BILL DELAHUNT: U.S. SHOULD NOT JEOPARDIZE WHAT ARMENIA AND TURKEY REACHED
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.03.2010 22:32 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The adoption ofArmenian Genocide resolution 252 may
hamper Armenian-Turkish normalization. For this reason, I oppose the
adoption of the resolution, " Congressman Bill Delahunt (Massachusetts
) said during a hearing at the Foreign Affairs Committee of U.S. House
of Representatives.
According to him, Armenia and Turkey have reached a historic moment
in their relations, and normalization of relations between the
two countries can lead to the regional stability. "If Protocols are
ratified the last closed border of Europe would open," Delahunt said,
adding that Armenia would only benefit from it, and a new perspective
of joining the European Union will appear. In his view, by their
decision the U.S. should not jeopardize that process.
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.
In 2009, another congressional resolution affirming the U.S. record
on the Armenian Genocide (H.Res.252) was been 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). It currently has 137 co-sponsors.