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ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CONGRATULATES OBAMA-BIDEN VICTORY

Politics

"Change" - it has been the driving theme of the 2008 Presidential election with both candidates promising to change how things are done in Washington. Across the board on issues important to Armenian-Americans and their friends, Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Joseph Biden Jr. (D-DE) in their rhetoric and their records represented positive change, bringing the United States back in line with the historic principles that made our country great and the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) congratulates them on a hard fought election victory.

Several key issues to the Armenian-American community include reversing the Anti-Evans Doctrine, ending attempts to isolate Armenia, ending genocide denial, ensuring the promotion and protection of human rights consistently around the world, and a peaceful and just resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. While Senator John McCain was an early supporter of self-determination and fundamental freedoms for the people of Nagorno Karabakh, in recent years he sided with Turkey and Azerbaijan to oppose reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide and turned a blind eye to Azerbaijan's human rights record.

"By all accounts this was an historic election which provides a tremendous opportunity for all Americans," stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "The new Administration will have a far-reaching impact over the next four years. The Assembly looks forward to the immediate revocation of the Anti-Evans Doctrine, and in its place ensure that all U.S. diplomatic and foreign policy personnel are made fully aware of the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide and are allowed to speak the truth freely," continued Bryan Ardouny.

The Anti-Evans Doctrine was formulated by the Bush Administration to remove Ambassador John M. Evans after he acknowledged the Armenian Genocide in 2005. Ambassador Evans' statement, however, was consistent with former President Ronald Reagan's 1981 affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, as well as George W. Bush's acknowledgement by reference to the International Center for Transitional Justice analysis on the Armenian Genocide. In 2007, the Armenian Assembly bestowed upon Ambassador Evans the distinguished Henry Morgenthau Award for Meritorious Public Service. The award, established in 1996, recognizes those individuals who exemplify the courage embodied by Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, who served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during the time of the Genocide. Morgenthau was the first American to alert the world of the Armenian Genocide and later established the Near East Relief Society to help provide relief assistance for the survivors.

Ambassador Evans' remarks were also consistent with President George W. Bush's campaign promise, U.S. policy and legal precedents. However, the Bush Administration removed Evans for his public acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide and disallowed State Department officials from accurately reflecting U.S. policy. Ambassador Evans is currently working on a much anticipated book regarding his experience.

The Obama-Biden ticket has consistently demonstrated a rejection of the Bush Administration's fundamentally flawed policy on this critical human rights issue. Specifically, during their tenure in the U.S. Senate and with respect to the removal of U.S. Ambassador John M. Evans, and the subsequent nominations that ensued, both Senator Obama and Senator Biden have pressed for affirmation of the Genocide.

Last week Senator Obama stated "Joe Biden and I believe 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." Senator Biden as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee not only cosponsored S.Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide resolution, but also spearheaded legislation, S.Res. 65, honoring the legacy of Hrant Dink and calling for the repeal of Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which punishes discussion of the Armenian Genocide. Senator Biden has a career long commitment of integrity on Armenian issues.

Over the course of the U.S. Presidential race, Turks and Azeris panicked over the prospect of the election. A senior foreign official issued a warning to both campaigns that the U.S.-Turkey partnership would end if they supported affirmation of the Armenian Genocide. Turkey has bluffed before and other countries have called Turkey's bluff. Given Senator Obama's and Senator Biden's strong record with respect to affirmation of the Armenian Genocide Given, Turkey should heed calls to come to terms with its genocidal legacy.

The Assembly also expressed the expectation that the Bush "Anti-Evans Doctrine," which penalized the mere acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide by U.S. diplomats will be summarily revoked. In a separate letter to the Bush Administration, the Assembly specifically requested that the Bush Administration revoke this fundamentally flawed policy prior to the inauguration of the next President, and called on the Administration to instead embrace former President Ronald Reagan's policy of Genocide affirmation. This Administration, as Reagan's did, can avoid the annual exercise of congressional consideration of a genocide resolution by simply using their constitutional powers to reaffirm U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide.