Washington (April 21, 2017) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, today called on President Donald Trump to stand with the Armenian community and commemorate the Armenian Genocide in his first opportunity as President, on the 102nd anniversary on April 24. Between 1915-1923, more than 1.5 million Armenians were massacred, which Turkey refuses to acknowledge to this day. Senator Markey has long fought for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, consistently co-sponsoring Congressional resolutions to acknowledge the Genocide and delivering remarks for the Congressional record to commemorate its anniversary.

Full text of Senator Markey’s letter to President Trump can be found below.

April 21, 2017

 

President Donald Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20500

 

Dear Mr. President:

 

I write to express my hope that on the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide this year, you will stand with our Armenian community here in the United States and across the globe in properly commemorating the genocide that took place from 1915-1923 in Ottoman Turkey.

 

April 24th marks the anniversary of the genocide that Turkey sadly continues to deny to this day. Unequivocally affirming the Armenian Genocide would honor the more than 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred. It would also serve to remember this proud chapter in America’s history of helping to save the survivors. 

 

From President Ronald Reagan to Senator Bob Dole, there is a tremendous legacy in the Republican Party of acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. I hope that you will choose to follow in the footsteps of these Republican leaders and properly recognize the Armenian Genocide in a statement of remembrance on April 24th.

 

Pope Francis has rightly called the Armenian Genocide “the first Genocide of the 20th century.” The Pope has said that it is our “duty” to honor the memory of those who died.

 

Affirming the Armenian Genocide on the anniversary this year, in your first opportunity as President, would be a significant step to fulfill that duty that we have as a nation to honor those Armenians who perished. It would also show that the United States will never remain silent on genocide wherever it may occur.

 

I hope that you will join me this year in unequivocally affirming the Armenian Genocide.

 

Sincerely,

 

Edward J. Markey