Profiting From Genocide Denial: Defense Industry CEO's Urge Congress To Oppose Armenian Genocide Legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) March 3, 2010 -- Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email. anca@anca.org
Internet www.anca.org

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
March 3, 2010
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918


PROFITING FROM GENOCIDE DENIAL: DEFENSE INDUSTRY CEO's URGE
CONGRESS TO OPPOSE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LEGISLATION

-- Trade Data Shows Consistent Increase in Bilateral Trade with
Turkey following Armenian Genocide Recognition

WASHINGTON, DC - Placing profit over human rights, the Chief
Executive Officers of five top defense firms have urged Congress to
block a measure calling for U.S. affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

"Lobbying against genocide recognition for financial gain is
morally reprehensible - whether it's the Armenian Genocide, the
Holocaust or the ongoing genocide in Darfur," said ANCA Executive

Director Aram Hamparian. "The CEO's of Lockheed, Boeing, Raytheon,
United Technologies and Northrop Grumman should be ashamed of
themselves - trampling on the memory of 1.5 million men, women and
children to justify their salaries."

In a letter to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard
Berman, just days before his Committee considers H.Res.252 - the
Armenian Genocide resolution , leaders of Lockheed Martin
Corporation, Boeing Corporation, Raytheon Corporation, United
Technologies and Northrop Grumman warned of "alienating a

significant NATO ally and trading partner" and "negative
repercussions for U.S. geopolitical interests."

However trade statistics from the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development tell a different story. Turkey's trade
levels with countries, which have recognized the Armenian Genocide
since 1995, have increased between 24% and 351%. U.S. trade with
Turkey has increased ten-fold since President Ronald Reagan cited
the Armenian Genocide in a Presidential Proclamation in 1981.

Click here to see a chart detailing expanding trade levels.

http://www.anca.org/endthegagrule/Turkey_Empty_Threats.pdf

"The statistics prove that Turkey's doomsday trade scenarios are
hollow," said Hamparian. "Once again, the Turkish lobby is using
threats and intimidation to gag America from speaking truthfully
about the Armenian Genocide."

Spearheaded by Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), George
Radanovich (R-CA), and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL),
the Armenian Genocide Resolution H.Res.252, calls upon the
President to properly characterize the annihilation of 1.5 million

Armenians from 1915-1923 as genocide and to ensure that the foreign
policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and
sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic
cleansing, and genocide.

The resolution currently has over 137 cosponsors.

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