GENOCIDE RESOLUTION PASSES THROUGH COMMITTEE (UPDATED)
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March 4, 2010
WASHINGTON-On Thursday, March 4, the House Foreign Affairs Committee
held a hearing on the Armenian Genocide Resolution-H.R. 252. The
resolution passed by a vote of 23 to 22.
The resolution will now be sent to the House of Representatives for
a vote by the full chamber at a date to be set by the Speaker of
the House.
In his introductory remarks, Howard L. Berman (D-Calif.), chairman
of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, underlined the undisputed
fact of the Armenian Genocide, noted that the overwhelming majority
of scholars affirm the fact of the genocide, and urged his colleagues
for vote for it. He added, "It is now time for Turkey to acknowledge
the reality of the Armenian Genocide."
The passage of this resolution by the committee is a tribute to the
hard work of the Armenian-American community against substantial
lobbying by the government of Turkey. We hope that this is the first
step towards the United States of America soon joining Canada in
recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
Turkey Recalls Ambassador
Turkey says it is recalling its ambassador to the U.S. for
consultations following a resolution declaring the killing of Armenians
by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I genocide, reported AP.
The move came minutes after the U.S. congressional panel approved
the resolution Thursday.
A government statement said Ambassador Namik Tan was being recalled
with immediate effect.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee endorsed the resolution with a
23-22 vote, even though the Obama administration had urged Congress
not to offend Turkey by approving it.
Statement by Hachikian on Committee Passage of Genocide Resolution
Below is a statement by ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian on the vote:
A bipartisan majority today rejected Turkey’s gag rule, setting
the stage for Speaker Pelosi and the full U.S. House to properly
commemorate the Armenian Genocide. The Committee’s message was simple
yet powerful: Turkey doesn’t get a vote or a veto in the U.S.
Congress.
As Americans of Armenian heritage, it holds great meaning to see our
nation move one step closer to putting the painful lessons of the
Armenian Genocide to work in helping to end the cycle of genocide,
in Darfur and around the world.
A moral foreign policy has always been among our strongest assets and
one of the greatest forces for good in the world. Despite Turkey’s
last minute threats and intimidation, Chairman Berman and the House
Foreign Affairs Committee have shown that it’s always the right time
to do the right thing.
Details to follow.