JOHN PENCE: IT IS "NOT THE MOST OPPORTUNE TIME" FOR U.S. RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.03.2010 21:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I believe that the Armenian Genocide was committed
in Ottoman Empire but I cannot speak for the adoption of the Armenian
Genocide resolution," Congressman (Indiana) John Pence said at a
hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign
Affairs. According to him, is not the most opportune time for such a
decision because the United States are in the phase of the war, and
Turkey is their strategic partner in frames of NATO. "As an American
I cannot hurt my people," Pence said.

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