEREAS, United States Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, Sr. explicitly described the policy of the Ottoman Empire's government to the United States Department of State as "a campaign of race extermination," and on July 16, 1915, was informed by United States Secretary of State Robert Lansing that the "Department approves your procedure... to stop Armenian persecution"; and

WHEREAS, The post-World War I Turkish government indicted the top leaders involved in the organization and execution of the Armenian Genocide and in the "massacre and destruction of the Armenians," and in a series of court-martials, officials of the Young Turk regime were charged, tried and convicted, for organizing and executing massacres against the Armenian people; and

WHEREAS, In 1948, the United Nations War Crimes Commission invoked the Armenian Genocide as "precisely... one of the types of acts which the modern term 'crimes against humanity' is intended to cover" as a precedent for the Nuremberg tribunals; and WHEREAS, The United States National Archives and Record Administration holds extensive and thorough documentation on the Armenian Genocide, especially in its holdings under Record Group 59 of the United States Department of State, files 867.00 and 867.40, which are open and widely available to the public and interested institutions; and

WHEREAS, The United States Holocaust Memorial Council, an independent federal agency, unanimously resolved on April 30, 1981, that the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum would include the Armenian Genocide in the museum and has since done so; and

WHEREAS, When one enters the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, there is an exhibit depicting Adolf Hitler, who on ordering his military commanders to attack Poland without provocation in 1939, dismissed objections by stating "[w]ho, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?", thus setting the stage for the Holocaust; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby recognizes April 24, 2019, as "Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate respectfully requests the President of the United States and the United States Congress to call on the government of Turkey to face history and acknowledge this crime of genocide committed by the Ottoman Turks in 1915 and further, urge the Turkish government to make restitution for the loss of lives, confiscated properties, and general unlawful deportations, separating the indigenous population from their homeland; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate expresses its deepest sympathy to the Armenian-American community of Rhode Island and assures them that this genocide will always be commemorated and never forgotten; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Donald Trump, President of the United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the Honorable Gina Raimondo, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington, and the Armenian National Committee in Washington.

California State Proclamation

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 24, 2019

PROCLAMATION

On this day in 1915, the Ottoman Empire began its systematic extermination of Armenian people, a minority group that had long been treated as second-class citizens. The Armenian Genocide began with the forced deportation and murder of hundreds of Armenian

intellectuals and community leaders and ended eight years later with the deaths of 1.5 million men, women and children. It was the first genocide of the 20th century.

As we remember the victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide, we also honor the strength and resilience of the Armenian people. Forced to build new lives in all corners of the globe, Armenians bravely forged ahead in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Thousands made their homes in California, and we are greater for their contributions. Author William Saroyan, a native of Fresno born to Armenian immigrants, captured the enduring strength and spirit of his community: when two members “meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a new Armenia.”

Today and every day, let us recommit ourselves to making certain that we never forget the Armenian Genocide, and that we always speak out against hatred and atrocities anywhere they occur.

NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2019, as a “Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.”

IN WITNESS WHEREOFI have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 24th day of April 2019.

GAVIN NEWSOM

Governor of California

California House Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

March 18, 2015

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H. RES. 154,Calling on the President to work toward equitable, constructive, stable, and durable Armenian Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey's full acknowledgment of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. DOLD (for himself, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. VALADAO, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. CHU of California, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, Mr. COSTA,

Mr. LAMALFA, Ms. TSONGAS, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. SHERMAN, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Ms.MENG, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. LIPINSKI, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California, Mr. KENNEDY, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. NUNES, Mr.DENHAM, Ms. LINDA T. SÁNCHEZ of California, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Ms. BASS, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. GARRETT, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. TITUS, Mr. CÁRDENAS, Ms.ESHOO, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. POLIS, Mr. TROTT, Ms. LEE, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. PETERSON, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. HONDA, and Mr. CAPUANO) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

________________________________________

RESOLUTIONCalling on the President to work toward equitable, constructive, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey's full acknowledgment of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.

Whereas the Obama Administration has, since early 2009, sought to improve Armenian-Turkish relations through diplomatic efforts to lift the Republic of Turkey's blockade of Armenia and facilitate an end to Ankara's refusal to establish diplomatic relations with Yerevan;

Whereas at the start of this process, President Barack Obama had, on April 6, 2009, voiced the United States Government's expectation that Armenia-Turkey dialogue would "bear fruit very quickly", but that, since then, the Obama Administration has commended Armenia's participation in this dialogue while holding Turkey largely responsible for the lack of results from this process, with the Secretary of State noting, on June 4, 2012, that, on this matter, "the ball remains in Turkey's court.";

Whereas on April 24, 2013, President Barack Obama stated, "A full, frank, and just acknowledgment of the facts is in all of our interests. Nations grow stronger by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past, thereby building a foundation for a more just and tolerant future.";

Whereas the Republic of Turkey, rather than acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past, has escalated its international campaign of Armenian Genocide denial, maintained its blockade of Armenia, and increased its pressure on the small but growing Turkish civil society movement acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and seeking justice for this systematic campaign of destruction of millions of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Pontians, Syriacs, and other Christians upon their biblical-era homelands;

Whereas the United States is on record as having officially recognized the Armenian Genocide, in the United States Government's May 28, 1951, written statement to the International Court of Justice regarding the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, through President Ronald Reagan's April 22, 1981, Proclamation No. 4838, and by Congressional legislation, including House Joint Resolution 148 adopted on April 8, 1975, and House Joint Resolution 247 adopted on September 10, 1984;

Whereas even prior to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the United States has a record of having sought to justly and constructively address

the consequences of the Ottoman Empire's intentional destruction of the Armenian people, including through Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 adopted on February 9, 1916, Senate Resolution 359 adopted on May 11, 1920, and President Woodrow Wilson's Decision of the President of the United States of America Respecting the Frontier between Turkey and Armenia, Access for Armenia to the Sea, and the Demilitarization of Turkish Territory Adjacent to the Armenian Frontier, dated November 22, 1920;

Whereas President Barack Obama entered office having stated his "firmly held conviction that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence", affirmed his record of "calling for Turkey's acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide", and pledged that "as President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide"; and

Whereas the United States national interests in the establishment of equitable, constructive, stable, and durable relations between Armenians and Turks cannot be meaningfully advanced by circumventing or otherwise seeking to avoid materially addressing the central political, legal, security, and moral issue between these two nations, Turkey's denial of truth and justice for the Armenian Genocide: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives calls on the President to work toward equitable, constructive, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey's full acknowledgment of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.

California State Legislature

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

December 1, 2014

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Assembly Joint Resolution No. 1

Introduced by Assembly Member Gatto

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 1--Relative to the Armenian Genocide.

Legislative Counsel's Digest

AJR 1, as introduced, Gatto. Armenian Genocide.

This measure would designate the week of April 18 to 24, 2015, as "California Week of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915--1923," commemorate the week of remembrance through the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Project, call upon Congress and the President of the United States to recognize the atrocities committed against the Armenian people, and call upon the Republic of Turkey to acknowledge the facts of the Armenian Genocide and work toward a just resolution

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide of 1915--1923 was the first genocide of the 20th century, in which 1.5 million men, women, and children lost their lives at the hands of the Turkish Ottoman Empire in their attempt to systematically eliminate the Armenian race; and

WHEREAS, In their 3,000 year historic homeland in Asia Minor, Armenians were subjected to severe and unjust persecution and brutality by the Turkish rulers of the Ottoman Empire before and after the turn of the 20th century, including widespread acts of destruction and murder during the period from 1894 to 1896, inclusive, and again in 1909; and

WHEREAS, The massacre of the Armenians constituted one of the most atrocious violations of human rights in the history of the world; and

WHEREAS, Adolph Hitler, in persuading his army commanders that the merciless persecution and killing of Jews, Poles, and other people would bring no retribution, declared, "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"; and

WHEREAS, Unlike other people and governments that have admitted and denounced the abuses and crimes of predecessor regimes, and despite the overwhelming proof of genocidal intent, the Republic of Turkey has inexplicably and adamantly denied the occurrence of the crimes against humanity committed by the Ottoman and Young Turk rulers, and those denials compound the grief of the few remaining survivors of the atrocities, desecrate the memory of the victims, and cause continuing pain to the descendants of the victims; and

WHEREAS, Leaders of nations with strategic, commercial, and cultural ties to the Republic of Turkey should be reminded of their duty to encourage Turkish officials to cease efforts to distort facts and deny the history of events surrounding the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, The determination of those who continue to speak the truth about the Armenian Genocide is tested to this day with some of these speakers of truth being silenced by violent means; and

WHEREAS, The accelerated level and scope of denial and revisionism, coupled with the passage of time and the fact that very few survivors remain who can serve as reminders of indescribable brutality and tormented lives, compel a sense of urgency in efforts to solidify recognition of historical truth; and

WHEREAS, By consistently remembering and forcefully condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, and honoring the survivors as well as other victims of similar heinous conduct, we guard against repetition of such acts of genocide and provide the American public with a greater understanding of its heritage; and

WHEREAS, This measure would provide that the Legislature deplores the persistent, ongoing efforts by any person in this country or abroad to deny the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, California is home to the largest Armenian-American population in the United States, and Armenians living in California have enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; and

WHEREAS, The State of California has been at the forefront of encouraging and promoting a curriculum relating to human rights and genocide in order to empower future generations to prevent recurrence of the crime of genocide; and

WHEREAS, On this hundred-year anniversary marking the start of this horrific and shameful chapter in human history, we stop to reflect on the time that has passed and pledge not to become complacent in our vigilance against those entities who would commit such horrible acts against their fellow men and women; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the State of California commends its conscientious educators who teach about human rights and genocide; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California hereby designates the week of April 18 to 24, 2015, as "California Week of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915--1923"; and be it further

Resolved,That California commemorates California Week of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide through the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Project; and be it further

Resolved, That the State of California respectfully calls upon the Congress and the President of the United States to act likewise and to formally and consistently recognize and reaffirm the historical truth that the atrocities committed against the Armenian people constituted genocide; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature calls upon the Republic of Turkey to acknowledge the facts of the Armenian Genocide and to work toward a just resolution; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the Senate, each member of the California delegation to the United States Congress, the Governor, and the Turkish Ambassador to the United States.

California State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 28, 2010

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EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

PROCLAMATION

It is important to remember the horrors of the past in order to keep history from repeating itself. The Armenian Genocide was a terrible breach of human rights and an event that has outraged the world. Between 1915 and 1923, 1.5 million innocent Armenians lost their lives at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, and 500,000 more were forced from their homeland.

The atrocities carried out against the Armenian people were grave and unimaginable, as they were subjected to deportation, abduction, torture, starvation and more. And as with any violent conflict, Armenian women and children suffered the worst abuses. The bulk of the Armenian population that was displaced from their homes was forced to escape to neighboring as well as faraway countries. Many fled to the United States.

Today, California is honored to be home to a vibrant Armenian-American population, the largest outside the Republic of Armenia. This thriving community is a proud reminder of survival and determination even in the face of extreme injustice.

As Americans and Californians; it is our duty to raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide and to participate in the remembrance and mourning of the loss of innocent lives.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim April 19-26, 2010, as "Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide."

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 8th day of April 2010.

[signed]

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

Governor of California

California State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 13, 2009

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTSTATE OF CALIFORNIA

PROCLAMATION

On the night of April 24, 1915, more than 200 leaders in the Armenian community, in the city known today as Istanbul, were arrested. Sent to prison, most were executed, beginning a horrible, systemic killing and forced relocation of the Armenian people that would last until 1923. During these years, the government of the Ottoman Empire claimed the lives of 1.5 million Armenians and forced 500,000 more from their homeland.

Those who escaped death had to flee, and many of them settled right here in California. They and their descendants have become leaders in all walks of life and have made extraordinary contributions to our state. While their presence has been and continues to be a great blessing to California, it also reminds us of the incredible evils that brought them far from their ancestral homes.

Four years ago I signed a bill that permanently recognized the Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. This week, we honor that commitment as we stand with our Armenian friends and neighbors here and across the world in remembering and acknowledging the genocide, the families it destroyed and the history it changed. We do not like to recall such sorrows, but we must, so that we can learn from history and renew our efforts to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim April 19-26, 2009, as "Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide."

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 13th day of April 2009.

SignedArnold SchwarzeneggerGovernor of California

California State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 7, 2008

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

PROCLAMATION

Every April, we take time to commemorate the lives of those forever devastated by the Armenian Genocide. Between 1915 and 1923, more than one million Armenians were killed in the territory of the Ottoman Empire, and countless more lost everything they owned. Intellects and store owners, children and seniors, men and women, people from all walks of life were victims of these horrific acts. Often listed as the first genocide of the twentieth century, these events had a life-altering impact on many, and stimulated an Armenian Diaspora.

