By Emily Lundberg

Fullerton – For the better part of the current two week congressional recess that will last until April 28, Republican house representative Ed Royce from Fullerton will lead a congressional delegation to Ukraine, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Royce is the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and most of the members of the delegation will be part of the committee. His delegation will be the first to enter Ukraine since Russia annexed Crimea on March 21.

Royce, who is opposed to the actions made by the Russian government, told the OC Register his delegation will meet with top government, business, and civic officials to discuss matters including “Russia’s military buildup, global energy, and Iran.”

Following the meeting in Ukraine, the delegation plans to head southeast to attend an Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day event in Yerevan. The Armenian Genocide began on April 24, 1915 and was the first planned genocide of the 20^th Century. It resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians, according to the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, and yet few, including the Turks who were responsible, have acknowledged the event.

According to an article published by the Armenpress, Fullerton Rep. Ed Royce is one of the few international leaders who have recognized both its occurrence and its significance to the Armenian people. In spite of this, some Armenians are more skeptical about the United States’ standpoint on the genocide. An article from the Public Radio of Armenia reported, “Washington will recognize the Armenian Genocide only in case it meets its own geopolitical interests.” The statement made in that article mirrored others from Armenian reporters who also questioned the significance of Royce and his delegation’s trip to the region.

After their appearance at the Remembrance Day event, the group will visit the neighboring country of Azerbaijan, to discuss other foreign affairs matters deemed pressing by the delegation.