GENOCIDE BILL BACKERS WILLING TO WAIT
Earthtimes, UK
Oct 26 2007
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 Supporters of a U.S. bill recognizing the deaths
1.5 million Armenians in 1915 as genocide said they were willing to
wait to push the bill forward.
Backers of the bill sent a letter of U.S. House of Representatives
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Thursday saying "we believe that
a large majority of our colleagues want to support a resolution
recognizing the genocide on the House floor and that they will do so,
provided the times is more favorable," The New York Times is quoting.
Pelosi is a long-time supporter of the bill. Her constituent base in
California is home to one of the largest concentrations of Armenia
diaspora in the United States. The bill, drafted largely by California
Democrats, was withdrawn amid concerns the bill would harm diplomatic
relations between the United State and Turkey — a key ally in the
U.S.-led effort in Iraq. The Turkish government launched its own
lobbying initiative protesting the characterization of the 1915
episodes as genocide. The campaign against the bill focused more on
questioning the need to rile Turkey when its value as a strategic
ally was at its apex then the declaration of genocide.