Thank You for This Resolution Being Passed While There Are Still Survivors of the Genocide: Menendez

As previously reported, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed Resolution 150 recognizing the Armenian Genocide without objection or vote, which fundamentally repeats the text of the recently adopted resolution by the House of Representatives.

In his speech, Democratic co-author of the resolution, Senator Menendez, stated that with the passage of this resolution, the Senate affirms the truth. Quoting from a book by former U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power, the senator emphasized that the lack of response from the U.S. to Turkey's actions created a precedent of impunity, which he stated is now being addressed.

“Thank you for this resolution being passed while there are still survivors of the genocide. And they will be able to see that the Senate recognizes what they went through,” Menendez concluded his emotional speech.

Republican co-author of the resolution, Senator Ted Cruz, also described its passage as a bipartisan achievement. In his view, the U.S. has a moral obligation to one and a half million Armenian victims. This was reported by Voice of America.

“The Menendez-Cruz resolution reaffirms the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States,” Sen. Cruz emphasized.

Turkey condemned the passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution by the U.S. Senate, as well as the law adopted by the Senate regarding sanctions against Turkey the day before. Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin termed the decision to adopt the Genocide resolution as “empty” and “meaningless,” stating it will not deter Turkey from its positions.

Official Yerevan welcomed the passage of the resolution. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed gratitude to the U.S. Senate on behalf of the Armenian people for the adoption of this resolution.

Thanking U.S. senators, Armenian-American organizations also welcomed the adoption of the resolution, viewing it as a clear signal to Ankara. Their eyes are now turned towards the administration.

“The resolution does not require the President’s signature. Since both chambers of Congress have effectively recognized the Armenian Genocide, we should now expect that the administration will take the right steps and use the term genocide when speaking about the Armenian Genocide,” noted Mariam Khaloyan, a representative of the Armenian Assembly of America.

“Now the work should continue with the White House to finally end the stance of denial and complicity regarding the Genocide,” stated Elizabeth Chooljian from the Armenian National Committee of America. No response has yet been issued by the U.S. administration in this regard.

It should be noted that yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Armenian Genocide resolution.