ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DRAFT CIRCULATING THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON
Hurriyet, Turkey
Jan 17 2007
In the US this week, a new bill proposing official recognition of
the Armenian claims of genocide will begin to circulate in the House
of Representatives for approval. Democratic Congressmen Adam Schiff
and Frank Pallone, joined by Republican Congressmen George Radanovich
and Joe Knollenberg have prepared the drafted bill, and are expecting
that more than 150 members of the House of Representative will sign it.
In coming weeks, the House Committee of Foreign Relations is expected
to debate the proposed bill.
If accepted on the committee level, the draft will then be submitted
to the floor of the House of Representatives for general approval.
The powerful Armenian lobby is pushing to have a vote occur prior to
April 24, which they recognize as "Armenian Genocide Day."
Nancy Pelosi, the new Democratic Speaker of the House, has in the past
voiced her support for such a bill. Speaking in Ankara, US Ambassador
to Turkey, Ross Wilson, said "I cannot guess what the outcome will be,
but the President does not have the authority to block this bill."