WASHINGTON, DC – Thousands of Armenians from the United States and throughout the world are expected to watch the live internet Webcast this Thursday, September 15th (starting at 10:30am EST) of a key Congressional panel’s consideration of Armenian Genocide legislation, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

For the first time in nearly five years, the influential U.S. House International Relations Committee will discuss and vote upon legislation on the Armenian Genocide (H.Res.316 and H.Con.Res.195). In October of 2000, the panel voted 24 to 11 to approve the Armenian Genocide Resolution, but the measure was eventually withdrawn from consideration only minutes before it was to go before the full House of Representatives.

To watch the live Webcast, visit the website of the U.S. House International Relations Commmittee and click on “Live webcast of meeting.”

Thursday, September 15th – 10:30 am EST

http://wwwc.house.gov/international_relations

“We have been tremendously encouraged by the growing number of Armenians who are taking advantage of webcast technology to watch – in real time – the Committee’s consideration of legislation on the Armenian Genocide,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “We join with Armenians throughout the United States in looking forward to this opportunity to watch the legislative process in action.”

The Committee meeting will be held at 10:30 am in room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building, on Capitol Hill. Among the other issues which are set to be considered by the panel during its September 15th meeting are the following:

* H. Con. Res. 238: Honoring the victims of the Cambodian Genocide that took place from April 1975 to January 1979.

* H. Res. 38: Expressing support for the accession of Israel to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

* H. Res. 388: Regarding the July, 2005, measures of extreme repression on the part of the Cuban Government against members of Cuba’s pro-democracy movement.

* H. Res. 409: Condemning the Government of Zimbabwe’s “Operation Murambatsvina”

* H. Con. Res. 237, Welcoming President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan to the U.S. on September 20, 2005.