A bipartisan group of U.S. legislators are set to introduce two resolutions in support of a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The resolution will include a new measure specifically pressing Turkey to fully respect the rights of Christians to practice their faith in freedom, including through the rightful return of confiscated churches to Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Pontians, Arameans (Syriacs) and other Christians communities.
The Return of Churches resolution, spearheaded by senior House Foreign Affairs Committee member Ed Royce and the panel’s Ranking Democrat Howard Berman, calls upon the government of Turkey to honor its international obligations end all forms of religious persecution and to protect the rights and religious freedoms of Christians. The measure specifically calls upon Turkey to return confiscated Christian church properties.

The Armenian Genocide Resolution, introduced by Congressmen Robert Dold and Adam Schiff, calls upon the President to recognize the Armenian Genocide and encourages the U.S. government to apply the lessons of this tragedy to prevent future crimes against humanity. This measure, identical to H.Res.252 during the previous session of Congress, has been adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee four times over the past eleven years, but has yet to reach the floor for an up-or-down vote of the full U.S. House of Representatives.

Reps. Dold and Schiff spoke out on the imperative of U.S affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.

“Ninety-six years ago 1.5 million people were killed simply because they were Armenian. I’ve personally heard stories from Armenian-Americans in my district who lost loved ones during the Armenian genocide. This appalling tragedy should not be ignored; rather, as a nation that fights for justice it is only fitting that the United States honestly recognize the Armenian Genocide and the victims so that together we can help prevent future genocides,” said Dold.

Sources on Capitol Hill report that both measures are supported by a broad bi-partisan group of original cosponsors.