Washington, DC - Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chair of its Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy, and Global Women's Issues, joined her colleagues yesterday in cosponsoring S. Res. 316, the Armenian Genocide resolution, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

Senator Boxer's cosponsorship is timely given Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement on the Charlie Rose television program this week while in the Washington, DC, that "I can say very clearly that we do not accept genocide. This is completely a lie." 

"We welcome Senator Boxer's continued commitment in combating genocide denial through U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide," stated Armenian Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "In the face of continued denial of this great crime against humanity, it is incumbent upon us and all people of goodwill to do everything in our power to put an end to this vicious cycle," added Ardouny.

Introduced by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) in October of this year, S. Res. 316 reaffirms the incontestable fact of the Armenian Genocide and has also garnered the support of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). In addition, while not an official cosponsor, former Presidential hopeful, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) in a recent interview publicly affirmed the Armenian Genocide.

S.Res. 316 has been referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is pending further action. S.Res. 316 mirrors its counterpart in the House of Representatives, H.Res. 252, which was introduced by Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA), along with Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL).

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.

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NR# 2009-93