California has ensured that those lost and affected by this tragedy will not be forgotten. In 2006, I signed Assembly Bill 1210, authored by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, to allow construction of a memorial for California's survivors in Capitol Park. Additionally, in 2005, I signed Senate Bill 424, authored by Senator Chuck Poochigian, which designated in state law a specific time to observe the California Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.

I ask all Californians to take time this week to reflect on this tragedy and its consequences. In joining our friends in the Armenian --American community in this observance, all of California helps remember the lives that were lost or changed by these fateful events.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim April 20-27, 2008 as "Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide."

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 7th day of April 2008.

(Signed)ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGERGovernor of California

California State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 6, 2007

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GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

PROCLAMATION

Between the years 1915 and 1923, during the chaos of World War I, over one million Armenian men, women and children living within the Ottoman Empire's borders were killed; forcing hundreds of thousands of Armenians to flee to foreign countries after being stripped of their possessions, their national identities and their homeland.

Scores fled to the United States, and California was fortunate to become home to one of the largest populations of Armenians outside the Republic of Armenia. Many of California's Armenian-American families are the descendents of these courageous genocide survivors, whose hope for a life independent war and violence was realized on our soil. Like their family members before them, the Armenian-American community bravely flourished and contributed much to our state and nation.

Documented as the first instance of genocide in the twentieth century, the Armenian Genocide remains unacknowledged to this day. I strongly echo the sentiments that all nations must examine their own painful histories, as the denial of genocide further wounds a nation's ability to heal. Though over ninety years have passed since these mass killings took place, present day atrocities resonate throughout the world. It is our responsibility to recognize the brutal slayings of so many innocents, remembering their suffering and vowing to help prevent future genocides.

I join California's Armenian-American communities and all Armenians worldwide in remembering those who were killed and persecuted during the Armenian Genocide, and urge people throughout the world to never forget these horrific crimes against humanity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim the week of April 22nd -- April 29th, 2007, as "Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide."

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have here unto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 6th day of April 2007.

Arnold SchwarzeneggerGOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA

California State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 21, 2006

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

P R O C L A M A T I O Nby the

Governor of the State of California

April 24, 1915, marked the beginning of the Armenian Genocide - a crime against humanity that led to the death of 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1923. The 500,000 Armenians who survived the horrors of this extermination by the Ottoman Empire were expelled from their homes and forced to settle in various countries throughout the world.

Stripped of their possessions, these refugees carried with them little more than the memories of loved ones, a hope for a better life and the courage to start anew. Armed with this determination, they flourished in many of their adopted homelands, including California - home to the largest Armenian population outside of the Republic of Armenia.

Today, these Armenian survivors and their descendants continue to provide tremendous leadership and invaluable contributions to our state's businesses, art community, and academic, governmental and cultural institutions. Their spirit of hard work and perseverance, coupled with their dedication to tradition, is a great example to all Californians and adds to the luster of our Golden State.

As we commemorate the ninety-first anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we must study and learn history's lessons, fight to end bigotry and hate in all their forms and live lives of tolerance towards all people. Silence only serves to perpetuate the denial of the past, while open acknowledgement lays the foundation for a more hopeful tomorrow. In that spirit of hope, I stand alongside our friends in the Armenian community in recognizing the Armenian Genocide, and urge all freedom-loving people in America and around the world to do the same.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim the week of April 23rd through April 29th, 2006, as "Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide."

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have here unto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this the nineteenth day of April 2006.

/s/ Arnold Schwarzenegger

Governor of California

California State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 24, 2005

State of California Resolution

Ninety years ago today, the Ottoman Turkish government waged a war of terror on Armenian culture through the brutal deportation, imprisonment and decimation of men, women and children of Armenian descent.

By 1923, the Ottoman Empire had dissolved, but its monstrous attempt at ethnic cleansing left more than 1.5 million Armenians massacred and 500,000 survivors forcibly exiled from their ancestral homeland.

Today, the Republic of Armenia remains as the world's remainder of the Armenian Genocide and of the indestructible spirit of a people. It is a nation founded on the principles of freedom and democracy that we as Americans prize above all else. Our state's flourishing Armenian-American population- the largest outside of Armenia- has left its indelible stamp on our state's history, industry and culture.

Each year, the Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide brings an opportunity for all people to scrutinize the cause and consequence of this grim massacre. To carve out a secure future free for intolerance and persecution, we must examine the past and heed history's lessons of forewarning- for the sake of future generations who inherit our civilization.

In 1969, then-Governor Ronald Reagan said, "Today, I humbly bow in memory of the Armenian

martyrs, who died in the name of freedom." On the 90th anniversary of this great human tragedy, Californians continue to join with freedom-loving people around the world to honor the Armenian people as they continue to show the world the true meaning of hope, renewal and perseverance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2005, as a "Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide."

California State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 22, 2004

On April 24, 1915, in Constantinople, the Ottoman Turkish government arrested and murdered several hundred Armenian religious, political and intellectual leaders, beginning a campaign of terror known as the Armenian Genocide.

From 1915 to 1923, the Ottoman Empire executed a systematic destruction of Armenian culture through the forced exile, imprisonment and annihilation of men, women and children of Armenian descent. More than 1.5 million Armenians perished, and 500,000 survivors were forced to leave their ancestral homeland in Turkey. Whole villages were massacred and many people died of exposure and starvation during forced death marches in the desert.

Despite this great tragedy, the Armenian people have persevered and today are striving to build a free and proud nation, based on the principles of democracy and a free-market economy. California is home to 700,000 Armenians - the largest Armenian community outside the Republic of Armenia. Throughout the decades, the Armenian-American community has contributed to California agriculture, business, education, public service and the arts. They have retained their distinct heritage, language and religion, bringing rich cultural diversity to the Golden State.

On this 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we join with Armenians around the world to mourn the loss of so many innocent lives. In remembering this great human tragedy, we rededicate ourselves to combat injustice, and we honor the triumphant spirit of the Armenian people.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim Saturday, April 24, 2004, as a "Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide."

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have here unto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this the twenty-second day of April 2004.

signed Arnold Schwarzenegger

Governor of California

California Senate Joint Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 10, 2003

BILL NUMBER: SJR 1 ENROLLED

BILL TEXT

PASSED THE SENATE APRIL 10, 2003PASSED THE ASSEMBLY APRIL 10, 2003AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 10, 2003AMENDED IN SENATE FEBRUARY 18, 2003

INTRODUCED BY Senator Poochigian

(Principal coauthors: Senators Scott and Speier)

(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Aghazarian, Frommer, Liu, Samuelian, and Simitian)

(Coauthors: Senators Aanestad, Ackerman, Alarcon, Alpert, Ashburn, Battin, Bowen, Brulte, Burton, Cedillo, Chesbro, Denham, Ducheny, Dunn, Escutia, Figueroa, Florez, Hollingsworth, Johnson, Karnette, Knight, Kuehl, Machado, Margett, McClintock, McPherson, Morrow, Murray, Oller, Ortiz, Perata, Romero, Sher, Soto, Torlakson, Vasconcellos, and Vincent)

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Bates, Benoit, Bermudez, Chavez, Cogdill, Cox, Daucher, Dutton, Garcia, Haynes, Koretz, Laird, La Malfa, Leslie, Levine, Longville, Maddox, Maze, McCarthy, Mountjoy, Nunez, Pacheco, Plescia, Spitzer, Strickland, Vargas, Wyland, Yee, Berg, Bogh, Campbell, Canciamilla, Chu, Cohn, Corbett, Diaz, Dutra, Dymally, Firebaugh, Goldberg, Hancock, Harman, Jerome Horton, Shirley Horton, Houston, Jackson, Keene, Kehoe, La Suer, Leno, Lieber, Lowenthal, Maldonado, Matthews, Montanez, Mullin, Nakanishi, Nakano, Nation, Negrete McLeod, Parra, Pavley, Reyes, Richman, Ridley-Thomas, Runner, Salinas, Steinberg, Wesson, Wiggins, and Wolk)

DECEMBER 2, 2002

Senate Joint Resolution No. 1--Relative to the Armenian Genocide.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SJR 1, Poochigian. Armenian Genocide: Day of Remembrance. This measure would designate April 24, 2003, as the "California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923." It would memorialize the Congress of the United States to act likewise to commemorate the Armenian Genocide.

WHEREAS, The Armenian people, living in their 3,000 year historic homeland in eastern Asia Minor and throughout the Ottoman Empire, were subjected to severe persecution and brutal injustice by the rulers of the Ottoman Empire before and after the turn of the twentieth century, including widespread massacres, usurpation of land and property, and acts of wanton destruction during the period from 1894 to 1896, and again in 1909; and

WHEREAS, The horrible experience of the Armenians at the hands of their oppressors culminated in 1915 in what is known by historians as the "First Genocide of the Twentieth Century," and as the prototype of modern-day mass killing; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide began with the arrest, exile, and murder of hundreds of Armenian intellectuals, and political, religious, and business leaders, starting on April 24, 1915; and

WHEREAS, The regime then in control of the empire, known as the "Young Turks," planned and executed the unspeakable atrocities committed against the Armenian people from 1915 through 1923, which included the torture, starvation, and murder of 1,500,000 Armenians, death marches into the Syrian desert, the forced exile of more than 500,000 innocent people, and the loss of the traditional Armenian homelands; and

WHEREAS, While there were some Turks and others who jeopardized their safety in order to protect Armenians from the crimes being perpetrated by the Young Turk regime, the genocide of the Armenian people constituted one of the most egregious violations of human rights in the history of the world; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of this devoted people. I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915. The killing of the Armenian people was accompanied by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years"; and

WHEREAS, Winston Churchill wrote: "As for Turkish atrocities: ... massacring uncounted thousands of helpless Armenians, men, women, and children together, whole districts blotted out in one administrative holocaust--these were beyond human redress"; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers like the New York Times commonly carried headlines such as "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed," "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile," and "Wholesale Massacre of Armenians by Turks"; and

WHEREAS, Adolph Hitler, in persuading his army commanders on the eve of World War II that the merciless persecution and killing of Poles, Jews, and other peoples would bring no retribution, declared, "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians"; and

WHEREAS, Unlike other peoples and governments that have admitted and denounced the abuses and crimes of predecessor regimes, and despite the overwhelming weight of evidence, the Republic of Turkey has inexplicably and adamantly denied the occurrence of the crimes against humanity committed by the Young Turk rulers, and those denials compound the grief of the few remaining survivors of the atrocities, desecrate the memory of the victims, and cause continuing trauma and pain to the descendants of the victims; and

WHEREAS, Nations that have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide have been subjected to retaliation and condemnation by Turkey; and

WHEREAS, There have been concerted efforts to revise history through the dissemination of propaganda suggesting that Armenians were responsible for their fate in the period from 1915 through 1923 and by the funding of programs at American educational institutions for the purpose of furthering the cause of this revisionism; and

WHEREAS, Leaders of nations with strategic, commercial, and cultural ties to the Republic of Turkey should be reminded of their duty to encourage Turkish officials to desist from efforts to distort facts and deny the history of events surrounding the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, The accelerated level and scope of denial and revisionism, coupled with the passage of time and the fact that few survivors remain who serve as reminders of indescribable brutality and torment, compel a sense of urgency in efforts to solidify recognition and reaffirmation of historical truth; and

WHEREAS, By honoring the survivors and consistently remembering and forcefully condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenian people as well as the persecution of the Assyrian and Greek populations of the Ottoman Empire, we guard against repetition of the crime of genocide; and

WHEREAS, California has become home to the largest population of Armenians in the United States, and those citizens have enriched our state through leadership in the fields of academia, medicine, business, agriculture, government, and the arts and are proud and patriotic practitioners of American citizenship; and

WHEREAS, The State of California has been at the forefront in encouraging and promoting a curriculum relating to human rights and genocide in order to empower future generations to prevent recurrence of the crime of genocide; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California hereby designates April 24, 2003, as the "California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923"; and be it further

Resolved, That the State of California commends its conscientious educators who teach about human rights and genocide; and be it further

Resolved, That the State of California respectfully memorializes the Congress of the United States to act likewise to commemorate the Armenian Genocide; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, Members of the United States Congress, and the Governor.

California State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 3, 2003

Executive Department

State of California

Proclamationby the Governor of the State of California

WHEREAS, the Ottoman Empire executed a prolonged program of terror and mass execution that resulted in the deaths of more than 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenians heritage; and

WHEREAS, a million and a half Armenians were killed during the Armenian Genocide because of the abhorrent ignorance, intolerance, and inhumanity that prevailed in Turkey during the year 1915; and

WHEREAS, to ensure that the terrible truth is never forgotten and that future generation of Armenian Americans and Californians can learn about this painful and important episode in history, school and universities throughout California should promote awareness and teach students about the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, we must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenians Genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help people better understand the necessity of eliminating hatred form our own communities; and

WHEREAS, April 24, 2003 marks the 88th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a day we recall one of the most horrific tragedies of the 20th century, and a day hundreds of thousands of Armenians living in California mourn the unjustifiable loss of their forefathers;

NOW, THEREFORE, I GRAY DAVIS, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2003 as a "State Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide."

IN WITNESS HEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this the third day of April 2003.

(signed)Gray Davis

Governor of California

California Assembly Joint Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 26, 2002

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 44

Resolution Chapter 39

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 44 – Relative to the Armenian Genocide.(Filed with Secretary of State April 26, 2002)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AJR 44, Simitian. Armenian Genocide: Day of Remembrance. This measure would designate April 24, 2002, as “California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.” It would memorialize the Congress of the United States to likewise commemorate the Armenian Genocide.

WHEREAS, One and one-half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide and massacre of the Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, To this day revisionists still inexplicably deny the existence of these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, By consistently remembering and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, California residents demonstrate their sensitivity to the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities connected to these tragic events; and

WHEREAS, Recognition of the 87th anniversary of this genocide is crucial to preventing the repetition of future genocides and educating people about the atrocities connected to these tragic events; and

WHEREAS, Armenia is now a free and independent republic, having embraced democracy following the dissolution of the Soviet Union; and

WHEREAS, California is home to the largest population of Armenians in the United States, and those citizens have enriched our state though their leadership in the fields of business, agriculture, academia, medicine, government, and the arts and are proud and patriotic practitioners of American citizenship; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California hereby designates April 24, 2002, as “California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923”; and be it further

Resolved, That the State of California respectfully memorializes the Congress of the United States to likewise act to commemorate the Armenian Genocide; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, Members of the United States Congress, the Governor, and Armenian churches and commemorative organizations in California.

California State Senate Joint Resolution

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April 30, 2001

BILL NUMBER: SJR 5 CHAPTERED

BILL TEXT

RESOLUTION CHAPTER 31FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 30, 2001ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 23, 2001ADOPTED IN SENATE MARCH 22, 2001AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 8, 2001

INTRODUCED BY Senators Poochigian and Speier(Principal coauthor: Senator Scott)(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Alquist, Frommer, Liu, Papan, and Simitian)

FEBRUARY 23, 2001

Senate Joint Resolution No. 5--Relative to the Armenian Genocide.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SJR 5, Poochigian. Armenian Genocide: Day of Remembrance. This measure would designate April 24, 2001, as "California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923." It would memorialize the Congress of the United States to likewise act to commemorate the Armenian Genocide.

WHEREAS, Armenians living in their historic homeland in Asia Minor were subjected to severe persecution and brutal injustice by the Turkish rulers of the Ottoman Empire before and after the turn of the twentieth century, including widespread acts of destruction, mayhem, and murder during the period from 1894 to 1896, and again in 1909; and

WHEREAS, The horrible experience of the Armenians at the hands of their Turkish oppressors culminated with what is known by historians as the "First Genocide of the Twentieth Century," or the "Forgotten Genocide"; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide began with the murder of hundreds of Armenian intellectuals, and political, religious, and business leaders who were arrested and taken from their homes in Constantinople before dawn on April 24, 1915; and

WHEREAS, The Young Turk regime then in control of the empire planned and executed the unspeakable atrocities committed against the Armenians from 1915 through 1923, including the torture, starvation, and murder of 1.5 million Armenians, death marches into the Syrian desert, and the exile of more than 500,000 innocent people; and

WHEREAS, While there were some Turks who jeopardized their safety in order to protect Armenians from the slaughter being perpetrated by the Young Turk regime, the massacres of the Armenians constituted one of the most atrocious violations of human rights in the history of the world; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of this devoted people. I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915. The killing of the Armenian people was accompanied by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years"; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers like the New York Times carried headlines including, "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed," "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile," and "Wholesale Massacre of Armenians by Turks"; and

WHEREAS, Adolph Hitler, in persuading his army commanders that the merciless persecution and killing of Jews, Poles, and other groups of people would bring no retribution, declared, "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians"; and

WHEREAS, Unlike other groups and governments that have admitted the abuses and crimes of predecessor regimes, and despite the overwhelming weight of the evidence, the Republic of Turkey has denied the occurrence of the crimes against humanity committed by the Young Turk rulers, and those denials compound the grief of the few remaining survivors of the atrocities and desecrate the memory of the victims; and

WHEREAS, Nations of the world have suffered reprisals and condemnations by Turkey because of efforts to commemorate the Armenian Genocide; and WHEREAS, There have been concerted efforts to revise history through the dissemination of propaganda suggesting that Armenians were responsible for their fate in the period from 1915 through 1923 and by the funding of programs at American educational institutions for the purpose of furthering the cause of this revisionism and to counter, in the words of a Turkish official, "the Armenian view"; and

WHEREAS, Leaders of nations with strategic, commercial, and cultural ties to the Republic of Turkey should be reminded of their duty to encourage Turkish officials to cease efforts to distort facts and deny the history of events surrounding the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, The accelerated level and scope of denial and revisionism, coupled with the passage of time and the fact that very few survivors remain who serve as reminders of indescribable brutality and tormented lives, compel a sense of urgency in efforts to solidify recognition of historical truth; and

WHEREAS, By consistently remembering and forcefully condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians and honoring the survivors, as well as other victims of similar heinous conduct, we guard against repetition of those acts of genocide; and

WHEREAS, California is home to the largest population of Armenians in the United States, and those citizens have enriched our state through their leadership in the fields of business, agriculture, academia, medicine, government, and the arts and are proud and patriotic practitioners of American citizenship; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California hereby designates April 24, 2001, as "California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923;" and be it further

Resolved, That the State of California respectfully memorializes the Congress of the United States to likewise act to commemorate the Armenian Genocide; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, Members of the United States Congress, the Governor, and Armenian churches and commemorative organizations in California.

California State Senate

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

September 20, 2000

Senate Bill No. 1915CHAPTER 543

An act to add Section 354.4 to the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to insurance for Armenian Genocide victims, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.

[Approved by Governor September 18, 2000, Filed with Secretary of State September 20, 2000.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1915, Poochigian. Insurance: Armenian Genocide victims.Existing law authorizes any Holocaust victim, as defined, or anheir or beneficiary of a Holocaust victim, who resides in this stateand has a claim arising out of an insurance policy or policiespurchased or in effect in Europe before 1945 from a specified insurerto bring a legal action to recover on that claim in any superiorcourt of the state for the county in which the plaintiff or one ofthe plaintiffs resides, which shall be vested with jurisdiction overthat action until its completion or resolution. Existing law alsoprovides that any claim of this type shall not be dismissed forfailure to comply with the applicable statute of limitation if theaction is commenced on or before December 31, 2010.This bill would enact similar provisions applicable to anyArmenian Genocide victim, as defined, or an heir or beneficiary ofthat victim, who resides in this state and has a claim arising out ofan insurance policy or policies purchased or in effect in Europe orAsia between 1875 and 1923.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately asan urgency statute.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature recognizes that during the periodfrom 1915 to 1923, many persons of Armenian ancestry residing in thehistoric Armenian homeland then situated in the Ottoman Empire werevictims of massacre, torture, starvation, death marches, and exile.This period is known as the Armenian Genocide.(b) The Legislature further recognizes that thousands of ArmenianGenocide survivors and the heirs of Armenian Genocide victims areresidents or citizens of the State of California. The Legislaturefurther recognizes and finds that these people have, too often, beendeprived of their entitlement to benefits under insurance policiesissued in Europe and Asia by insurance companies prior to, and duringthe period of time of, the Armenian Genocide. California has anoverwhelming public policy interest in ensuring that its residentsand citizens who are claiming entitlement to benefits under policiesissued to Armenian Genocide victims are treated reasonably andfairly and that those legal obligations are honored.(c) It is the specific intent of the Legislature to ensure thatArmenian Genocide victims and their heirs be permitted to have anexpeditious, inexpensive, and fair forum in which to resolve theirclaims for benefits under these policies by allowing actions to bebrought in California

irrespective of any contrary forum selectionprovision contained in the policies themselves. It is the finding ofthe Legislature that enforcement of forum selection provisions inthose policies would work an undue, unreasonable, and unjust hardshipon Armenian Genocide victims and their heirs who are residents ofCalifornia and that those provisions are against public policy andare hereby made unenforceable with respect to the policies as towhich this act applies.(d) To the extent that the statute of limitations regardingcontractual or tort claims arising from the denial of benefits underthe policies is extended by this act, that extension of thelimitations period is intended to be applied retroactively,irrespective of whether the claims were otherwise barred by anyapplicable statute of limitations under any other provision of lawprior to the enactment of this act.SEC. 2. Section 354.4 is added to the Code of Civil Procedure, toread:354.4. (a) The following definitions govern the construction ofthis section:(1) "Armenian Genocide victim" means any person of Armenian orother ancestry living in the Ottoman Empire during the period of 1915to 1923, inclusive, who died, was deported, or escaped to avoidpersecution during that period.(2) "Insurer" means an insurance provider doing business in thestate, or whose contacts in the state satisfy the constitutionalrequirements for jurisdiction, that sold life, property, liability,health, annuities, dowry, educational, casualty, or any otherinsurance covering persons or property to persons in Europe or Asiaat any time between 1875 and 1923.(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any ArmenianGenocide victim, or heir or beneficiary of an Armenian Genocidevictim, who resides in this state and has a claim arising out of aninsurance policy or policies purchased or in effect in Europe or Asiabetween 1875 and 1923 from an insurer described in paragraph (2) ofsubdivision (a), may bring a legal action or may continue a pendinglegal action to recover on that claim in any court of competentjurisdiction in this state, which court shall be deemed the properforum for that action until its completion or resolution.(c) Any action, including any pending action brought by anArmenian Genocide victim or the heir or beneficiary of an ArmenianGenocide victim, whether a resident or nonresident of this state,seeking benefits under the insurance policies issued or in effectbetween 1875 and 1923 shall not be dismissed for failure to complywith the applicable statute of limitation, provided the action isfiled on or before December 31, 2010.(d) The provisions of this section are severable. If anyprovision of this section or its application is held invalid, thatinvalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that canbe given effect without the invalid provision or application.SEC. 3. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediatepreservation of the public peace, health, or safety within themeaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediateeffect. The facts constituting the necessity are:In order to provide just compensation to aging Armenian Genocidevictims and their heirs, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.

Read the official resolution of the California Senate Bill 1915 from the State of California's official web site.

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May 3, 1999

CALIFORNIA

RESOLUTION

BILL NUMBER: ACR 20

PASSED THE SENATE APRIL 29, 1999 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY APRIL 15, 1999 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 15, 1999

INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Kaloogian and Senator Poochigian and Assembly Members Wildman, Papan, and Alquist (Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Villaraigosa and Hertzberg) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Aanestad, Ackerman, Aroner, Ashburn, Baldwin, Bates, Battin, Baugh, Bock, Brewer, Briggs, Calderon, Campbell, Cardenas, Cardoza, Cedillo, Corbett, Correa, Cox, Cunneen, Davis, Dickerson, Ducheny, Dutra, Firebaugh, Florez, Floyd, Frusetta, Gallegos, Granlund, Havice, Honda, House, Jackson, Keeley, Knox, Kuehl, Leach, Lempert, Leonard, Longville, Lowenthal, Machado, Maddox, Maldonado, Margett, Mazzoni, McClintock, Migden, Nakano, Olberg, Oller, Robert Pacheco, Rod Pacheco, Pescetti, Reyes, Romero, Runner, Scott, Shelley, Soto, Steinberg, Strickland, Strom-Martin, Thomson, Torlakson, Vincent, Wayne, Wesson, Wiggins, Wright, and Zettel)

MARCH 3, 1999

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 20--Relative to the Armenian Genocide.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: DAY OF REMEMBRANCE.

THIS MEASURE WOULD DESIGNATE APRIL 24, 1999, AS "CALIFORNIA DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915-1923, AND FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE SUMGAIT POGROMS OF 1988 AND BAKU RIOTS OF 1990." IT WOULD CALL UPON THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA TO USE VIGILANCE TO ENSURE THE PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF THE NAGORNO KARABAGH CONFLICT WHILE PROTECTING THE SECURITY OF THE ARMENIANS IN THE REPUBLIC OF NAGORNO KARABAGH.

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 was the first genocide of the 20th century, in which 1.5 million men, women, and children lost their lives at the hands of the Turkish Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, During the seven decades of the USSR's existence, the government of Soviet Azerbaijan conducted a systematic policy of removal of Karabagh Armenians from their historic homeland; and

WHEREAS, Armenians in Azerbaijan fell victims to the Sumgait Pogroms in 1988 resulting in 72 deaths, the Baku anti-Armenian riots in 1990 resulting in 68 Armenian deaths, and the mass deportations of 350,000 Armenians from Azerbaijan; and

WHEREAS, Recognition of these instances of man's inhumanity to man is crucial to ensuring against the repetition of genocide and provides the American public with a greater understanding of its heritage; and

WHEREAS, Armenians in the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh remain at risk of yet another genocide until the time when a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno Karabagh conflict is reached that guarantees the freedom and security for these people while supporting their right to self-determination; and

WHEREAS, Despite the abundance of overwhelming and convincing evidence, the government of Turkey persists in denying the occurrence of the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, California is home to the largest Armenian-American population in the United States, and Armenians living in California have enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California hereby designates April 24, 1999, as "California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, and for the Victims of the Sumgait Pogroms of 1988 and Baku Riots of 1990"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the people of California are called upon to use vigilance to ensure the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict while protecting the security of the Armenians in the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Governor and to the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee.

