The need for change:
The Obama-Biden Record of Support
for Armenian American Issues
Both Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden have longstanding records of support
for the full range of issues of special concern to Armenian American voters.
The Obama Record in the U.S. Senate:
* In September 2008, Sen. Obama issued a statement on Armenia’s Independence.
OBAMA MARKS ARMENIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY
* In June 2008, Sen. Obama submitted numerous questions on the Armenian Genocide to the
nominee to be Ambassador to Armenia.
* In April 2008, Sen. Obama issued a statement commemorating the Armenian Genocide.
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/
getpage.cgi?dbname=2008_record&page=S3438&position=all
* In January, 2008, Sen. Obama issued a statement on U.S.-Armenia relations”
Barack Obama and Joe Biden: The Change We Need
* In September 2007, Sen. Obama sent a letter to Secretary of State Rice expressing concern and
requesting more information about the plight of Christians in Iraq, including Armenians in Iraq.
Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress)
* On July 28, 2006, Sen. Obama sent a letter to Secretary of State Rice criticizing the firing if
Ambassador Evans for recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
* In both 2005 and 2006, Sen. Obama cosigned Senatorial sign-on letters to President Bush
urging him to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
The Biden Record in the U.S. Senate:
* In September 2008, the nominee to be Ambassador to Turkey admitted, after questioning by
Sen. Biden, that American diplomats during the Ottoman Empire did indeed document Ottoman
Turkey’s intent to exterminate the Armenian population.
RESPONDING TO BIDEN, NOMINEE AFFIRMS GENOCIDE-ERA DIPLOMATIC RECORD ON OTTOMAN TURKEY’S ATTEMPTED EXTERMINATION OF ARMENIANS
http://www.anca.org/assets/pdf/misc/...ambnomination/
Biden_Responses_092608.pdf
* In July 2008, the State Department responded to Sen. Biden’s inquiries concerning the
Administration’s policy on the Armenian Genocide, which include critical admissions stating that
the Administration “hold Ottoman officials responsible for . . . crimes [committed against
Armenians.]”
* In June 2008, Sen. Biden submitted numerous questions to the nominee to be Ambassador to
Armenia, concerning the Armenian Genocide, Turkey’s blockade, and Azerbaijan’s alarming war
rhetoric.
* On April 24, 2008, Sen. Biden issued a statement commemorating the Armenian Genocide, as he
has done for numerous years dating back to the 1980s.
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/
getpage.cgi?dbname=2008_record&page=S3391&position=all
* In 2007, Sen. Biden authored resolution condemning murder of Hrant Dink and urging tolerance
in Turkey.
http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110,d110:3:./temp/~bduVnd:@@@P|/bss/
d110query.html|
* On August 24, 2006, Sen. Biden wrote a follow-up letter to Secretary Rice outlining concerns
regarding the firing of Ambassador Evans’, the Administration’s policy towards the Armenian
Genocide, and Turkey’s blockade of Armenia.
* In August 1, 2006, Sen. Biden postponed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s consideration
of Amb. Hoagland until the State Department provided answers concerning the firing of Amb.
Evans for recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
SEN. BIDEN DELAYS SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE VOTE ON HOAGLAND NOMINATION
* In June 2006, Sen. Biden submitted numerous questions to the nominee to be Ambassador to
Armenia Richard Hoagland.
http://www.anca.org/assets/graphics/...gland_resp.pdf
* On June 23, 2006, Sen. Biden wrote a letter to Secretary of State Rice stating that he would not
be prepared to allow the nominee to replace Ambassador to Armenia John Evans to move forward
until the State Department answered questions concerning the firing of Ambassador Evans and the
involvement of the Turkish government in his firing.
http://www.anca.org/assets/graphics/.../biden_let.pdf
* In April of 2005, Sen. Biden cosigned a Senate sign-on letter to President Bush urging him to
recognize the Armenian Genocide.
* In August, 2003, Sen. Biden placed a “hold” on a Bush Administration request to increase military
aid to Azerbaijan, ensuring that military aid parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan is maintained.
* In 1999, Sen. Biden voted to maintain Section 907, which restricts aid to Azerbaijan because of its
blockade of Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia. (Senator McCain voted to strip Section 907 and allow
aid to Azerbaijan).
* In 1995, Sen. Biden cosponsored the D’Amato bill to cut $500,000 a day in US aid to Turkey until
it meets several human rights conditions, including ending its blockade of Armenia.
* In 1995, Sen. Biden supported the D’Amato amendment to cut aid to Turkey in half. (Senator
McCain opposed this amendment).
* Cosponsored every Armenian Genocide resolution in the Senate, dating back to 1984.
* Supported Nagorno Karabakh’s right to self-determination dating back to 1990.
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Obama-Biden Record of Support to Armenia
