 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Armenian National Committee of Illinois
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release ~ 2002-03-12
Contact: ANC_IL@yahoo.com ~ |
ANC IL: GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES CLARIFY POSITIONS ON ARMENIAN AMERICAN ISSUES |
 |
-- Blagojevich, Vallas and Wood Pledge to Mark Genocide |
|
GLENVIEW, IL — Illinois Lieutenant Governor Corinne Wood, former Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Paul Vallas, and Congressman Rod Blagojevich (IL-5) each recently stated that, if they were elected Governor of Illinois, they would annually issue a proclamation marking the Armenian Genocide. The statements were made in response to an Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Illinois questionnaire regarding the candidates’ positions on various issues of importance to Illinois Armenians. The three candidates are currently in the home stretch of their campaigns for their respective party’s nomination in the March 19th gubernatorial primary. Mr. Vallas and Cong. Blagojevich and are competing for the Democratic nomination, while Lt. Gov. Wood is seeking the Republican nomination.
In their responses to the ANC, Lt. Governor Wood, Congressman Blagojevich and Mr. Vallas all stressed the importance of officially marking the Armenian Genocide, a strong tradition for Illinois governors. For more than a decade Illinois governors, including former Governor Jim Edgar and current Governor George Ryan, have annually commemorated the Genocide by issuing proclamations, organizing special events and having a presence at community commemorative functions.
“The Governor of Illinois can play an important role in raising public awareness of the tragedy of the Armenian Genocide. As Governor, I will carry on this proud tradition. Just this month, I agreed to sign a letter to President Bush urging him to acknowledge the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as a Genocide,” stated Cong. Blagojevich, a member of the Armenian Caucus in Congress. Blagojevich has been a strong and consistent advocate for the concerns of Armenian Americans on Capitol Hill, supporting the retention of Section 907 and sustained aid levels for Armenia.
In addition to marking the Genocide through proclamations, some candidates expressed their support for the inclusion of the Genocide in public school curricula. “I support the full and accurate teaching of world history. The Armenian experiences represent an important period in early 20th century history of which all school children should learn,” commented former Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Vallas.
While Armenian Americans in Illinois have generally enjoyed significant support from Illinois governors on the Genocide issue, a recent proclamation by Gov. Ryan declaring October 29th “Republic of Turkey Day” in Illinois was disquieting for the Armenian community. Of specific concern were the factually inaccurate characterizations of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk as someone who had "contribut[ed] to world peace," and of the Republic of Turkey as "a working model to show how democracy, secularism and free market economies can flourish in a Moslem country." In order to express its concern, the ANC led a letter-writing campaign to the Governor urging him to retract the proclamation due to its historical inaccuracies. The response from the Governor's office to community members has been limited to a disappointing two-line note acknowledging receipt of the letters.
Replying to an ANC of Illinois request to clarify her position on this inaccurate proclamation, Lt. Gov. Wood stated, “I will urge Governor Ryan’s office to offer explanation and acknowledge any inaccuracies. It is my desire, as governor, to make sure that such inaccuracies are avoided by initiating dialogue with communities such as yours. I want to make sure that communication with all ethnic groups continues and that my office will be well-informed when initiating any written or verbal communications officially. The Armenian National Committee is to be commended for their efforts to assure that the tragedies of 1915 and 1923 perpetuated against the Armenian people remain a point in history that is never repeated.”
Accurate portrayal of Armenian, Ottoman and Turkish history has been a significant concern for the Armenian community. In this regard, the ANC stressed to the candidates the importance of strict legal and academic scrutiny of attempts by the Turkish government to seek to manipulate the teaching of Armenian history, particularly the Armenian Genocide, through grants, loans, and other financial incentives to establish chairs of Ottoman or Turkish studies.
Cong. Blagojevich stated in agreement, “I believe that every people has a right to their own history. I oppose efforts by one group to rob people of their past, and I will continue to work to subject such efforts to the strictest legal and academic scrutiny. History should never be held hostage to politics. In an effort to further this process, I cosponsored House Resolution 155 in the 106th Congress, which called upon the President to provide in a collection all United States records related to the Armenian genocide and deliver those records to Congress, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Armenian Genocide Museum in Yerevan, Armenia,” continued Blagojevich, “The best way to fight disinformation is through an active campaign to promote the truth, and often records stored here in the United States can help shed light on the past.”
Along with increasing Illinois’ awareness of Armenian history, the ANC urged the candidates to strengthen the State’s ties to the Republic of Armenia through exchange programs, commissions, and other state-level initiatives to promote increased trade, investment, cross-cultural understanding, and cooperation. Mr. Vallas agreed, “Understanding lays the foundation for a culturally aware and diverse society. My administration will support efforts to promote trade, cultural exchanges, investment and cooperation with Armenia. These efforts will benefit both Illinois and Armenia jointly fostering the development of markets and relationships.”
“I strongly support exchange programs as a way to cement ties between the Armenian people and the American people." stated Cong. Blagojevich. "These programs lend to the strength of the American-Armenian relationship by permitting the sharing of ideas and cultures. For this reason, I am a cosponsor of H.R. 611, the “Education for Democracy Act,” which would support Civic and Economic Education exchange programs between the United States and a number of Eurasian countries, including Armenia.”
Lt. Gov. Wood also related the importance of increasing the already strong channels of communication with the Armenian community in Illinois. “I believe that every voice counts. Issues of importance to the Armenian community are important to me," she stated. "As Lt. Governor, I established an Ethnic Advisory Council, …it is my hope to add more members from the Armenian community.”
Both Mr. Vallas and Cong. Blagojevich appear to share that conviction. Mr. Vallas vowed to “keep an open line of communication with the Armenian community and… attend community and cultural events, media interviews and forums.”
Cong. Blagojevich commented, “I am a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, and I have enjoyed the partnership I have developed with the Armenian-American community to work on federal issues in Congress. As Governor, I hope to continue this relationship, and build upon it, to work on issues impacting Armenian-Americans throughout the state.”
"We are gratified to see that Congressman Blagojevich, Mr. Vallas and Lt. Gov. Wood took the time to share their positions with the Armenian-American community of Illinois. It is encouraging to find that all three candidates are supportive of our community's concerns," stated Greg Bedian, spokesperson for the ANC of Illinois. "We hope that all of the candidates will make an effort to clarify their positions on these issues so that Armenian-American voters will be able to make an informed choice on March 19th."
The candidates’ comments were obtained in response to a questionnaire as part of an ongoing effort by the ANC to engage candidates in a dialogue to help clarify their positions regarding issues of concern to Armenian-American voters.
The Armenian National Committee is the largest Armenian American grassroots political organization both in Illinois and nationwide. The ANC actively advances a broad range of issues of concern to the Armenian-American community.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
 |
|
Stratomedia, Inc.
