Armenian Assembly of America asks Obama to affirm Genocide

US President Barack Obama, speaking at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as part of the nation's Days of Remembrance activities, has stressed the importance of teaching future generations about the horrors of man's inhumanity to man and the need for genocide prevention, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA).

The President's remarks on the eve of the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide reminds us all about the importance of learning from the lessons of the past and thus give true meaning to the words "never again."
 

"As we mark the anniversary of the Holocaust, the Armenian Assembly of America stands in solidarity with the Jewish people by remembering the victims, paying tribute to the survivors, and rededicating ourselves to genocide affirmation, education and prevention," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
 

Introduced by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, President Obama highlighted the fact that "preventing mass atrocities and genocide is a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility of the United States," and that awareness without action changes nothing. Wiesel, who has also consistently recognized the Armenian Genocide, reiterated the importance of prevention, and stated that one of the greatest tragedies of the Holocaust was that it was preventable.
 

Inscribed in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the following statement by Adolf Hitler before invading Poland: "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?" serves as a chilling reminder of the need for prevention and intervention.
 

On the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, President Obama has an important opportunity to carry his message forward by honoring his commitment to affirm the Armenian Genocide.
 

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 non-partisan, tax-exempt membership organization.