Harut Sassounian
BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN
Now that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have selected their vice presidential candidates, Armenian Democrats are claiming that Sen. Tim Kaine has the better record on recognition of the Armenian Genocide, while Republican Armenians are insisting that Gov. Mike Pence is the clear-cut favorite on this issue. The more important question is: does it really matter?
During his years as Mayor of Richmond and Governor of Virginia, Kaine was supportive of various Armenian issues, including Armenian Genocide recognition. As U.S. Senator, he did not cosponsor the Armenian Genocide Resolution, but voted for it in the Foreign Relations Committee in April 2014, only after demanding that all references to Turkey be removed from the Resolution. He wanted to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, without offending the Turkish government! Sen. Kaine has also not cosponsored the currently pending Armenian Genocide Resolution.
Sen. Kaine received a C+ grade from the Armenian National Committee of America in 2014 because he:
1) Insisted that the text of the Armenian Genocide Resolution be watered down before he voted for it;
2) Did not make remarks in remembrance of the Armenian Genocide in the Senate;
3) Did not participate in the Capitol Hill Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide;
4) Did not cosponsor the Haiti and Armenia Reforestation Act.
Gov. Pence of Indiana, Donald Trump’s vice presidential nominee, also has a checkered record on Armenian Genocide recognition, while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, 2001-13. As a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, he voted for the Armenian Genocide Resolution in 2005, but voted against it in 2007 and 2010 out of concern for its possible fallout on US-Turkey relations, while acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. In 2012, his last year in Congress, Pence received a C grade from the Armenian National Committee of America.
Below are excerpts from Cong. Pence’s remarks in the Committee on Foreign Affairs on March 4, 2010:
“…I believe a genocide was committed against the Armenian people in the early part of the last century and it should never be forgotten…. The fact that more than 1 million Christians were killed makes the loss even more personal to me.â€
