ARMENIAN LAWMAKERS LAUD U.S. CONGRESSMEN FOR ADOPTING GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

ARMENPRESS
Oct 11 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Before opening an extraordinary
parliament session today morning parliament chairman Tigran Torosian
expressed gratitude to US Congressmen for adopting a resolution
recognizing the murder of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turkey
as a genocide.

On October 10 the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted, 27-21,
to approve the resolution.

Speaking to fellow lawmakers in Yerevan Tigran Torosian praised members
of Congress for displaying what he described as "high standards of
morality to defy the pressure from the White House and Turkey."

Deputy parliament speaker Vahan Hovhanesian also commended the
U.S. Congressmen when talking to journalists saying the approval of
the resolution by the key Congress committee clears the way for it
to reach the House floor.

"By this we shall actually prove that Armenians are a serious factor in
international politics. This is important also for the Armenian state,
but more importantly the historical truth is being restored which may
become a serious impetus to induce normalization of Turkish-Armenian
relations,’ he said.

Hovhanesian who is from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)
party, downplayed arguments that the recognition of the genocide
would impede Yerevan and Ankara to normalize their affairs.

"As long as the Armenian genocide is not acknowledged Turkey will
be reluctant to seek improvement of relations with Armenian and
Armenians,’ he said.

"I think we must convey our gratitude to the people of the USA who have
understood that the lobbying efforts of Turkish organizations could
have brought about negative consequences. The people of America is a
just people and they can not stand historical injustice and revolted
against it through their elected Congressmen," he said.