WASHINGTON, DC – New Hampshire Senators Judd Gregg (R) and John Sununu (R) agreed to cosponsor the Genocide Resolution, S.Res.164, bringing the total number of cosponsors to thirty-nine, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Both senators heard regularly from their New Hampshire constituents on this matter over the past several months, reflecting the growing activism of the Armenian American community in northern New England. Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee (R) is the only New England area Senator not yet to cosponsor the legislation. Most recently, a New Hampshire delegation of activists including Mike Manoian, Harry Alexanian and Jeannette John spoke with representatives of both Senators, at meetings coinciding with the ANCA Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill, held on April 28th. Dr. Peter Balakian, whose recently published book, “The Burning Tigris” extensively documents U.S. humanitarian response to the Armenian Genocide, detailed the importance of supporting Genocide prevention legislation during the meeting with Sen. Gregg’s office.

“We join with the Armenian community of New Hampshire in welcoming the support of Senators Gregg and Sununu for the Genocide Resolution” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “With the 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide commemorated just a few weeks ago, and the prospect of yet another genocide developing in the Sudan as we speak, support for legislation like S.Res.164 has never been more vital. We must, as a nation, reaffirm our commitment to the aims of the Genocide Convention and ensure that the lessons of past genocides are applied in the prevention of future crimes against humanity.”

A two-term Member of the Senate, Sen. Gregg is Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and serves on the Appropriations and Budget Committees. Sen. John Sununu, now in his first term, serves on the Foreign Relations, Banking, Governmental Affairs and Joint Economic committees.

The Genocide resolution was introduced in the Senate in June, 2003 by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ). Its companion House measure, H.Res.193, led by Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), was adopted unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee last May and has 111 cosponsors. The resolution cites the importance of remembering past crimes against humanity, including the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodian and Rwandan genocides, in an effort to stop future atrocities. Support for the measure has been widespread, with a diverse coalition of over 100 ethnic, religious, civil and human rights organizations calling for its passage, including American Values, National Organization of Women, Sons of Italy, NAACP, Union of Orthodox Rabbis, and the National Council of La Raza.