HILLARY CLINTON NO TO ATTACK THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION IN CONGRESS
Noyan Tapan
Feb 26, 2010
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton, in response earlier today to a series
of questions during her testimony before Congress, broke with the
Department of State’s longstanding pattern of aggressively opposing
legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide. According to the
report of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), during
her testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign
Operations, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Mark Kirk (R-IL)
noted Secretary Clinton’s previous support for Armenian Genocide
legislation in the Senate. Referring to the impending Committee vote
on a similar resolution, H.Res.252, Rep. Kirk stated: "I hope we do
that; and I hope the House of Representatives does that, and I hope
you let that happen."
Secretary Clinton responded, citing the ongoing Turkey-Armenia
Protocols discussion and continued efforts by the Administration to
urge their ratification, but remained silent on the resolution.
Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsor Adam Schiff (D-CA), during
his questioning, stated, "I don’t think the prospect of reconciliation,
as much as I would like it to happen, should be used as a reason not
to recognize the undeniable fact of the Armenian Genocide." He urged
the Administration’s support on the legislation and at a minimum
certainly not to get involved in opposing the legislation. Secretary
Clinton offered her support for the Turkey-Armenia Protocols, but, once
again, did not attack the Armenian Genocide Resolution in response to
questions during an earlier hearing before the House Foreign Affairs
Committee. "The current Administration’s conduct, at least to date,
stands in stark contrast to past Administrations – both Democratic and
Republican – that used every opportunity to score points with Ankara
by attacking the broad, bipartisan Congressional majority that has
long existed in support of U.S. condemnation and commemoration of
the Armenian Genocide," said ANCA. House Foreign Affairs Committee
Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) has scheduled a vote on the Armenian
Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252) on March 4th, reported Azatutyun.