Assembly Standing Committee on Rules

Good afternoon. The Rules Committee is called to order. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

We have a quorum. We have a consent agenda. Is there a motion on the consent? Second Secretary, please take the roll. Please call roll.

[Roll Call]

Motion passes. We will now move to item number nine. House Resolution 25. Assemblymember Harabedian. You may proceed when you are ready.

Thank you, Madam Chair and Members, I am disheartened that I have to come before you today to present HR25, in remembrance of the Armenian genocide, to inform you that the Armenian Genocide did in fact occur.

Much like denying that astronauts landed on the Moon or that Elvis and Tupac are dead, some people still deny the Armenian Genocide ever happened. I am here to say that in 1915, the Ottoman Empire systematically killed over 1 million people, in what we now know as the Armenian Genocide.

HR25 is a resolution that has come before the legislature for many years and for many good reasons. Here with me is David Ojakian, Armenian Assembly of America, to also testify.

All right, just before we start, every witness will have two minutes to testify.

Thank you. I am David Ojakian, Western Region Director of the Armenian Assembly of America.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak about the Armenian genocide when we all commemorate the 110th anniversary of that terrible event, continue to fight its pernicious denial, reflect on Azerbaijan's continuing ethnic and religious cleansing of Artsakh, and rededicate ourselves to eliminating all genocidal acts.

Since 1968, California legislators in the Assembly and the Senate have affirmed the Armenian genocide. For nearly 40 years California governors have issued proclamations since Governor George Deukmejian did so in 1986. And a former Governor of California, Ronald Reagan, became the first US President to acknowledge the Armenian genocide. All 50 states have done so.

In October 2019, the US House of Representatives, by an overwhelming majority of 405 to 11, adopted a resolution stating that it is the policy of the United States to commemorate the Armenian genocide through official recognition and remembrance.

The resolution added that it is US Policy to reject efforts to enlist, engage or otherwise associate the United States government with denial of the Armenian genocide.

By unanimous vote in December 2019, the US Senate joined the House in approving a similar measure, while in April 2021, President Biden sealed US presidential acknowledgment. When submitting its opinion about the UN Genocide Convention to the International Court of Justice in 1951, the US stated the practice of genocide has occurred throughout human history.

The Roman persecution of the Christians, the Turkish massacres of Armenians, the extermination of millions of Jews and Poles by the Nazis are outstanding examples of the crime of genocide. 32 countries recognized the Armenian genocide, including Germany.

I note the importance of the recognition by Germany because as an ally of Ottoman Turkey during World War I, Germany had direct knowledge of what transpired across Anatolia. In closing, the Armenian genocide did in fact occur. By passing HR25, we will once again remember its important history and recommit ourselves to preventing genocide from occurring ever again. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Are there any other witnesses in support? Are there any witnesses on opposition? If there are, please come forward. And as a reminder, you have two minutes. You may proceed when you're ready.

Thank you Madam Chair and Member of the Committees. My name is Karahan Mete, I'm a President of the Turkish Coalition California. I had the statement, but I guess it's not going to be enough to two minutes. I hope you had the time to read this letter. I gave it to you about this to my opinion.

And they don't tell you about Kazatsuni, his statement on this Bucharest which is clear to say that the Armenian took this arm against the Ottoman Empire to establish on this independent state and which they failed.

This was a war, not this like a genocide that has been claimed and also about this one and a half million people has been killed. It's this exaggerated number. And Paris Conference 1919, bogus Nubar Pasha which is Armenian representative stated this is his document. He has 1,006,216 people lived in this caucasus.

And how can you kill the one and a half million - one million. And then resolution says the United States saved 1.0 million Armenians. And then I have a document how many Armenians moved to Iraq and Iran. And it's this very exaggerated things to in order demonizing this nation nationalities.

Because of that in person I've been harassed, intimidated and they called the FBI on me. FBI interrogated me. That's how far they can go. What I did I sent the email to Mr. Assembly Member I said this please have a joint resolution resolution that unite the people instead of dividing it. But I didn't hear from him.

I'm still offering to you that we should get together have a joint resolution. Resolution that unite the people and build the bridges for next generations.

Sir, I'm gonna ask you to wrap it up. It's over two minutes now.

I appreciate it. Thank you very much.

Okay, I'm gonna bring it back up to the dais. Are there any questions or comments from any Committee Members? Assembly Member Ahrens.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I wanna thank the Assembly Member for bringing this really important recognition and resolution for us. Appreciate the effort of what we're trying to do today, and I would like to move the Bill, move the resolution.

Thank you. Any other questions or comments. Assembly Member Zipper?

Yes. I'd also like to thank the author for bringing this Bill. As someone who represents Little Armenia in the Hollywood area, I know this is really important and have heard from my constituents about the genocide and how important it is for us to recognize it and make sure that it's not erased. Thank you for bringing the Bill.

Thank you. And to the Assembly Member, I just want to thank you again for being here today and for joining us this morning and for introducing this resolution. It's very important to the Armenian community. So thank you very much. We have a motion by Assembly Member Ahrens. Did you? And I think Assembly Member Zbur already seconded.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[ROLL CALL]

Motion passes.

[Roll Call]

No one else needs to add on. Okay. Rules Committee is now adjourned.