PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 1, 2008
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: mzachariades@aaainc.org
Phone: (202) 393-3434
MCCAIN, PALIN ISSUE LETTER TO THE ARMENIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Washington, DC – The McCain-Palin campaign issued a letter to the Armenian-American community today, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). In the letter, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) wrote that he is “grateful for all of the contributions that Armenian-Americans have made to our wonderful country,” and that he “greatly value[s] the opportunity to stand with the Armenian-American community.”
Regarding U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, the statement refrains from referring to the events of 1915-1923 as genocide, and instead employs a dictionary definition. McCain said, “It is fair to say that one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, the brutal murder of as many as one and a half million Armenians under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, has also been one of the most neglected. The suffering endured by the Armenian people during that period represented the prologue to what has come to be known as humanity’s bloodiest century.” He added that “It is our responsibility to recognize those tragic events and to ensure that our world never experiences the impact of the bloody conflicts that so filled the 20th century.”
McCain also thanked Armenia for her “support of coalition operations in Iraq and NATO peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo.”
The Armenian Assembly of America, as a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan advocacy organization is prohibited by law from endorsing, supporting or opposing candidates for elected office.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization