CNM News Network
March 5 2010
Armenian Genocide Resolution Approved
March 5th, 2010
Armenian Genocide Resolution Approved. The Turkish Ambassador was
withdrawn yesterday after a US House panel (congressional committee)
approved an Armenian Genocide resolution. Turkey was a key Muslim ally
of the States.
Approximately 1.5 million Armenians are believed to have been killed
by Ottoman Turks during the WWI era. Historians generally point to
this as the first genocide of the 20th century.
Turkey denies that the killings constitute genocide, and claim that
the deaths were a result of WWI civil unrest. They also say that US
lawmakers should stay out of the argument over whether or not the
deaths are genocide or not.
Obama pledged during the election to pass a resolution to call
Armenian deaths a genocide. He’s in an awkward position as his
administration reversed course, with Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton noting that things have changed.
The resolution passed won’t necessarily be acted on, and Clinton has
urged that Congress not act on the resolution, as such actions could
cause friction between Turkish and Armenian talks.
Turkey spoke out strongly against the US action, stating that `Turkey
will not be responsible for the negative results that this event may
lead to.’
The US really doesn’t want to anger Turkey at this point. They hold a
rotating seat on the UN Security Council that will have to vote for
sanctions against Iran.
The Turkish border to Armenia has been sealed since 1993 when the
country was protesting Armenia’s war against Azerbaijan.
President Bush also tried to pass similar resolutions, but backed off
because many feared that the Turks would cut off access to a key air
base needed for operations in Iraq.
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