89.3 KPCC, California
March 13 2009

Lawmakers renew effort to get US to recognize Armenian genocide

Kitty Felde
March 13, 2009
(Listen)

Next month marks the 94th anniversary of the start of the Armenian
Genocide. More than a million Armenians died during a campaign of
massacres and forced marches directed by the Ottoman Empire. The
Ottoman Empire is now Turkey, an important American ally. Two
Congressmen from California are again lobbying for U.S. government
recognition of the genocide. KPCC’s Washington Correspondent Kitty
Felde reports that first, they need to win over the House Speaker.

Kitty Felde: For years, Democrat Adam Schiff of Glendale and
Republican George Radanovich of Fresno have co-sponsored a non-binding
resolution. It calls on Congress to declare the Ottomans’ killing of
more than a million Armenians was "genocide." They plan to reintroduce
the resolution this spring. But will Speaker Nancy Pelosi bring it to
the floor for a full vote?

Nancy Pelosi: When they have what I would consider a critical mass of
votes to, I’m sure they will come talk to me. But my position is clear
about the Armenian Genocide, whether the House votes on it or not,
that doesn’t make it so or not so.

Felde: Schiff and Radanovich have been quietly lobbying House members
to come up with that critical mass of votes. Turkey reacts sharply
when Congress brings up genocide resolutions.

But last session, Schiff and Radanovich got one out of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee. It stalled when the conflict between Turkey
and Kurds on the Iraqi border boiled over. At the time, President Bush
said the resolution would do "great harm" to U.S. relations with
Turkey ` home to key U.S. military operations.

Schiff and Radanovich have sent a letter to President Obama. It
reminds him that as candidate Obama, he said the country "deserves a
leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds
forcefully to all genocides."

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress