Pasadena Star-News, CA
Jan 31 2007
Bill would recognize Armenian genocide
By Desmond Butler Associated Press
Article Launched: 01/31/2007 01:53:46 AM PST
WASHINGTON – Democratic and Republican lawmakers, including
co-sponsor Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, introduced a resolution
Tuesday calling for U.S. recognition of the World War I-era killings
of Armenians as genocide. The move will likely anger Turkey and is
expected to be opposed by President Bush.
The lead sponsors in the House of Representatives say they have
commitments from more than 150 other members, who want to add their
names as co-sponsors after the bill is introduced, a strong show of
support in the 435-member body.
The sponsors, who held a news conference Tuesday attended by two
Armenian survivors of the killings, say that the move to Democratic
control in Congress increases chances that the bill will reach the
House floor for a vote. Similar resolutions have been introduced in
the past, but were kept from a full vote by congressional leaders.
Along with Schiff, co-sponsors include Republican George Radanovich,
who represents Fresno. Both areas have large populations of Armenian
Americans.
Charter Communications, which provides cable TV service to many
cities in the San Gabriel Valley, said it would air coverage of
Schiff’s Tuesday press conference in Pasadena and Altadena at 7
p.m. Saturday and Sunday on channel 56. In surrounding cities,
Charter customers can see the program at 8p.m. beginning Monday
through the following Sunday, also on channel 56. The cablecast will
include an interview with a 100-year-old survivor of the genocide.
The bill, which will recognize the deaths of the 1.5 million
Armenians almost a century ago, is likely to touch raw nerves in
Turkey. The Bush administration has warned that even congressional
debate on the genocide question could damage relations with a key
Muslim ally and NATO member.
The resolution’s supporters say that the leader of the House, Speaker
Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat who has expressed support for the
resolution, is likely to come under pressure from the Bush
administration to keep the House from voting on the bill.
"Make no mistake, the speaker will get a call from the president
asking for no vote on the grounds of national security," Radanovich
said.
Turkey has adamantly denied claims by scholars that its predecessor
state, the Ottoman government, caused the Armenian deaths in a
planned genocide. The Turkish government has said the toll is wildly
inflated and that Armenians were killed or displaced in civil unrest
during the empire’s collapse.
"While there are still survivors among us, we have, I think, the
highest ethical obligation to recognize the losses of their
families," Schiff said.