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April 23, 1998

RESOLUTION CHAPTER 29FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 23, 1998ADOPTED IN SENATE APRIL 23, 1998ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 23, 1998AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 23, 1998AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 20, 1998

INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Poochigian, Kaloogian, Papan, and Wildman

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Ackerman, Aguiar, Alby, Alquist, Aroner, Ashburn, Baca, Baldwin, Battin, Baugh, Bordonaro, Bowen, Bowler, Brewer, Brown, Bustamante, Campbell, Cardenas, Cardoza, Cedillo, Cunneen, Davis, Ducheny, Escutia, Figueroa, Firestone, Floyd, Frusetta, Gallegos, Goldsmith, Granlund, Havice, Hertzberg, Honda, House, Keeley, Knox, Kuehl, Kuykendall, Leach, Lempert, Leonard, Machado, Margett, Martinez, Mazzoni, McClintock, Migden, Miller, Morrissey, Morrow, Murray, Napolitano, Olberg, Oller, Ortiz, Pacheco, Perata, Prenter, Pringle, Richter, Runner, Scott, Shelley, Strom-Martin, Sweeney, Takasugi, Thompson, Thomson, Torlakson, Villaraigosa, Vincent, Washington, Wayne, Woods, and Wright) (Coauthors: Senators Ayala, Brulte, Burton, Costa, Dills, Greene, Hayden, Haynes, Hughes, Johannessen, Johnson, Johnston, Karnette, Kelley, Knight, Kopp, Leslie, Lewis, Lockyer, Maddy, McPherson, Monteith, Mountjoy, O'Connell, Peace, Polanco, Rainey, Rosenthal, Schiff, Sher, Solis, Thompson, Vasconcellos, and Wright)

APRIL 13, 1998

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 138 — Relative to Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

ACR 138, Poochigian. Armenian genocide remembrance. This measure would designate April 24, 1998, as the "California Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23."

WHEREAS, Armenians living in their 3,000 year historic homeland in Asia Minor were subjected to severe persecution and brutal injustice by the Turkish rulers of the Ottoman Empire before and after the turn of the 20th century, including widespread acts of destruction and murder during the period from 1894-1896 and again in 1909; and

WHEREAS, The horrible experience of the Armenians at the hands of their Turkish oppressors culminated with what is known by historians as the First Genocide of the Twentieth Century, or the "Forgotten Genocide"; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide began with the murder of hundreds of Armenian intellectuals, and political, religious, and business leaders who were arrested and taken from their homes in Constantinople before dawn on April 24, 1915; and

WHEREAS, The Young Turk regime then in control of the empire planned and executed the unspeakable atrocities committed against the Armenians from 1915 through 1923, that included the torture, starvation, and murder of 1,500,000 Armenians, death marches into the Syrian desert, and the exile of more than 500,000 innocent people; and

WHEREAS, While there were some Turks who jeopardized their safety in order to protect Armenians from the slaughter being perpetrated by the Young Turk regime, the massacres of the Armenians constituted one of the most atrocious violations of human rights in the history of the world; and

WHEREAS, The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., stated: "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily misfortunes of this devoted people. I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the

Armenian race in 1915. The killing of the Armenian people was accompanied by the systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art and cultural monuments, in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization with a history of more than three thousand years"; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers like the New York Times commonly carried headlines such as the following: "Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed," "Million Armenians Killed or in Exile," "Wholesale Massacre of Armenians by Turks"; and

WHEREAS, Adolph Hitler, in persuading his army commanders that the merciless persecution and killing of Jews, Poles, and other peoples would bring no retribution, declared, "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians"; and

WHEREAS, Unlike other peoples and governments that have admitted the abuses and crimes of predecessor regimes, and despite the overwhelming weight of evidence, the Republic of Turkey has denied the occurrence of the crimes against humanity committed by the Young Turk rulers, and those denials compound the grief of the few remaining survivors of the atrocities and desecrate the memory of the victims; and

WHEREAS, There are concerted efforts to revise history through the dissemination of propaganda suggesting that Armenians were responsible for their fate in the period from 1915 through 1923 and by funding of programs at American educational institutions for the purpose of furthering the cause of such revisionism and to counter, in the words of a Turkish official, "the Armenian view"; and

WHEREAS, The accelerated level and scope of denial and revisionism, coupled with the passage of time and the fact that very few survivors remain who serve as reminders of indescribable brutality and tormented lives, compel a sense of urgency in efforts to solidify recognition of historical truth; and

WHEREAS, By consistently remembering and forcefully condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians and honoring the survivors, as well as other victims of similar heinous conduct, we guard against repetition of such acts of genocide; and

WHEREAS, California is home to the largest population of Armenians in the United States, and those citizens have enriched our state through leadership in the fields of academia, medicine, business, agriculture, government, and the arts, and are proud and patriotic practitioners of American citizenship; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California hereby designates April 24, 1998, as the "California Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23"; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Governor and to Armenian churches and commemorative organizations.

Search the web site of the California state legislature for measures on the Armenian Genocide. Select the time period in the "Session" box, type "Armenian Genocide" in the "Author(s) and/or Keyword(s)"

California State Legislature

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

May 7, 1997

RESOLUTION CHAPTER 36FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MAY 7, 1997ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 5, 1997ADOPTED IN SENATE APRIL 24, 1997AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 24, 1997AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 21, 1997

INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Kaloogian, Poochigian, Wildman, Papan, Ackerman, Aguiar, Alby, Alquist, Aroner, Ashburn, Baca, Baldwin, Battin, Baugh, Bordonaro, Bowen, Bowler, Brown, Bustamante, Caldera, Campbell, Cardoza, Cunneen, Davis, Ducheny, Escutia, Figueroa, Firestone, Frusetta, Gallegos, Goldsmith, Granlund, Havice, Hertzberg, House, Keeley, Knox, Kuehl, Kuykendall, Leach, Lempert, Leonard, Machado, Margett, Mazzoni, McClintock, Miller, Morrissey, Morrow, Murray, Napolitano, Olberg, Oller, Ortiz, Pacheco, Perata, Prenter, Pringle, Richter, Runner, Scott, Shelley, Strom-Martin, Sweeney, Takasugi, Thompson, Thomson, Torlakson, Villaraigosa, Vincent, Washington, Wayne, Woods, and Wright

(Coauthors: Senators Alpert, Ayala, Brulte, Burton, Calderon, Costa, Dills, Greene, Hayden, Haynes, Hughes, Hurtt, Johannessen, Johnson, Johnston, Karnette, Kelley, Knight, Kopp, Lee, Leslie, Lewis, Lockyer, Maddy, McPherson, Monteith, Mountjoy, O'Connell, Peace, Polanco, Rainey, Rosenthal, Schiff, Sher, Solis, Thompson, Vasconcellos, Watson, and Wright)

APRIL 17, 1997

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 51 — Relative to the Armenian Genocide.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

ACR 51, Kaloogian. Armenian Genocide: Day of Remembrance.This measure would designate April 24, 1997, as "California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, and for the Victims of the Sumgait Pogroms of 1988 and Baku Riots of 1990." It would call upon the people of California to use vigilance to ensure the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict while protecting the security of the Armenians in the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh.

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 was the first genocide of the 20th century, in which 1.5 million men, women, and children lost their lives at the hands of the Turkish Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, During the seven decades of the USSR's existence, the government of Soviet Azerbaijan conducted a systematic policy of removal of Karabagh Armenians from their historic homeland; and

WHEREAS, Armenians in Azerbaijan fell victims to the Sumgait Pogroms in 1988 resulting in 72 deaths, the Baku anti-Armenian riots in 1990 resulting in 68 Armenian deaths, and the mass deportations of 350,000 Armenians from Azerbaijan; and

WHEREAS, Recognition of these instances of man's inhumanity to man is crucial to ensuring against the repetition of genocide and provides the American public with an greater understanding of its heritage; and

WHEREAS, Armenians in the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh remain at risk of yet another genocide until the time a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno Karabagh conflict is reached that guarantees the freedom and security for these people while supporting their right to self-determination; and

WHEREAS, Despite the abundance of overwhelming and convincing evidence, the government of Turkey persists in denying the occurrence of the Armenian Genocide; and

WHEREAS, California is home to the largest Armenian-American population in the United States, and Armenians living in California have enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California hereby designates April 24, 1997, as "California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, and for the Victims of the Sumgait Pogroms of 1988 and Baku Riots of 1990"; and be it further

Resolved, That the people of California are called upon to use vigilance to ensure the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict while protecting the security of the Armenians in the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Governor and to the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee.

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April 24, 1996

RESOLUTION CHAPTER 16FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 24, 1996ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 22, 1996ADOPTED IN SENATE APRIL 18, 1996AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 18, 1996AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 11, 1996

INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Poochigian, Kaloogian, Speier, Villaraigosa, Ackerman, Aguiar, Alby, Alpert, Baca, Baldwin, Bates, Battin, Baugh, Boland, Bordonaro, Bowen, Bowler, Brewer, Brown, Brulte, Burton, Bustamante, Caldera, Cannella, Conroy, Cortese, Cunneen, Davis, Ducheny, Escutia, Figueroa, Firestone, Friedman, Frusetta, Gallegos, Goldsmith, Granlund, Harvey, Hauser, Hawkins, Hoge, Isenberg, Katz, Knight, Knowles, Knox, Kuehl, Kuykendall, Lee, Machado, Margett, Mazzoni, McPherson, Migden, Miller, Morrissey, Morrow, Kevin Murray, Napolitano, Olberg, Pringle, Rainey, Richter, Rogan, Setencich, Sweeney, Takasugi, Thompson, Tucker, Vasconcellos, Weggeland, and Woods

(Coauthors: Senators Alquist, Ayala, Costa, Hayden, Kopp, Maddy, Marks, Petris, Polanco, Rosenthal, Russell, Solis, Thompson, and Watson)

APRIL 9, 1996

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 82 — Relative to the California Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

ACR 82, Poochigian. California Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.

This measure would designate April 24, 1996, as the "California Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923."

WHEREAS, One and one-half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, inclusive; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide and massacres of the Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, To this day revisionists still inexplicably deny the existence of these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Before the implementation of the Jewish holocaust, in order to encourage his followers, Hitler asked, "Who remembers the Armenians?"; and

WHEREAS, By consistently remembering and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, Californians are highly sensitive to the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, Recognition of the eighty-first anniversary of this genocide is crucial to ensuring against the repetition of future genocides and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Armenia is now a free and independent republic, having embraced democracy following nearly 70 years of oppressive Soviet domination; and

WHEREAS, California is home to the largest population of people of Armenian descent outside the Republic of Armenia; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in California have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California joins the Armenian-American community in honoring the memory of the victims of genocide throughout the world; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California hereby designates April 24, 1996, as the "California Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923"; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Governor and the author for appropriate distribution.

Search the web site of the California state legislature for measures on the Armenian Genocide. Select the time period in the "Session" box, type "Armenian Genocide" in the "Author(s) and/or Keyword(s)"

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May 4, 1995

RESOLUTION CHAPTER 21FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MAY 4, 1995ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 1, 1995ADOPTED IN SENATE APRIL 17, 1995AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 17, 1995AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 3, 1995

INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Horcher, Aguiar, Alpert, Archie-Hudson, Baca, Baldwin,

Bates, Bordonaro, Bowen, Valerie Brown, Brulte, Burton, Bustamante, Caldera, Campbell, Cannella, Conroy, Cortese, Davis, Ducheny, Escutia, Figueroa, Friedman, Frusetta, Gallegos, Granlund, Hannigan, Harvey, Hauser, Hawkins, Hoge, House, Isenberg, Johnson, Kaloogian, Katz, Kuehl, Lee, Machado, Martinez, Mazzoni, McDonald, McPherson, Morrow, Napolitano, Poochigian, Pringle, Rainey, Richter, Rogan, Setencich, Sher, Sweeney, Takasugi, Thompson, Tucker, Vasconcellos, Villaraigosa, and Weggeland

(Coauthors: Senators Alquist, Ayala, Beverly, Boatwright, Calderon, Campbell, Costa, Craven, Dills, Greene, Hayden, Haynes, Hughes, Hurtt, Johannessen, Johnston, Kelley, Killea, Kopp, Leonard, Leslie, Lewis, Lockyer, Maddy, Marks, Mello, Monteith, Mountjoy, O' Connell, Peace, Petris, Polanco, Rogers, Rosenthal, Russell, Solis, Thompson, Watson, and Wright)

MARCH 7, 1995

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 19 — Relative to the Armenian Genocide.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

ACR 19, Horcher. Armenian Genocide: 80th anniversary.This measure would commemorate the survival of the Armenian people on the 80th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide of 1915 subjected an entire nation to the highest degree of dehumanization, and led 1.5 million people, one-third of the nation's population, to their deaths; and

WHEREAS, On April 24, 1915, intellectuals and physicians were rounded up and executed, and adult males were taken from their homes and slaughtered en masse, leaving the elderly and the women and children without protection, to face the death marches through southern Anatolian deserts in bitter cold and blistering heat without food, water, or shelter; and

WHEREAS, As a result, the land that had been home to the Armenians for nearly 3,000 years was swiftly emptied of its population; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California is honored to commemorate the survival of the Armenian people on the 80th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Governor and to the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee.

