CONGRESSMAN KIRK SAYS U.S. CONGRESS WILL NOT RECOGNIZE BILL ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.04.2009 22:03 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The resolution would not pass this year again,
although there are high expectations this time as U.S. President
Obama has promised to recognize the Armenian Genocide during election
campaign, Republican congressman Mark Kirk, one of the four authors
of the bill presented to the House of Representatives, told Turkey’s
Aksam daily.
"The expectations are high this year, because President Obama gave
an important promise to Armenians. But I think the situation is
desperate," he said.
"Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi will not dare
pass the bill. She will not place Obama in a difficult position. The
bill will not pass, don’t worry," he added.
U.S. lawmakers introduced last month a resolution recognizing
the Armenian Genocide. The resolution, titled "The Affirmation of
the U.S. Record on the Armenian Genocide," has the support of 77
co-sponsors from both parties in the House of Representatives.
Turkey has warned that the introduction of the resolution could harm
both efforts to improve ties with Armenia and bilateral relations
with the United States.
U.S. lawmakers almost passed a similar resolution two years ago, but
congressional leaders did not bring it up for a vote after intense
pressure from then-President George W. Bush and top members of his
administration.
Kirk also told Aksam that if the promise given to Armenians is not
fulfilled, Democrats may lose Congress elections in 2010.
The U.S. congressmen added he believed that Congress would eventually
recognize the Armenian Genocide.