ANC OF NEW YORK DELEGATION DISCUSSES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE JUSTICE AND ARTSAKH PEACE WITH REP. KATHLEEN RICE

Rep. Rice Co-Sponsors Armenian Genocide Truth + Justice Resolution (H.Res.154); Joins Congressional Armenian Caucus

September 12, 2016

NEW YORK, NY – U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice (D-NY 4^th District) added her voice to the growing number of House members supporting justice for the Armenian Genocide, cosponsoring the Armenian Genocide Truth+Justice Resolution (H.Res.154) and, more broadly, joining the Congressional Armenian Caucus.

The news comes following an Armenian National Committee of New York (ANC-NY) delegation meeting with Rep. Rice, where a broad range of community concerns were discussed, including strengthening U.S.-Armenia relations, safeguarding Artsakh peace, the plight of Christian communities in the Middle East and support for Armenian Genocide legislation.  The meeting was part of an extended series of over 50 outreach meetings held as part of the ANCA Eastern Region’s August Recess District Advocacy Campaign.

“As the largest and most influential grassroots political advocacy organization representing the views and policy priorities of our community throughout the Eastern United States, including our vibrant New York constituency, we are very pleased to see Representative Rice raise her voice for truth, justice, and peace,” said ANCA-ER Community Outreach and Communications Director Dr. Artur Martirosyan. “Our community in New York’s 4^th Congressional district looks forward to engaging closely with Representative Rice on matters of genocide awareness and prevention, protecting people’s right to self-determination, and strengthening the U.S.-Armenia alliance.”

Earlier, in the fall of 2015 Representative Rice along with other 84 Members of Congress signed a letter initiated by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D-NY) call on Ambassador James Warlick – the US Co-chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group – to implement concrete measure for Nagorno Karabakh peace, including the placement of gunfire locators along the line of contact, expansion of OSCE monitors and withdrawal of snipers.

Armenian Genocide Truth+Justice Resolution (H.Res.154), spearheaded by Reps. Robert Dold (R-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), and Frank Pallone (D-NL), resolution calls upon President Barack Obama to work toward equitable, constructive, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based on the Republic of Turkey’s full acknowledgement of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide. The resolution would also establish a fair, just, and comprehensive international record of this crime against humanity.

The Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues was founded by Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and former Congressman John Porter (R-IL) in 1995. Since that time, the bipartisan panel has been at the forefront of Congressional action on a broad range of Armenian American concerns – from justice for the Armenian Genocide, to self-determination for Nagorno Karabakh, stronger U.S.-Armenia ties, and support for Armenian communities in Georgia and oppressed Armenian and other Christian communities around the world. Representatives Pallone, Robert Dold, Jackie Speier (D-CA) and David Valadao currently serve as Co-Chairs of the Caucus, with Representatives Adam Schiff and David Trott (R-MI) serving as Vice-Chairs.

A list of Caucus members is available at https://anca.org/armenian-caucus/