Search the web site of the California state legislature for measures on the Armenian Genocide. Select the time period in the "Session" box, type "Armenian Genocide" in the "Author(s) and/or Keyword(s)"

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Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 25, 1994

RESOLUTION CHAPTER 24FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 25, 1994ADOPTED IN SENATE APRIL 21, 1994ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 21, 1994

INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Costa

APRIL 18, 1994

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 84 Relative to a National Day of Remembrance.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AJR 84, Costa. National Day of Remembrance. This measure would memorialize the President and Congress of the United States to designate April 24 as "National Day of Remembrance" and would request the President of the United States to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe that day, as described.

WHEREAS, The Armenians, among us, have contributed to the progress and betterment of life through agriculture, commerce, teaching, the professions, churches, and community and worldwide organizations; and

WHEREAS, The United States of America has repeatedly gone on record in support of human rights around the world; and

WHEREAS, It is well documented that approximately 1,500,000 Armenians were massacred in Turkey during the years 1915 to 1918, although this genocide has been consistently denied by the Turkish government; and

WHEREAS, By their own resolute Christian faith and will to survive and live again, and the generosity of many in the United States of America resulting in relief operations, a fraction of the survivors were rescued and subsequently immigrated to this country; and

WHEREAS, The Armenians in some other countries must continue to endure daily acts of oppression, such as denial of their basic human rights, confiscation of their churches and schools, and punishment for speaking their native language openly; and

WHEREAS, April 24, 1915, is the date historians have marked as the beginning of the massacre and consequently this day should be a day of reflection by all Armenians and other Americans; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California respectfully memorializes the President and the Congress of the United States to designate April 24 as "National Day of Remembrance" and requests the President of the United States to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to

observe that day as a day of remembrance for all the victims of genocide, especially those of Armenian ancestry who succumbed to the genocide perpetrated in 1915, and in whose memory this date is commemorated by all Armenians and their friends throughout the world; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

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California Governor Proclamation

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 16, 1991

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

A PROCLAMATION by the Governor of the State of California

WHEREAS, in 1915, the Ottoman Turkish Empire initiated an eight-year reign of terror against the Armenian people ultimately resulting in the massacre of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children; and

WHEREAS, the Ottoman Empire was clear in its intent to annihilate the Armenian race with a campaign of forced deportation and massacre; and

WHEREAS, while this evil was witnessed and documented by international officials, only recently has it been recognized in the annals of history and learned by students through Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Studies in learning institutions throughout our nation; and

WHEREAS, 1991 marks the 76th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and all citizens should learn from this horror to understand the evil of racial prejudice and ensure that an act of similar hatred is never again perpetrated; and

WHEREAS, the innocent people murdered during this tragedy of history live forever in the hearts of not only their loved ones and relatives, but of all those of Armenian heritage, which is

reflected by their love and respect for family, their passion for life and their unwavering religious convictions;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PETE WILSON, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1991 as a State day of Remembrance of the 76th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and urge all people to join in this important and historic recognition.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 16th day of April 1991.

(Signed)Pete WilsonGovernor of California

ATTEST:

(Signed)March Fong EuSecretary of State

California State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 18, 1990

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

A PROCLAMATIONBy the Governor of the State of California

WHEREAS, beginning in 1915, the Ottoman Empire initiated a reign of terror that ultimately resulted in the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians over the following eight years; and

WHEREAS, this systematic program of genocide and forced deportation was undertaken with the clear intent of annihilating the entire Armenian race; and

WHEREAS, the list of eyewitnesses verifying this genocide includes, not only officials from the United States and the Allied powers, but also ambassadors and officials of Imperial Germany which was an ally of the Ottoman Turkish Empire during this period; and

WHEREAS, this year is the 75th anniversary of this tragic episode in history and it is most appropriate that all citizens learn of the atrocities which were committee against the Armenian people, so that future generations will learn from the lessons of the past; and

WHEREAS, this irrefutable fact of history has just finally begun to be incorporated into Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Studies in schools throughout our nation; and

WHEREAS, while for many the memories are sad and painful, in recalling the tragedy and inhumanity of the Armenian Genocide, we can help future generations better understand its impact and magnitude while ensuring that such an occurrence will never happen again;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with Assembly Concurrent Resolution 51 (1981), do hereby proclaim April 24, 1990 as a State Day of Remembrance in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. In remembrance of the innocent victims of this tragedy, I urge all people throughout the world to join in this important observance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the States of California to be affixed this 18th day of April 1990.

(SIGNED)George DeukmejianGovernor of California

ATTEST:

(SIGNED)March Fong EuSecretary of State

State of California Proclamation

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 2, 1987

Executive Department

State of California

A Proclamationby the Governor of the State of California

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide of 1915 brutally claimed the lives of 1.5 million Armenians and maimed the hearts of those who survived; and

WHEREAS, while the Ottoman Turks inhumanely massacred many Armenian men, women and children, they did not break the soul or dull the spirit of the Armenian people who are reminded each hopeful spring of the dark but vivid lessons of history; and

WHEREAS, people everywhere should formally acknowledge this tragedy and learn the important lesson that if bigotry and discrimination are to be replaced by fellowship and equality, and if mankind is to achieve the fullness of its greatest hopes and dreams, then each of us must contribute to the work of ensuring that such atrocities are not allowed to be repeated; and

WHEREAS, freedom loving people throughout the world should gather together and speak the truth on behalf of those whose voices have long been stilled so that our children may live in a world free from terror and indignation;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with Assembly Concurrent Resolution 51 (1981), do hereby proclaim April 24, 1987 as a State Day of Remembrance and have ordered the flags over the State Capitol to be flown at half mast and urge civilized people throughout the world to join in this observance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 2nd day of April 1987.

(Signed)George Deukmejian

Governor of California

Attest:(Signed)

Secretary of State

California State Governor

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 8, 1986

Executive DepartmentState of California

A PROCLAMATIONby the Governor of the State of California

WHEREAS, beginning in 1915, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred at the brutal hands of the Ottoman Turkish Empire; and

WHEREAS, for the sake of our ancestors, our children and all mankind we, as freedom loving people, must have the strength and resolve to speak out against this horrible genocide by informing the world's tyrants that we will not stand by in silence any longer and will not allow these atrocities to go unanswered; and

WHEREAS, earlier this year, the United States Senate took a strong stand to prevent the recurrence of crimes against all humanity, like those suffered by the Armenian people during World War I, the Jewish people during World War II and the Southeast Asians during the 1970's, by passing the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide; and

WHEREAS, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights recently adopted the report of its Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, in which the 1915 Armenian massacres are defined as a genocide; and

WHEREAS, formal affirmation of the Armenian Genocide by the world community would underscore our abhorrence and help deter further acts of violence; and

WHEREAS, each April, people across our country and throughout the world gather in churches, meeting halls and homes to commemorate the tragic loss of our Armenian friends, grandparents and brothers and sisters; and

WHEREAS, this solemn observance is a time for decent people everywhere to join in a common effort to ensure that this horror never repeats itself;

NOW, THEREFORE, I GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with Assembly Concurrent Resolution 51 do hereby proclaim April 24, 1986 as a State Day of Remembrance and have ordered the flags over the State Capitol to be flown at half mast and urge civilized people throughout the world to join in this observance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 8th day of April 1986.

SignedGeorge Deukmejian

Governor of California

ATTEST:

SignedMarch Fung Eu

Secretary of State

California Assembly Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 23, 1981

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 51-Relative to proclaiming April 24th as State Day of Remembrance

(Filed with Secretary of State April 23, 1981.)

WHEREAS, The State of California has repeatedly gone on record in support of human rights around the world; and

WHEREAS, The genocide of Armenians in Turkey is a well documented fact, with 1,500,00 Armenians massacred during the years 1915-1918 alone; and

WHEREAS, This genocide has been consistently denied by the Turkish government; and

WHEREAS, The Armenians in some countries must continue to endure daily acts of oppression, including denial of their basic human rights, confiscation of their churches and schools, and punishment for speaking their native language openly; and

WHEREAS, April 24, 1915, is the date historians have marked as the beginning of the massacre, and each April 24 thereafter should be a day of reflection by all Armenians and other Americans; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby requests the Governor of California to issue a proclamation designating April 24, 1981, and each April 24th thereafter as State Day of Remembrance and to call upon the people of the State of California to observe this day as a day of remembrance for all victims of genocide, especially those of Armenian ancestry who succumbed to the genocide perpetrated in 1915, and in whose memory this date is commemorated by all Armenians and their friends throughout the world.

California Assembly Concurrent Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 18, 1980

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 130

Relative to a State Day of Remembrance.

Filed with Secretary of State: April 18, 1980

WHEREAS, The State of California has repeatedly gone on record in support of human rights around the world; and

WHEREAS, The genocide of Armenians in Turkey is a well documented fact with 1,500,000 Armenians massacred during the years 1915 to 1918 alone; and

WHEREAS, This genocide has been consistently denied by the Turkish Government; and

WHEREAS, The Armenians in some countries must continue to endure daily acts of oppression, such as denial of their basic human rights, confiscation of their churches and schools, and punishment for speaking their native language openly; and

WHEREAS, April 24, 1915, is the date historians have marked as the beginning of the massacre and consequently this day should be a day of reflection by all Armenians and other Americans; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates April 24, 1980, as "State day of Remembrance" and requests the Governor of California to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the State of California to observe such a day as a day of remembrance for all the victims of genocide, especially those of Armenian ancestry who succumbed to the genocide perpetrated in 1915, and in whose memory this date is commemorated by all Armenians and their friends throughout the world; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit a copy of this resolution to the Governor of California.

California Assembly Joint Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

March 6, 1979

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 14 -- Relative to Armenian oppression.

(Filed with the Secretary of State March 6, 1979.)

Resolution Chapter 11

WHEREAS, The State of California, as well as the federal government, has repeatedly gone on record in support of human rights around the world; and

WHEREAS, One of the most outrageous denials of human rights has occurred in the on-going persecution of Armenians; and

WHEREAS, The genocide of Armenians is a well-documented fact, with 1,500,000 Armenians massacred during the years 1915-1918 alone; and

WHEREAS, The Armenians in some countries must daily endure acts of oppression, such as denial of their basic human rights, confiscation of their churches and schools, and punishment for speaking their native language openly; and

WHEREAS, A key paragraph outlining the Armenian massacres has been deleted from a United Nations Report on Genocide, effectively supporting claims that no such massacres ever occurred; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region, and the Armenian Rights Movement, Western Region, are demanding that the United Nations recognize historical reality and restore Paragraph 30 to its Report on Genocide prepared by its Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, by the Assembly and the Senate of California, jointly, That the Members of the Legislature of the State of California join with the thousands of Armenian Americans in this state in strongly urging the United Nations to make its Report on Genocide historically accurate by restoring to the report Paragraph 30 which outlines the Armenian massacres; and be it further

Resolved, That the Members of the Legislature of the State of California join with the Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region, and the Armenian Rights Movement, Western Region, in expressing support for and strongly urging the recognition of basic human rights for Armenians around the world; and be it further

Resolved, That the Members of the Legislature of the State of California request that the United States Ambassador to the United Nations communicate the contents of this resolution on behalf of the people of California to the members of the United Nations; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the Secretary of State, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to the Chairman, senate Foreign relations Committee, to the National Security Council members, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

California Assembly Concurrent Resolution

Home > International Affirmation > States and Provinces > United States > California

April 15, 1968

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 78

Relative to the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument.

