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PRESS
RELEASE
For Immediate Release ~ November 4, 2003
Contact: Tsoghig Margossian
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AADLC Releases 10-Point Review of Bush
Administration's Record on Armenian Issues
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Glendale, CA: With less than a year to go before the 2004 presidential election, the Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council (AADLC) has released a 10-point review of President George W. Bush's track record on issues of special importance to Armenian American voters:
George W. Bush's Record on Armenian Issues
1) Breaking his written pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide
In his April 24th statements over the past three years, George W. Bush has repeatedly broken his written pledge in February of 2000 to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. This promise was widely publicized and broadly circulated within the Armenian American community in an effort to generate support for the Bush-Cheney ticket in both the primary and general elections. The relevant portion of his campaign statement reads as follows:
"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."
Instead of honoring this pledge, as President, George W. Bush has used evasive and euphemistic terminology to avoid describing Ottoman Turkey's systematic and deliberate destruction of the Armenian people by its proper name - the Armenian Genocide.
2) Opposing the Congressional Genocide Resolution
George W. Bush has actively fought against passage of the Genocide Resolution in both the Senate and House. This legislation (S.Res.164 and H.Res.193) specifically cites the Armenian Genocide and formally commemorates the 15th anniversary of U.S. implementation of the U.N. Genocide Convention.
3) Failing to condemn Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide
George W. Bush's Administration has been entirely silent on the hateful decree issued by Turkey's Education Minister, Huseyin Celik, requiring that all students in Turkeys' schools be instructed in the denial of the Armenian Genocide.
4) Waiving Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act
George W. Bush pressured Congress into granting him authority to waive Section 907, a provision of law that bars aid to the government of Azerbaijan until it lifts its blockades of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh.
5) Cutting aid to Armenia
In each of the past three years, George W. Bush has sought dramatic and unprecedented reductions in U.S. aid levels to Armenia, despite the devastating, multi-billion dollar impact of the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades. His Administration has also sought to shift the U.S. military aid balance toward Azerbaijan.
6) Defaming Armenians as Terrorists
George W. Bush's Attorney General John Ashcroft defamed Armenians in December of 2002 by mistakenly placing Armenia on an Immigration and Naturalization Service watch list for terrorist countries. Only a nation-wide protest campaign secured Armenia's removal.
7) Neglecting U.S.-Armenia Economic ties
George W. Bush has not taken any meaningful steps toward the negotiation of a Tax Treaty, Social Security Agreement, Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, or other bilateral agreements to foster increased U.S.-Armenia commercial relations.
8) Opposing Nagorno Karabagh's right to self-determination
George W. Bush has failed to support Nagorno Karabagh's right to self-determination within secure borders, nor has he held Azerbaijan accountable for unilaterally stalling the Nagorno Karabagh peace process.
9) Turning a blind eye to U.S. arms transfers to Turkey
The George W. Bush Administration has effectively abandoned America's responsibility to carefully scrutinize proposed sales and transfers of U.S. military hardware to Turkey. Instead, the White House has taken unprecedented steps to expand its military aid to Turkey. His Administration has also extend multi-billion dollar loans to the Turkish government, despite Turkey's refusal to allow U.S. forces to open a northern front during the war in Iraq.
10) Backing taxpayer financing of the Baku-Ceyhan bypass of Armenia
George W. Bush has energetically sought U.S. taxpayer funding for the politically motivated Baku-Ceyhan pipeline route that, at the insistence of Turkey and Azerbaijan, bypasses Armenia.
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