— Republican Candidate Calls on Americans to
Remember and Acknowledge “Facts and Lessons” of
the “Genocidal Campaign” against the Armenians
WASHINGTON, DC – In a powerfully worded letter to two of his
leading Armenian American supporters, Republican presidential
hopeful Texas Governor George Bush acknowledged the Armenian
Genocide, called on Americans to join with him in remembering the
crime committed against the Armenian people, and pledged as
President to ensure that the United States properly recognizes this
terrible atrocity, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).
Governor Bush’s letter, addressed to Michigan community activist
Edgar Hagopian and New York businessman Vasken Setrakian, who
attended Harvard with the Governor, also called for continued U.S.
aid to Armenia, encouraged a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno
Karabagh conflict, and praised the “tremendous contribution of the
Armenian community to the United States.”
“We welcome Governor Bush’s principled stand on the Armenian
Genocide and join with him in calling upon all Americans to
acknowledge both the facts and lessons of this crime against
humanity,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We would
like, as well, to voice our community’s gratitude to Vasken
Setrakian and Edgar Hagopian, both of whom have done so much to
share with Governor Bush the issues of pressing concern to our
community. We appreciate their leadership and value their
contribution to expanding the voice of Armenian Americans in the
political process.”
Governor Bush’s rival for the Republican nomination, Arizona
Senator John McCain, has yet to speak out on Armenian issues. He
has remained silent, in particular, on the Armenian Genocide,
despite having received an unprecedented number of postcards from
Armenian Americans as part of the ANCA’s million postcard campaign
to leading presidential candidates – including Governor Bush, Vice
President Al Gore and former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley.
The two hundred thousand postcards addressed to Sen. McCain ask him
to explain his vote in 1990 against former Senator Bob Dole’s
Armenian Genocide resolution and, more recently, his 1999 vote to
lift the Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan,
despite Azerbaijan’s failure to lift its blockades of Armenia and
Nagorno Karabagh. (For more information on the ANCA postcard
campaign, visit anca web site.)
In a September 1998 speech in the U.S. Senate, McCain attacked a
Congressionally approved ten million dollar aid package to the
American University of Armenia as an “objectionable program,” and a
“serious diversion of scarce resources otherwise needed for truly
worthy programs.” (For more information on this speech, visit
.)
Provided below is the full text of Governor Bush’s letter.
==========================================
George W. Bush for President
February 19, 2000
Mr. Edgar Hagopian
Mr. Vasken Setrakian
Dear Edgar and Vasken,
Thank you for your inquiry to my campaign regarding issues of
concern to Armenian Americans.
The twentieth century was marred by wars of unimaginable brutality,
mass murder and genocide. History records that the Armenians were
the first people of the last century to have endured these
cruelties. The Armenians were subjected to a genocidal campaign
that defies comprehension and commands all decent people to
remember and acknowledge the facts and lessons of an awful crime in
a century of bloody crimes against humanity. If elected President,
I would ensure that our nation properly recognizes the tragic
suffering of the Armenian people.
The Armenian diaspora and the emergence of an independent Republic
of Armenia stand as a testament to the resiliency of the Armenian
people. In this new century, the United States must actively
support the independence of all the nations of the Caucasus by
promising the peaceful settlement of regional disputes and the
economic development of the region. American assistance to Armenia
to encourage the development of democracy, the rule of law and a
tolerant open society is vital. It has my full support.
I am encouraged by recent discussions between the governments of
Armenia and Azerbaijan. The United States should work actively to
promote peace in the region and should be willing to serve as a
mediator. But ultimately peace must be negotiated and sustained by
the parties involved. Lasting peace can come only from agreements
they judge to be in their best interests.
I appreciate the tremendous contribution of the Armenian community
to the United States. The Armenian community has been and will
continue to be a model of dedication to values of faith and family.
Sincerely,
[signed]
George W. Bush