Filed with Secretary of State: April 15, 1968

WHEREAS, The dedication and unveiling ceremonies of the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument will be held on Sunday, April 21, 1968, at 3 p.m. in Bicknell Park in Montebello, California; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument, erected in memory of the Armenian Martyrs of the 1915 Turkish Genocide, will be unveiled on the 53rd anniversary of the genocide; and

WHEREAS, The brave people of Armenia, martyrs who died in defense of their deep religious beliefs and their firm conviction that tyranny should be resisted, have taken their place in history alongside other brave people who advanced the cause of liberty; and

WHEREAS, Their sacrifices in the cause of liberty and freedom will long serve as a beacon to all mankind; and

WHEREAS, April 24th has been designated Armenian Martyrs' Day in memory of those courageous people in whose honor the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument is dedicated; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the members, on this occasion, express their admiration of those innocent, courageous people who lost their lives and commend all Californians of Armenian descent for their part in raising the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument, a truly fine memorial in the cause of humanitarianism; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit a suitably prepared copy of this resolution to the Armenian Monuments Council.

Treaty of Sèvres

Home > International Affirmation > Treaty of Sèvres (1920)

August 10, 1920

"...in view of the terrorist regime which has existed in Turkey since November 1, 1914...

In order to repair so far as possible the wrongs inflicted on individuals in the course of the massacres perpetrated in Turkey during the war, the Turkish Government undertakes to afford all the assistance in its power or in that of the Turkish authorities in the search for and deliverance of all persons, of whatever race or religion, who have disappeared, been carried off, interned or placed in captivity since November 1, 1914.

The Turkish Government undertakes to hand over to the Allied Powers the persons whose surrender may be required by the latter as being responsible for the massacres committed during the continuance of the state of war on territory which formed part of the Turkish Empire on August 1, 1914."

Sections of the treaty relevant to Armenia and the Armenian Genocide are presented. The full text of the treaty is available at Brigham Young University's World War I Document Archive.

THE TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN THE ALLIED ANDASSOCIATED POWERSAND TURKEYSIGNED AT SEVRESAUGUST 10, 1920

THE BRITISH EMPIRE, FRANCE, ITALY AND JAPAN,

These Powers being described in the present Treaty as the Principal Allied Powers;

ARMENIA, BELGIUM, GREECE, THE HEDJAZ, POLAND, PORTUGAL, ROUMANIA, THE SERB-CROAT-SLOVENE STATE AND CZECHO-SLOVAKIA,These Powers constituting, with the Principal Powers mentioned above, the Allied Powers, of the one part;

AND TURKEY,

of the other part;

Whereas on the request of the Imperial Ottoman Government an Armistice was granted to Turkey on October 30, 1918, by the Principal Allied Powers in order that a Treaty of Peace might be concluded, and

Whereas the Allied Powers are equally desirous that the war in which certain among them were successively involved, directly or indirectly, against Turkey, and which originated in the declaration of war against Serbia on July 28, 1914, by the former Imperial and Royal Austro-Hungarian Government, and in the hostilities opened by Turkey against the Allied Powers on October 29, 1914, and conducted by Germany in alliance with Turkey, should be replaced by a firm, just and durable Peace,

For this purpose the HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries:

HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND AND OF THE BRITISH DOMINIONS BEYOND TIIE SEAS, EMPEROR OF INDIA:Sir George Dixon GRAHAME, K. C. V. O., Minister Plenipotentiary of His Britannic Majesty at Paris;

for the DOMINION of CANADA:The Honourable Sir George Halsey PERLEY, K.C. M. G High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom;

for the COMMONWEALTH of AUSTRALIA:The Right Honourable Andrew FISHER, High Commissioner for Australia in the United Kingdom;

for the DOMINION of NEW ZEALAND:Sir George Dixon GRAHAME, K. C. V. O., Minister Plenipotentiary of His Britannic Majesty at Paris;

for the UNION of SOUTH AFRICA:Mr. Reginald Andrew BLANKENBERG, O. B. E., Acting High Commissioner for the Union of South Africa in the United Kingdom;

for INDIA:

Sir Arthur HIRTZEL, K. C. B., Assistant Under Secretary of State for India;

THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC:Mr. Alexandre MILLERAND, President of the Council, Minister for Foreign Affairs;Mr. Frederic FRANÇOIS-MARSAL, Minister of Finance;Mr. Auguste Paul-Louis ISAAC, Minister of Commerce and Industry;Mr. Jules CAMBON, Ambassador of France;Mr. Georges Maurice PALÉOLOGUE, Ambassador of France, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

Hls MAJESTY THE KING OF ITALY:Count LELIO BONIN LONGARE, Senator of the Kingdom, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of H. M. the King of Italy at Paris;General Giovanni MARIETTI, Italian Military Representative on the Supreme War Council;

Hls MAJESTY THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN:Viscount CHINDA, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of H. M. the Emperor of Japan at London;Mr. K. MATSUI, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of H. M. the Emperor of Japan at Paris;

ARMENIA:Mr. Avetis AHARONIAN, President of the Delegation of the Armenian Republic;

HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE BELGIANS:Mr. Jules VAN DEN HEUVEL, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, Minister of State;Mr. ROLIN JAEQUEMYNS, Member of the Institute of Private International Law, Secretary-General of the Belgian Delegation;

HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE HELLENES:Mr. Eleftherios K. VENIZELOS, President of the Council of Ministers;Mr. Athos ROMANOS, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of H. M. the King of the Hellenes at Paris;

HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE HEDJAZ:

THE PRESIDENT OF THE POLISH REPUBLIC:

Count Maurice ZAMOYSKI, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Polish Republic at Paris;Mr. Erasme PILTZ;

THE PRESIDENT OF THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC:Dr. Affonso da COSTA, formerly President of the Council of Ministers;

His MAJESTY THE KING OF ROUMANIA:Mr. Nicolae TITULESCU, Minister of Finance;Prince DIMITRIE GHIKA, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of H. M. the King of Roumania at Paris;

Hls MAJESTY THE KING OF THE SERBS, THE CROATS AND THE SLOVENES:Mr. Nicolas P. PACHITCH, formerly President of the Council of Ministers;Mr. Ante TRUMBIC, Minister for Foreign Affairs;

THE PRESIDENT OF THE CZECHO-SLOVAK REPUBLIC:Mr. Edward BENES, Minister for Foreign Affairs;Mr. Stephen OSUSKY, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Czecho-Slovak Republic at London;

TURKEY:General HAADI Pasha, Senator;RIZA TEVFIK Bey, Senator;RÉCHAD HALISS Bey, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Turkey at Berne; WHO, having communicated their full powers, found in good and due form, have AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

From the coming into force of the present Treaty the state of war will terminate.

From that moment and subject to the provisions of the present Treaty, official relations will exist between the Allied Powers and Turkey.

[Articles 1-87 omitted]

ARMENIA.ARTICLE 88.

Turkey, in accordance with the action already taken by the Allied Powers, hereby recognises Armenia as a free and independent State.

ARTICLE 89.

Turkey and Armenia as well as the other High Contracting Parties agree to submit to the arbitration of the President of the United States of America the question of the frontier to be fixed between Turkey and Armenia in the vilayets of Erzerum, Trebizond, Van and Bitlis, and to accept his decision thereupon, as well as any stipulations he may prescribe as to access for Armenia to the sea, and as to the demilitarisation of any portion of Turkish territory adjacent to the said frontier.

ARTICLE 90. In the event of the determination of the frontier under Article 89 involving the transfer of the whole or any part of the territory of the said Vilayets to Armenia, Turkey hereby renounces as from the date of such decision all rights and title over the territory so transferred. The provisions of the present Treaty applicable to territory detached from Turkey shall thereupon become applicable to the said territory.

The proportion and nature of the financial obligations of Turkey which Armenia will have to assume, or of the rights which will pass to her, on account of the transfer of the said territory will be determined in accordance with Articles 241 to 244, Part VIII (Financial Clauses) of the present Treaty.

Subsequent agreements will, if necessary, decide all questions which are not decided by the present Treaty and which may arise in consequence of the transfer of the said territory.

ARTICLE 91.

In the event of any portion of the territory referred to in Article 89 being transferred to Armenia, a Boundary Commission, whose composition will be determined subsequently, will be constituted within three months from the delivery of the decision referred to in the said Article to trace on the spot the frontier between Armenia and Turkey as established by such decision.

ARTICLE 92.

The frontiers between Armenia and Azerbaijan and Georgia respectively will be determined by direct agreement between the States concerned.

If in either case the States concerned have failed to determine the frontier by agreement at the date of the decision referred to in Article 89, the frontier line in question will be determined by the Principal Allied Powers, who will also provide for its being traced on the spot.

ARTICLE 93.

Armenia accepts and agrees to embody in a Treaty with the Principal Allied Powers such

provisions as may be deemed necessary by these Powers to protect the interests of inhabitants of that State who differ from the majority of the population in race, language, or religion.

Armenia further accepts and agrees to embody in a Treaty with the Principal Allied Powers such provisions as these Powers may deem necessary to protect freedom of transit and equitable treatment for the commerce of other nations.

[Articles 94-139 omitted]

PROTECTION OF MINORITIES.

ARTICLE 140.

Turkey undertakes that the stipulations contained in Articles 141, 145 and 147 shall be recognised as fundamental laws, and that no civil or military law or regulation, no Imperial Iradeh nor official action shall conflict or interfere with these stipulations, nor shall any law, regulation, Imperial Iradeh nor official action prevail over them.

ARTICLE 141.

Turkey undertakes to assure full and complete protection of life and liberty to all inhabitants of Turkey without distinction of birth, nationality, language, race or religion. All inhabitants of Turkey shall be entitled to the free exercise, whether public or private, of any creed, religion or belief.

The penalties for any interference with the free exercise of the right referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be the same whatever may be the creed concerned.

ARTICLE 142.

Whereas, in view of the terrorist regime which has existed in Turkey since November 1, 1914, conversions to Islam could not take place under normal conditions, no conversions since that date are recognised and all persons who were non-Moslems before November 1, 1914, will be considered as still remaining such, unless, after regaining their liberty, they voluntarily perform the necessary formalities for embracing the Islamic faith.

In order to repair so far as possible the wrongs inflicted on individuals in the course of the massacres perpetrated in Turkey during the war, the Turkish Government undertakes to afford all the assistance in its power or in that of the Turkish authorities in the search for and deliverance of all persons, of whatever race or religion, who have disappeared, been carried off, interned or placed in captivity since November 1, 1914.

The Turkish Government undertakes to facilitate the operations of mixed commissions appointed by the Council of the League of Nations to receive the complaints of the victims themselves, their families or their relations, to make the necessary enquiries, and to order the liberation of the persons in question.

The Turkish Government undertakes to ensure the execution of the decisions of these commissions, and to assure the security and the liberty of the persons thus restored to the full enjoyment of their rights.

ARTICLE 143

Turkey undertakes to recognise such provisions as the Allied Powers may consider opportune with respect to the reciprocal and voluntary emigration of persons belonging to racial minorities.

Turkey renounces any right to avail herself of the provisions of Article 16 of the Convention between Greece and Bulgaria relating to reciprocal emigration, signed at Neuilly-sur-Seine on November 27, 19l9. Within six months from the coming into force of the present Treaty, Greece and Turkey will enter into a special arrangement relating to the reciprocal and voluntary emigration of the populations of Turkish and Greek race in the territories transferred to Greece and remaining Turkish respectively.

In case agreement cannot be reached as to such arrangement, Greece and Turkey will be entitled to apply to the Council of the League of Nations, which will fix the terms of such arrangement.

ARTICLE 144.

The Turkish Government recognises the injustice of the law of 1915 relating to Abandoned Properties (Emval-i-Metroukeh), and of the supplementary provisions thereof, and declares them to be null and void, in the past as in the future.

The Turkish Government solemnly undertakes to facilitate to the greatest possible extent the return to their homes and re-establishment in their businesses of the Turkish subjects of non-Turkish race who have been forcibly driven from their homes by fear of massacre or any other form of pressure since January 1, 1914. It recognises that any immovable or movable property of the said Turkish subjects or of the communities to which they belong, which can be recovered, must be restored to them as soon as possible, in whatever hands it may be found. Such property shall be restored free of all charges or servitudes with which it may have been burdened and without compensation of any kind to the present owners or occupiers, subject to any action which they may be able to bring against the persons from whom they derived title.

The Turkish Government agrees that arbitral commissions shall be appointed by the Council of the League of Nations wherever found necessary. These commissions shall each be composed of one representative of the Turkish Government, one representative of the community which claims that it or one of its members has been injured, and a chairman appointed by the Council of the League of Nations. These arbitral commissions shall hear all claims covered by this Article and decide them by summary procedure.

The arbitral commissions will have power to order:

(1) The provision by the Turkish Government of labour for any work of reconstruction or restoration deemed necessary. This labour shall be recruited from the races inhabiting the territory where the arbitral commission considers the execution of the said works to be necessary;

(2) The removal of any person who, after enquiry, shall be recognised as having taken an active part in massacres or deportations or as having provoked them; the measures to be taken with regard to such person's possessions will be indicated by the commission;

(3) The disposal of property belonging to members of a community who have died or disappeared since January 1, 1914, without leaving heirs; such property may be handed over to the community instead of to the State;

(4) The cancellation of all acts of sale or any acts creating rights over immovable property concluded after January 1, 1914. The indemnification of the holders will be a charge upon the Turkish Government, but must not serve as a pretext for delaying the restitution. The arbitral commission will, however have the power to impose equitable arrangements between the interested parties, if any sum has been paid by the present holder of such property.

