WASHINGTON, DC. – In a forceful series of questions offered during the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations hearing with Secretary Clinton, Rep. Schiff referenced the U.S. record of affirming the Armenian Genocide, citing a document submitted to the International Court of Justice in 1951 clearly referencing the Armenian Genocide, President Ronald Reagans affirmation of the Armenian Genocide in 1981 and Secretary Clintons own statements as Senator properly characterizing those, crimes reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)..
The California Congressman then juxtaposed this record with recent statements made by the Secretary in January, in which she referred to the Armenian Genocide as a "historical debate," and asked “is there any question that you have that the facts of that tragic period between 1915 and 1923 constitute genocide? Do you have any different view on the subject now than you did as a state - as a U.S. senator?”
Once again, Secretary Clinton was evasive, resorting to euphemisms such as “terrible events,” and “one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century,” but stopping short of her clear statements as Senator in 2008, when she affirmed that “the horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians constitute a clear case of genocide.” She noted President Obamas annual April 24th statement, in which he has argued that “a full, frank and just acknowledgement of the facts of what happened is in everyones interest,” then put the onus on the Turkish and Armenian people, and their respective governments, to resolve the issue.
"The Armenian Genocide is a major crime against all humanity, requiring international justice, not a simple bilateral conflict between nations needing mediation," stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "According to her morally and factually flawed logic, America and the international community should have remained silent in the face of the Holocaust and other genocides in Rwanda and elsewhere, leaving it to the perpetrators and victims of these crimes to come to a common understanding of their past. Its truly a sad spectacle to see our nations top diplomat pressured by Turkey to dance around the truth and play word games with genocide."
Both Representatives Jesse Jackson (D-IL) and Steve Rothman (D-NJ) associated themselves with Rep. Schiffs statement and inquiry during the hearing. Rep. Jackson went on to express concern about President Obamas proposed 19% cut in assistance to Armenia.
Earlier this week, over 60 Members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to Secretary Clinton, asking her to renounce her recent public mischaracterization of the Armenian Genocide. In that letter, Members stated that the "historically inaccurate description of the Armenian Genocide as an open question, in addition to the offense it represents to Armenian Americans and other victims of genocide, provides American encouragement to the Republic of Turkey in its shameful campaign of denial."
