WASHINGTON–Speaking before the national press corps and a C-SPAN television audience of several million–Presidential candidate Bill Bradley Thursday responded to a question on the Armenian Genocide from the Armenian National Committee of America by reaffirming his long-held view that Turkey should openly and honestly acknowledge the Genocide committed by Turkey against the Armenian people.
"Armenian Americans value Bill Bradley’s principled stand on the Armenian Genocide and are pleased that he had the opportunity to share his views on this human rights issue with the national media and the millions of Americans who will watch his speech on C-SPAN television," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We very much appreciate the opportunity to engage Senator Bradley on issues of concern to our community and look forward to working closely with him –and with his campaign–to expand his outreach to Armenian Americans."
A delegation of Armenian Americans–including ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian and California Armenian activists Kris Demirjian and Noubar Tebelekian–attended the National Press Club program and submitted a series of written questions on Armenian issues to the moderator.
Bradley began his response by stating–"there was an Armenian Genocide." and went on to discuss the importance of Turkish acceptance of this historical reality. Vice President Al Gore–Senator’s Bradley’s only competition in the Democratic presidential primary–has not–since entering the White House–used the term "genocide" to characterize Turkey’s systematic and deliberate campaign to destroy the Armenian people between 1915 and 1923.