The Turkish Government undertakes to facilitate in the fullest possible measure the work of the commissions and to ensure the execution of their decisions, which will be final. No decision of the Turkish judicial or administrative authorities shall prevail over such decisions.

ARTICLE 145.

All Turkish nationals shall be equal before the law and shall enjoy the same civil and political rights without distinction as to race, language or religion.

Difference of religion, creed or confession shall not prejudice any Turkish national in matters relating to the enjoyment of civil or political rights, as for instance admission to public employments, functions and honours, or the exercise of professions and industries.

Within a period of two years from the coming into force of the present Treaty the Turkish Government will submit to the Allied Powers a scheme for the organisation of an electoral system based on the principle of proportional representation of racial minorities.

No restriction shall be imposed on the free use by any Turkish national of any language in private intercourse, in commerce, religion, in the press or in publications of any kind, or at public meetings. Adequate facilities shall be given to Turkish nationals of non-Turkish speech for the use of their language, either orally or in writing, before the courts.

ARTICLE 146.

The Turkish Government undertakes to recognize the validity of diplomas granted by recognised foreign universities and schools, and to admit the holders thereof to the free exercise of the professions and industries for which such diplomas qualify.

This provision will apply equally to nationals of Allied powers who are resident in Turkey.

ARTICLE 147.

Turkish nationals who belong to racial, religious or linguistic minorities shall enjoy the same treatment and security in law and in fact as other Turkish nationals. In particular they shall have an equal right to establish, manage and control at their own expense, and independently of and without interference by the Turkish authorities, any charitable, religious and social institutions, schools for primary, secondary and higher instruction and other educational establishments, with the right to use their own language and to exercise their own religion freely therein.

ARTICLE 148.

In towns and districts where there is a considerable proportion of Turkish nationals belonging to racial, linguistic or religious minorities, these minorities shall be assured an equitable share in the enjoyment and application of the sums which may be provided out of public funds under the State, municipal or other budgets for educational or charitable purposes.

The sums in question shall be paid to the qualified representatives of the communities concerned.

ARTICLE 149.

The Turkish Government undertakes to recognise and respect the ecclesiastical and scholastic autonomy of all racial minorities in Turkey. For this purpose, and subject to any provisions to the contrary in the present Treaty, the Turkish Government confirms and will uphold in their entirety the prerogatives and immunities of an ecclesiastical, scholastic or judicial nature granted by the Sultans to non-Moslem races in virtue of special orders or imperial decrees (firmans, hattis, berats, etc.) as well as by ministerial orders or orders of the Grand Vizier.

All laws, decrees, regulations and circulars issued by the Turkish Government and containing abrogations, restrictions or amendments of such prerogatives and immunities shall be considered to such extent null and void.

Any modification of the Turkish judicial system which may be introduced in accordance with the provisions of the present Treaty shall be held to override this Article, in so far as such modification may affect individuals belonging to racial minorities.

ARTICLE 150.

In towns and districts where there is resident a considerable proportion of Turkish nationals of the Christian or Jewish religions the Turkish Government undertakes that such Turkish nationals shall not be compelled to perform any act which constitutes a violation of their faith or religious observances, and shall not be placed under any disability by reason of their refusal to attend courts of law or to perform any legal business on their weekly day of rest. This provision, however, shall not exempt such Turkish nationals (Christians or Jews) from such obligations as shall be imposed upon all other Turkish nationals for the preservation of public order.

ARTICLE 151.

The Principal Allied Powers, in consultation with the Council of the League of Nations, will decide what measures are necessary to guarantee the execution of the provisions of this Part. The Turkish Government hereby accepts all decisions which may be taken on this subject.

[Articles 152-225 omitted]

PENALTIES.

ARTICLE 226.

The Turkish Government recognises the right of the Allied Powers to bring before military tribunals persons accused of having committed acts in violation of the laws and customs of war. Such persons shall, if found guilty, be sentenced to punishments laid down by law. This provision will apply notwithstanding any proceedings or prosecution before a tribunal in

Turkey or in the territory of her allies.

The Turkish Government shall hand over to the Allied Powers or to such one of them as shall so request all persons accused of having committed an act in violation of the laws and customs of war, who are specified either by name or by the rank, office or employment which they held under the Turkish authorities.

ARTICLE 227.

Persons guilty of criminal acts against the nationals of one of the Allied Powers shall be brought before the military tribunals of that Power.

Persons guilty of criminal acts against the nationals of more than one of the Allied Powers shall be brought before military tribunals composed of members of the military tribunals of the Powers concerned.

In every case the accused shall be entitled to name his own counsel.

ARTICLE 228.

The Turkish Government undertakes to furnish all documents and information of every kind, the production of which may be considered necessary to ensure the full knowledge of the incriminating acts, the prosecution of offenders and the just appreciation of responsibility.

ARTICLE 229.

The provisions of Articles 226 to 228 apply similarly to the Governments of the States to which territory belonging to the former Turkish Empire has been or may be assigned, in so far as concerns persons accused of having committed acts contrary to the laws and customs of war who are in the territory or at the disposal of such States.

If the persons in question have acquired the nationality of one of the said States, the Government of such State undertakes to take, at the request of the Power concerned and in agreement with it, or upon the joint request of all the Allied Powers, all the measures necessary to ensure the prosecution and punishment of such persons.

ARTICLE 230.

The Turkish Government undertakes to hand over to the Allied Powers the persons whose surrender may be required by the latter as being responsible for the massacres committed during the continuance of the state of war on territory which formed part of the Turkish Empire on August 1, 1914.

The Allied Powers reserve to themselves the right to designate the tribunal which shall try the persons so accused, and the Turkish Government undertakes to recognise such tribunal.

In the event of the League of Nations having created in sufficient time a tribunal competent to deal with the said massacres, the Allied Powers reserve to themselves the right to bring the accused persons mentioned above before such tribunal, and the Turkish Government undertakes equally to recognise such tribunal.

The provisions of Article 228 apply to the cases dealt with in this Article.

[Articles 231-433 omitted]

The present Treaty, in French, in English, and in Italian, shall be ratified. In case of divergence the French text shall prevail, except in Parts I (Covenant of the League of Nations) and XII (Labour), where the French and English texts shall be of equal force. The deposit of ratifications shall be made at Paris as soon as possible.

Powers of which the seat of the Government is outside Europe will be entitled merely to inform the Government of the French Republic through their diplomatic representative at Paris that their ratification has been given; in that case they must transmit the instrument of ratification as soon as possible.

A first procès-verbal of the deposit of ratifications will be drawn up as soon as the Treaty has been ratified by Turkey on the one hand, and by three of the Principal Allied Powers on the other hand.

From the date of this first procès-verbal the Treaty will come into force between the High Contracting Parties who have ratified it.

For the determination of all periods of time provided for in the present Treaty this date will be the date of the coming into force of the Treaty.

In all other respects the Treaty will enter into force for each Power at the date of the deposit of its ratification.

The French Government will transmit to all the signatory Powers a certified copy of the procès-verbaux of the deposit of ratifications.

IN FAITH WHEREOF the above-named Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Treaty.

Done at Sèvres, the tenth day of August one thousand nine hundred and twenty, in a single copy which will remain deposited in the archives of the French Republic, and of which authenticated copies will be transmitted to each of the Signatory Powers.

(L. S.) GEORGE GRAHAME.(L. S.) GEORGE H. PERLEY.(L. S.) ANDREW FISHER.(L. S.) GEORGE GRAHAME.(L. S.) R. A. BLANKENBERG.(L. S.) ARTHUR HIRTZEL.(L. S.) A. MILLERAND.(L. S.) F. FRANÇOIS-MARSAL.(L. S.) JULES CAMBON. (L. S.) PALÉOLOGUE.(L. S.) BONIN.(L. S.) MARIETTI.(L. S.) K:. MATSUI.(L. S.) A. AHARONIAN.(L. S.) J. VAN DEN HEUVEL.(L. S.) ROLIN JAEQUEMYNS.(L. S.) E. K. VENIZELOS.(L. S.) A. ROMANOS.

(L. S.) MAURICE ZAMOYSKI.(L. S.) ERASME PILTZ.(L. S.) AFFONSO COSTA.(L. S.) D. J. GUIKA.(L. S.) STEFAN OSUSKY.(L. S.) HADI.(I.. S.) DR. RIZA TEWFIK.(L. S.)

RÉCHAD HALISS.

Verdict ("Kararname") of the Turkish Military Tribunal

Home > International Affirmation > Turkish Military Tribunal (1919)

July 5, 1919

"Prime Minister Talaat Pasha and Minister of War Enver Effendi, now expelled from his military career; Djemal Effendi, Minister of the Navy, likewise expelled from the service; Dr. Nazim, Minister of Education-these were the principal criminals (fayili asli) and their guilt has been determined by a unanimous vote

In accordance therefore with the abovementioned paragraphs in the law code, Talaat, Enver, Djemal and Dr. Nazim are sentenced to death"

Below is a translation of the official transcript of the verdict of the court martial conducted by the Ottoman Turkish government in 1919 against the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide. It was first published in theOfficial Gazette (Takvim-i-Vekayi),No. 3604.

"During the course of this trial, having heard the petitions and statements of both sides; having studied and examined in detail documents relating to this case; and after holding many consultations in the interest of the proper disposition of the matters under dispute, the following verdict is handed down:

"Although the accused and their attorneys entered a motion that the accused be set free, in accordance with the decrees(Idianname)of the Attorney General dated May 3, 20 and 22, June 9, 16 and 25, all 1919, (saying) that the accused were in fact moral representatives of the now defunct Ittihad and Terakki Party, which had committed countless crimes, as were the members of the Ittihad General Council(Medjlisi Oumumi),who were the authors of the abovementioned crimes(jerayim fayilleri),(it was ruled) that all the accused were then competent to stand trial and face punitive judgment.

"It was first deemed necessary to study the acts and deeds of the abovementioned Party (Djemiet) since its establishment. Before the Turkish Revolution (of 1908), there were individuals and organizations, which remain secret today, which expressed patriotic sentiments and aims. The record compiled since the Revolution by these people, parties and movements may be summarized as follows:

"(Certain) Ottoman subjects who thirsted for justice and freedom withdrew on July 9, 1324 (1908) to the mountains of Resneh to fight for freedom.

"To all Ottomans who thirsted for justice and freedom, July 9, 1324 (1908), the withdrawal to Resneh represented the bursting forth of a torrent of pure water bursting on them from heaven. The conviction was born that this was the only remedy for the oppression and injustices which we suffered; and the people in nowise obstructed the spread of the movement, supporting the revolutionaries with sincerity and loyalty until normal conditions were restored in all the provinces of the vast Ottoman Empire, which rang with the hope that justice and freedom would in fact be established. These sweet cries often reached the ears of the revolutionaries and their movement became stronger.

"But with the passing of time, as a result of political errors, many portions of Ottoman territories were lost, one after the other, to the Empire. Efforts were made to rectify these

failures by pointing up the errors of the old regime. The errors followed on one another. Even the (dreadful) consequences of the Italian and Balkan wars did not lead to the initiation of programs of administrative reform. Those who had hoped were disillusioned; those who thirsted for freedom were seized with anguish and concern; and a segment of those who were thought to be working for the national weal surrendered themselves to their own personal aspirations, and they followed an entirely wrong path; and some of those who had cried out 'We are thirsty for freedom' committed such strange acts that they laid the country open to ruin -- they dried up the land and subjected it to a painful situation. They practiced selfishness and thoughtlessly misled the government, outwardly pretending to be abiding by the law, but actually, through deception, creating a system of bodied in the Provinces which took over their local provincial administration and finally subordinated the Ministers' Council. They accomplished this by taking over their general assemblies. Thus did they achieve their goals.

"It is apparent from the statements of Minister of Finance Djavid Bey, and the written records of the Fifth Committee of Parliament, especially those of October 24-26, 1334 (1918) that the Executive of the Ittihad and Terakki Party had taken decisive and audacious steps involving the fate of the nation and the country, that it declared war on its own without even consulting the Council of Ministers and obtaining that body's consent, something which it found to be unnecessary -- although even the kings cannot arbitrarily declare war.

"No good could come out of such behaviour. Everyone understood this.

"The opponents of the Ittihad Party who, however, had practiced a certain degree of respect toward that Party, now began openly to criticize it.

