The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomed the European Parliament's adoption of an Armenian Genocide Centennial Resolution, emphasizing how this official action shines a bright spotlight on President Obama's much-anticipated April 24th statement regarding this crime. "The European Parliament's strong stand for a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide underscores the stark nature of the choice before President Obama," stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "This April 24th, President Obama can take his moral cues from Pope Francis or Recep Erdogan. He can stand up for truth, along with the European Parliament, our top NATO allies, 43 U.S. states, a growing pro- justice Turkish civil society movement, and the moral conscience of the world community. Or he can opt - on the solemn Centennial of this crime - to continue enforcing a foreign government's gag-rule on honest American discourse on the Armenian Genocide."
"As Americans, we should never outsource our nation's human rights policy or allow any foreign country - friend of foe - to compromise our nation's stand against genocide," added Hamparian.
Prior to his election to the oval office, President Obama was clear and unequivocal in promising to properly characterize Ottoman Turkey's murder of over 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children between 1915 and 1923 as genocide. In a January 19, 2008, statement he wrote: "The facts are undeniable. An official policy that calls on diplomats to distort the historical facts is an untenable policy. As a senator, I strongly support passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106), and as President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide." President Obama has yet to honor his pledge. He is expected to make a statement on the topic on April 24, 2015, the international day of commemoration of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide.
During its plenary session on April 15, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. The voting followed discussions on the issue on April 14-15. An unprecedented number of members of the European Parliament took the stage and showed their solidarity to the Armenian nation, and in support of the resolution, and stressed the importance of calling a genocide .
The European Parliament's resolution reads: "The European Parliament calls on Turkey to come to terms with its past by recognizing the Armenian genocide and thus pave way for a genuine reconciliation." The European Parliament resolution also asks for the establishment of an "International Remembrance Day for Genocides" and stresses that the timely prevention and effective punishment of genocide and crimes against humanity should be among the main priorities of the international community and the EU.