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PRESS
RELEASE
For Immediate Release ~ April 24, 1999
Contact: Lucy Keshishian
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AADLC WELCOMES BILL BRADLEY'S PRINCIPLED STAND ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Presidential Candidate Condemns Genocide of 1.5 Million Armenians
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"We cannot alter the fact that 1.5 million Armenians died at the hands of a brutal enemy, and we cannot question that this tragedy can go by no name but genocide."
--Bill Bradley, in an April 24th letter to the AADLC
Falls Church, VA: Democratic Presidential Candidate Bill Bradley marked the 84th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with a statement condemning the annihilation of the Armenian people "at the hands of a brutal enemy," a crime which he stressed "can go by no name but genocide."
In an April 24th letter to the AADLC, the former New Jersey Senator reflected on the sorrow of the occasion and rededicated himself to ensuring that the world never forget that "from 1915 to 1923, 1.5 million Armenians were murdered by the Ottoman Empire and its successor in the century's first genocide."
Sen. Bradley's commemoration of the Armenian Genocide stands in sharp contrast to the remarks this year by Vice President Al Gore, currently the only other Democratic presidential candidate. As in all his public statements since becoming Vice President, Al Gore failed to use the term "genocide" to describe Ottoman Turkey's systematic campaign to destroy its Armenian population. In an April 15th letter to the AADLC, the Vice President did not address the specific concern raised nationally by Armenian American Democrats, namely why, since his election as Vice President, he has refused to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide.
"We join with all Armenian Americans in welcoming Senator Bradley's principled stand on the Armenian Genocide. His thoughtful and heartfelt message holds deep meaning to the survivors, their children and grandchildren," said AADLC Co-Chairman Khajag Sarkissian. "Senator Bradley represents all that is best in the tradition of public service and in the proud legacy of the Democratic Party. We value his friendship, welcome his innovative approach to public policy issues, and look forward to working with his campaign as it reaches out to the Armenian American community."
Armenian American Democrats can express their appreciation to Senator Bradley through his campaign office:
Bill Bradley for President 395 Pleasant Valley Way West Orange, NJ 07052
Tel: (973) 731-2100 Fax: (973) 731-4995 www.billbradley.com
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