"After the revolution it had been deemed necessary to declare martial law, which the Party did -- but without cessation, indefinitely. They enlisted the mob, the rabble, collectively to assail the Sublime Porte. They assassinated Nazim, the Minister of War, and his chief Aide, and they proceeded to overthrow the Cabinet of Kiamil Pasha, establishing a Cabinet of the Ittihad and Terakki. They summarily dismissed the experienced and honorable members of the Cabinet and replaced them with persons who belonged to the Party. There arrived a moment when people sought again the days of the tyrant. Everyone began to protest the rampant arbitrariness and tyranny.

"There was even more to it. They created an even greater atmosphere of harassment of the non-Islamic elements of the land, the Armenians in particular, who had hoped, from our precious Constitution, for justice and peace. These people now understood that they had been victimised by hypocrisy, and they assumed the posture of awaiting that opportune moment when they would be able to realize their former national aspirations. And the cause of all this were the Ittihadists themselves. They even raised national and racial issues among the Moslems of the land, they promoted divisiveness and conflict and jeopardized Ottoman unity. All this has been established by the intensive studies and examinations done of the matter as they appear in the charge of the Attorney General.

"The Court Martial has confirmed the following five points which are irrefutable, which substantiate the Attorney General's demand that a verdict of guilty be arrived at.

"These facts relate to the active body of the Ittihad and Terakki, the Party's moral representative. The personal crimes attributed to this representation have tainted the name of the Party. Of these crimes, all of us (i.e., members of the Court) have in all good conscience formed our own convictions.

"Consequently, the adjudged abovementioned crimes cannot be ascribed to all members (i.e., the accused). Special legal disposition must be made to judge the degree of guilt or innocence of all participants in these crimes in accordance with the degree of their guilt.

"Counsel for the accused in the course of his defense declared that under the constitutional regime the presence of political parties has been deemed to be necessary, that even today in our land other political parties in fact exist, in particular the 'Hurriet and Ittilaf' party, which has a Central headquarters, a General Assembly and branches, just as the Ittihad and Terakki party; and (defense counsel said), the 'Hurriet and Ittilaf' has even called those of its members who are Ministers to a meeting of their own.

"It is the contention of this court, after many consultations, that although the presence of parties and coalitions is necessary in countries governed by a Constitution, these parties and movements must never interfere in the affairs of the Government and its Executive Branch. After defining their aims and goals through majority actions taken at their national conventions, they leave the Ministers who enjoy their confidence alone to express their own views and cast their votes in accordance with the dictates of their own conscience.

"Parties and movements then aspire simply to influence Governmental actions to be in accordance with their own plans. They work solely to that end. They do not meddle on other business and they try to influence those Ministers whose actions they do not approve to resign, not by threats but by votes of 'no confidence.' This is the natural way of doing things.

"As to the parties which exist in Turkey, up to the convening of the National Assembly, the majority party cannot exert any influence on, or intervene in, the operations of the Executive of the Government which it has not chosen; on the other hand, if such a Party tries to alter the Government's legal and constitutional form, the end result will be just as bad. Thus, in examining the diverse offices of this Government, one must conclude that the views of defense counsel have no validity.

"The five points projected by the Court are then the following:

"(1) On the evidence of the trial which has taken place before this Military Court, it is obvious that the massacres which took place in the Kaza of Boghazlayan (Ankara), the Sanjak of Yozgat, and the Vilayet of Trebizond, were organized and perpetrated by the leaders of the Ittihad and Terakki Party.

"(2) The Defense argued that the news of these was communicated (to the Party) only after they had been committed. But even if this hypothesis were true, it is plain that even after the news was received of the atrocities, no steps were taken to prevent their repetition; nor were arrangements made for the punishment of the original criminals.

"We note that the President of the Ittihad(Sadrazam),Prime Minister Said Halim Pasha, upon the proclamation of general mobilization, invited to his seacoast residence the members of the Central Committee of the Ittihad(Merkezi Oumoumi),advising them that it would be extremely perilous for Turkey to take part in the war, that they adopt a policy of neutrality. He backed up his views with explanations and factual data, but failed to convince them. So, they took part in the war; and based on the minutes of the Parliament, as confirmed by Riza Bey, it is obvious that the responsible representatives of the Ittihad and Terakki had, even before the declaration of war, organized bandit bands in Trebizond which entered Russian territory and committed acts of aggression. Riza Bey confessed this to be a fact. The war itself was not declared with the full assent of the Council of Ministers; and it was after the step to war had

been taken that Minister of Finance, Djavid Bey, Churouk Sulu Mahmoud of Postal Services, and Suleyman el Boustani Effendi, Minister of Commerce, resigned their posts. This confirms further the fact that war was not declared on the DECISION OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS, that such a step was decided upon by the Ittihad and Terakki Party, that that Party alone declared war.

"(3) From the testimony of former Prime Minister Ahmed Izzet Pasha it is clear that his resignation as Minister of War was brought about by the intervention of the Ittihad Party -- was the direct result of that Party's hostility to him.

"(4) The world congress of the Ittihad and Terakki Party, having come to an understanding on the subject of the logistical support of the army, the Party's Istanbul headquarters handed over the direction of that task to its representative, Kemal Bey. First, they created a businessmen's body which took over the operations and rights of a number of firms and factions and seized private property. Public institutions were forced to transfer their assets to a limited number of individuals, including members of bodies mentioned above. As a result, countless numbers of Ottoman subjects have perished from lack of nourishment; many have suffered paralysis, and many have died. The result was that to a considerable degree the government's potential defense force was diminished. That the Ittihad and Terakki Center interfered in Governmental operations was confirmed by the records of the Ittihad Congress of 1332 (1916) which show that a report to this effect delivered there was warmly received.

"This Court demanded and received from the Municipality (of Istanbul) an explanation of this event.

"(5) Musa Kiazim Effendi, the Sheikh-ul-Islam, while consulting with the Senate on the matter of transfer of the religious court (Sheriye) to the Ministry of Justice, in replying to a question put to him, said: 'Do not ask for my vote. The Party (Firka) wants it that way and that way it shall be.' These circumstances were fully explained and understood during this trial.

"They simply mean that the Ittihad in fact interfered (in the operations of the Government).

"These five points were familiar to all of them; as were other matters, the consequences of which we have all seen. With reference to important matters of State, no opportunity was given the Council of Ministers to determine issues by their own vote and on their own counsel. There were instances of intervention to render the Government subservient to their own interests and their purposes. All this have been proved.

"The legal form of the Ottoman Government called for authority to be divided into three agencies: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. The Ittihad rendered itself superior to the three branches of Government, brought itself to the fore as a fourth power, prevailed through the force of threat, and disfigured our form of Government.

"The authors of the above-mentioned crimes, representing the moral person of the Ittihad and Terakki Party, are the members of its General Assembly, the fugitives -- Prime Minister Talaat Pasha and Minister of War Enver Effendi, now expelled from his military career; Djemal Effendi, Minister of the Navy, likewise expelled from the service; Dr. Nazim, Minister of Education -- these were the principal criminals(fayili asli)and their guilt has been determined by a unanimous vote. As for the case of another member of the Ittihad General Assembly, the Seikh-ul-Islam, Musa Kiazim Effendi, who was present throughout the trial, and on whose behalf both defense counsel and the Attorney General pleaded as if he were a man of virtue, a person of character and great learning, a man whom they could not possibly envision as having

participated in the crimes: Musa Kiazim Effendi, however, has been one of the important members of the Party since the Revolution but has obviously convinced such people of high education as defense counsel and the Attorney General of his innocence.

"The truth is that he is a person of inadequate education, who represented to ignorant people the deeds of the Party as logical and legal. He exerted no effort (to discourage the crimes committed) and even obstructed attempts to rectify erroneous opinions. In this trial it came to light that he directed the scientific and religious affairs of the Ittihad and Terakki Party, acting contrary to the Sheri Sherif (the law of the noble religion of Islam), and gave advice contrary (to the spirit of Islam). He has told this Court that the advice which he rendered was not proper and admitted that he made no attempt to forestall (the events); he also said that to resign from the Ittihad and Terraki is to resign from Islam -- and these and similar concepts are in ill-keeping with the virtues and perfection ascribed to him. They simply exacerbate his guilt. During the examination and interrogation of this individual it was made clear that, being very busy with his work in the scientific branch of his Party, although not included among the principal authors of the crimes, he nevertheless became a participant and for this his guilt has been confirmed by a unanimous vote and his case has been decided on a two-thirds majority vote.

"It has not been confirmed that Rifaat Bey, the former President of the Senate, participated in the Ittihad and Terakki Party; neither was he a participant in the crimes committed. The court decided unanimously to grant him freedom provided that he is not jailed for another cause. "Former Minister of the Postal Service, Hashim Bey, was in Berlin. Without receiving his consent, he was elected a Minister and, despite his refusal, he was appointed a Minister upon his return to Istanbul. His period as Minister coincided with the last years of the Ittihad Ministerial Council and he attended only three general meetings of the Ittihad in which he busied himself with issues outside of the Constitution. He was never personally present at any of their consultations, he was a mere listener. This was confirmed in the ensuing examinations. He too therefore has been set free by a majority vote provided that he will not [have] been arrested for any other cause.

"As to the sentences: punishment is to be meted to the abovementioned persons: Talaat, Enver, Djemal and Dr. Nazim, whose crimes were the greatest according to the first paragraph of the 45th Article of the Imperial Municipal Punitive Lawbook; also to be punished are Djavid, Mustafa Sheref and Musa Kiazim, by virtue of the second paragraph of the same Article and in accordance with the last paragraph of the 55th Article of the same Lawbook. The Articles in question are:

" 'When a number of persons commit together a crime, or commit a crime which itself comprehends a number of criminal acts, when each of these persons has been responsible for the commission of one or a few facets of that crime, such people will be termed as co-participants and will be punished individually as principal criminals.

" When it is a question of altering the form of the constitutional government or plotting against the Sultanate, or committing a violent murder -- when such acts are confirmed, the accused shall be sentenced to death.

" 'Accomplices in a felonious crime who are not subject to a legal exception shall be punished in the following manner: If the principal has been sentenced to death or to permanent forced labor, accomplices shall be sentenced to a term of hard labor of not less than ten years.'

"In accordance therefore with the abovementioned paragraphs in the law code, Talaat, Enver,

Djemal and Dr. Nazim are sentenced to death and Djavid, Mustafa Sheref and Musa Kiazim are sentenced to fifteen years at hard labor; and

"Although the abovementioned Rifaat and Hashim Beys are to be set free, this will pose no obstacle to issuance of Supreme Court summons to them to appear before that Court on matters relating to their offices; and

"Former Minister of Postal Services, Vosgan Effendi, and Minister of Commerce Suleyman-el Boustani Effendi, having departed for Europe quite a while ago, and it having been confirmed that even now they are unaware of invitations issued them (by this Court) to appear before it, and it being known that even if they were aware of this Court's invitation their return would have been improbable, their cases are therefore tabled.

"These verdicts have been rendered unanimouslyin absentiain the cases of Talaat, Enver, Djemal and Dr. Nazim; Djavid, Mustafa Sheref, Vosgan and Suleyman-el Boustani Effendis; they have been likewise rendered in the presence of Rifaat, Hashim Beys, and Musa Kiazim.

"July 5, 1919 (1335), 6 Shevval 1337: signatures: The President of the Military Court,Ferik(General) of Staff;Mustafa Nazim Binni Ahmed;Member of the Military Court;Mirliva(General) of Staff,Ali Nazim;Member of the Military Court, Colonel of Infantry,Rejeb Ferdi Binni Mehmed Ali.

"(PERSONAL EXCEPTION):

"Having considered the confessions of Mustafa Kiazim Effendi and the circumstances revealed by his statements, the undersigned is in full agreement (with the Court sentence) that he was not an accomplish to the crimes of the Merkezi Oumoumiya; but (it is the view of the undersigned) that he used his religious and scientific responsibilities in such a way as to hide the crimes of the Central body, that he made no effort to prevent or forestall the commission of those crimes, that he did not resign from office (because of those crimes), and that therefore he was one of the principal criminals. Hashim Bey, too, according to the evidence of his own confessions, adhered with all his heart to the Central Body and has been loyal to it both during his tenure of office and before he assumed the responsibilities of his position. He posed not a single objection to the crimes committed up to the day of his trial, and is convinced of the Central Body's innocence (of those crimes). The undersigned is inclined to consider him an accomplice-criminal. -- (Signed) Member of the Military Court and Mirliva (General of Staff)Mustafa Binni Aziz, Suleymaniye.

"It is confirmed that the signatures affixed to this sentence are the authentic signatures of the Members of the Military Court:

"July 5, 1919 (1335)

"Military Court: NAZIM.

"Head of the Secretariat empowered to Record the Minutes of this Military Tribunal: Abidin Daver.

"Official organ: No. 3604."

(End of official transcript)

Published in theOfficial Gazetteof Turkey(Takvimi Vekayi),no. 3604 (supplement), July 22, 1919. The transcript was translated into English by Haigazn K. Kazarian and published in theArmenian Review,Vol 24 (1971, 4), pp. 19-26.