In eloquent remarks delivered at the event organized by the Congressional Armenian Caucus, led by Co-Chairmen Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Speaker Pelosi said that she has been carrying the front page of the New York Times published the day after the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted to approve H. Res. 106--the Armenian Genocide Resolution pending in Congress--as a reminder of the importance of recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
In a front-page story the day after the Oct. 10, 2007 Committee vote, the New York Times published the photos of four Genocide survivors who attended the committee hearing. Of the four survivors, two were in attendance at Wednesday's Capitol Hill Commemoration. One of the survivors passed away earlier this year.
Rep. Pelosi called the committee vote an important passage and said there was much work to be done.
Pelosi explained that she was attending the Congressional Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide to pay her respects to the victims of the Genocide and express sadness for this crime against humanity.
The Speaker said she is often asked why address an issue that happened decades ago. She said her response to those inquires is because if we ignore history, we are destined to repeat it. Pelosi said while she realized that the Genocide happened almost 100 years ago, Genocides were happening today in Rwanda and Darfur. As long as genocide exists, she said, we have to make sure that all genocides are properly recognized and commemorated.
Nancy Pelosi pledged that she would continue the fight for the recognition of the Genocide and urged others to follow suit.
The Speaker was joined at the Capitol Hill Commemoration by Democratic leaders including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), as well as leaders of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, including the two Representatives of Armenian ancestry Anna Eshoo and Jackie Speier.
Prior to the Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide commemoration event, a pre-commemoration gathering took place organized by the Armenian National Committee of America, USA-PAC and other Armenian community organizations.
Watch Horizon Television for more details on this developing story on www.horizonarmeniantv.com at 8 p.m. (Pacific).
Source: Released By ANCA - Contact: Ara Khachatourian, English Editor ~ (818) 500-0609
