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ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF VERMONT
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release ~ 2004-05-27
Contact: Armen Carapetian ~ ancvt@hotmail.com |
VERMONT GOVERNOR ISSUES PROCLAMATION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE |
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Governor James H. Douglas declares April 24, 2004, "Armenian Martyrs Day" in Vermont
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MONTPELIER, VT--Vermont Republican Governor James H. Douglas issued a proclamation last week marking the 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, bringing the total number of states to have properly recognized this crime against humanity to 37, reported the Armenian National Committee of Vermont (ANC Vermont). Specifically, Gov. Douglas' proclamation marks April 24, 2004 as "Armenian Martyrs Day."
"I'm sure I speak for not only the Vermont Armenian community but all Armenian Americans in thanking Governor Douglas for honoring the memory of the victims of this terrible crime against humanity," stated ANC Vermont activist Kohar Der Simonian. "We trust that this strong statement from the Governor will be acknowledged by the U.S. Congress in its deliberation of the pending resolution on the Genocide Convention," added Der Simonian.
In the months leading up to the proclamation, ANC Vermont members and activists, including Massachusetts State Republican Committeeman Bob Semonian, worked closely with the Governor's office, which was highly responsive to the community's concerns. Semonian spoke extensively to Governor Douglas during the National Governors Association conference held in Washington, DC in March 2004. He has since worked with local ANC activists in the effort to secure Armenian Genocide proclamations from a series of states across the country.
The proclamation notes that "since 1915, April 24th of each year has been imprinted in the memory of the Armenian people worldwide, for it was then that the mass genocide of the Armenian people began in the Ottoman Turkish Empire." It goes on to cite the importance of marking this tragedy, stating that "recognition of the 89th anniversary of this genocide is crucial to guarding against the repetition of future genocide and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events."
On the federal level, Senators Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) and James M. Jeffords (I-VT) are currently cosponsors of the Senate Genocide Resolution (S.Res. 164), which commemorates the 15th anniversary of the U.S. implementation of the UN Genocide Convention. S.Res.164 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. The corresponding House measure (H.Res. 193), currently has 110 cosponsors and was unanimously carried by the House Judiciary Committee in May, 2003.
The complete text of the proclamation is provided below.
The Armenian National Committee (ANC) is the largest Armenian American grassroots political organization in Vermont and nationwide. The ANC actively advances a broad range of issues of concern to the Armenian American community.
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S T A T E O F V E R M O N T
E X E C U T I V E D E P A R T M E N T
A P R O C L A M A T I O N
WHEREAS, since 1915, April 24th of each year has been imprinted in the memory of the Armenian people worldwide, for it was then that the mass genocide of the Armenian people began in the Ottoman Turkish Empire, the first such genocide in the 20th century, and 2004 marks the 89th anniversary of the historic tragedy; and
WHEREAS, Armenian families were uprooted from their ancestral homeland, brutally exposed to all kinds of indignities with hundreds of thousands slain, resulting in more than half of the Armenian people killed; and
WHEREAS, recognition of the 89th anniversary of this genocide is crucial to guarding against the repetition of future genocide and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events; and
WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans have greatly enriched our society through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; and
WHEREAS, our thoughts, offered in memory of the Armenian martyrs of 1915, will serve to remind governments of the world that persecution, torture, and
killing must cease forever.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, James H. Douglas, Governor, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2004 as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY in Vermont.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of Vermont this 24th day of April, A.D. 2004.
[signed]
James H. Douglas
Governor
By the Governor:
[signed]
Neale F. Lunderville
Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs
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