WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Former Vice President Joe Biden and current front-runner in the 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary called on the U.S. to \u201conce and for all\u201d reaffirm its policy on the Armenian Genocide, sharing his support for U.S. Senate and House legislation (S.Res.150 and H.Res.296) which permanently locks in official recognition, rejects Turkey\u2019s denial, and encourages public education regarding this crime, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
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In a statement posted to his Facebook and Twitter accounts, Biden marked the 28th anniversary of Armenian independence and went on to note that \u201chistory is not complete unless we recognize, once and for all, the Metz Yeghern \u2014 the Armenian Genocide.\u201d He offered his support for pending Armenian Genocide legislation, noting \u201cit\u2019s past time for the United States to support this important legislation.\u201d Biden has over 1.4 million followers on Facebook and 3.7 million followers on Twitter.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoe Biden sent a clear message to House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader McConnell to green-light votes on the Armenian Genocide Resolution – H.Res.296 and S.Res.150 – in their respective chambers of Congress,\u201d said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. \u201cHow these two leaders – from opposing parties – advance or obstruct these resolutions will speak volumes about the respect they – and their respective parties – hold for Armenian American views, values, and votes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Biden\u2019s complete statement is provided below.<\/strong><\/p>\n Earlier this week, on September 16th, in a letter to the ANCA, Biden noted \u201cWe must never forget or remain silent about this horrific and systematic campaign of extermination that resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children and the mass deportation of 2 million Armenians from their homes.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamparian, in responses to an interview with Voice of America regarding Biden\u2019s letter, stressed the importance of having Armenian American concerns \u2013 U.S. Armenia relations, Artsakh security and freedom, a principled U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide \u2013 part of the presidential election political discourse, and the vital role Armenian American voters will play in California and traditionally swing states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, and other key states in the 2020 elections.<\/p>\n While candidate pledges are meaningful, said Hamparian, \u201cfar more important are the actual deliverables that candidates can provide for our community; the concrete steps \u2013 before election day \u2013 not the promises of what they will do after election day.\u201d Hamparian offered concrete examples, including support for passage of Armenian Genocide legislation. \u201cIf candidates can help pass H.Res.296 in the U.S. House and S.Res.150 in the U.S. Senate \u2013 if they can lean on the leaders in the House and Senate to get those resolutions passed, if they can make a sincere and sustained effort to accomplish these policy priorities for the Armenian Community – I think voters on election day will respect that type of commitment,\u201d concluded Hamparian.<\/p>\n VOA coverage of the ANCA\u2019s views on Biden\u2019s letter (in Armenian) is available at: Video of ANCA\u2019s responses to VOA questions on the Biden letter to the ANCA is available at:
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