WASHINGTON — As the House and Senate Armenian Genocide resolutions saw the additions of Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA), and Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) during the month of January, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) also welcomed the unanimous support of the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC) regarding U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide reported the Assembly.
“We are proud to stand with the Armenian Assembly and lend our support to this critically important human rights issue,” stated Max Teleki, president of the Hungarian-American Coalition.
The CEEC represents 18 nationwide organizations representing more than 22 million Americans who trace their heritage to Central and Eastern Europe. Founded in 1994, the CEEC has offered a critical voice in helping to shape U.S. foreign policy. The Coalition includes the following organizations: American Hungarian Federation, American Latvian Association in the U.S., Armenian Assembly of America, Belarusan-American Association, Bulgarian Institute for Research and Analysis, Congress of Romanian Americans, Washington Chapter Czechoslovak National Council of America, Estonian American National Council, Georgian Association in the USA, Hungarian American Coalition, Joint Baltic American National Committee, Lithuanian American Council, Lithuanian American Community, National Federation of American Hungarians, Polish American Congress, Slovak League of America, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, and the Ukrainian National Association.
“As a people, we share a common bond with all those who have fallen victim to genocide and man’s inhumanity to man,” stated Michael Sawkiw, director of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America.
During its meeting last month, at the Assembly’s urging, the coalition unequivocally offered its public support for the resolutions swift passage. “The Polish American Congress welcomes the Assembly’s initiative,” stated Barbara Andersen, Director of Legislation and Research with the Polish American Congress’s Washington, DC office. “It is only fitting that as the parliament of Poland affirmed the Armenian Genocide on the 90th Anniversary, that we affirm our support during this, the 95th anniversary year,” added Andersen.
H.Res. 252, introduced by Representativevs 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) and its counterpart in the Senate, S.Res. 316 introduced by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and John Ensign (R-NV), are currently pending in the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee respectively.
“As we approach the 95th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the CEEC’s support is not only timely, but lends a critically important voice in the cause of genocide education, affirmation and prevention,” said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
