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 WASHINGTON–Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has informed the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) that he will once again
support legislation calling for U.S. reaffirmation of the
Armenian Genocide.
“We want to offer our appreciation to
Majority Leader Reid for joining with his colleagues in
supporting this legislative effort to put America on the right
side of the Armenian Genocide issue,” said Aram Hamparian,
Executive Director of the ANCA. “We look forward to working with
Senator Reid and our other friends in the leadership of the
Senate and the Foreign Relations Committee as the Armenian
Genocide Resolution moves to a Committee vote and adoption by
the full Senate.”
Spearheaded by Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
and John Ensign (R-NV), the Armenian Genocide resolution
(S.Res.316) also enjoys the early support of Senators Sherrod
Brown (D-OH), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA),
Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
Senator Reid’s cosponsorship comes as
Armenian Americans across the country continue to participate in
the ANCA “Countdown to Erdogan” campaign – a four-week,
grassroots campaign urging President Obama to speak truthfully
about the Armenian Genocide when he meets on December 7th with
Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdogan. The first week of the campaign
focused on Senate action, with thousands sending ANCA WebMails
and participating in a national call in day to Senate offices in
support of S.Res.316.
On each day until December 7th, the ANCA is
organizing a new action – ranging from online advocacy, call-in
days, social networking, coalition-building, community outreach,
and fieldwork. Information on the campaign is posted at
http://www.anca.org/countdown.
Last month, Majority Leader Reid formally
shared the reservations of the Silver State’s Armenian community
regarding the dangers of the recently signed Turkey-Armenia
Protocols with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
In a October 30, 2009 letter to ANCA-Nevada
activist Razmig Libarian, the Senate leader reported that he had
recently written to Secretary Clinton to pass along the concerns
of his state’s citizens of Armenian heritage, and to encourage
her to meet directly with the national leadership of the
Armenian American community regarding the state of
Turkey-Armenia relations.
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