TURKISH MFA: CONGRESSMEN SHOULD REJECT RESOLUTION CAPABLE TO HURT TURKISH-U.S. RELATIONS
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.03.2010 11:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey expects the Foreign Relations Committee of
the United States House of Representatives to reject the Armenian
Genocide resolution, H.Res.252, which can "hurt Turkish-U.S. relations
and harm efforts to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia".
"Adoption of such a resolution would be a blow to not only
Turkish-U.S. relations but also efforts to facilitate peace and
stability in the Southern Caucasus," said Burak Ozugergin, spokesman
for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
"We want to believe that members of the Foreign Relations Committee
of the U.S. House of Representatives will act with a sense of
responsibility," he said, Turkish Press reported.
The Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res. 106) was submitted to the
House of Representatives by Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), on
January 30, 2007, during the 110th United States Congress. It was
a non-binding resolution calling upon the US President to ensure
that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate
understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human
rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States
record relating to the Armenian Genocide, and for other purposes. Upon
its introduction it was referred to United States House Committee
on Foreign Affairs where it passed a 27-21 vote and was sent back
for a full house vote. On October 26, 2007, in a letter addressed
to the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, four key sponsors of the bill,
requested a debate on the bill in full House to be postponed.
Another resolution affirming the U.S. record on the Armenian
Genocide (H.Res.252) was formally introduced in the U.S. House of
Representatives by Reps. Adam Schiff (D.-CA), George Radanovich
(R.-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D.-NJ), and Mark Kirk (R.-Ill) in 2009.
It currently has 137 co-sponsors.