House Passes Armenian `Genocide’ Bill; Turkey Recalls Ambassador
2010/03/05 | 08:37

world

The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee narrowly passed a bill
describing the mass killings of Armenians in 1915 as `genocide’.

Committee members yesterday voted 23 to 22 in favour of the
non-binding resolution despite a last minute plea by the Obama
Administration to prevent its passing. Turkish reaction was swift.
Prime Minister Recep Erdogan condemned the bill and Turkish Ambassador
Namik Tan was recalled from Washington D.C.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Committee Chairman Howard
Berman late on Wednesday that a vote would harm reconciliation efforts
underway between Turkey and Armenian.

Mr. Berman, as nearly every member of the Committee saluted Turkey as
a vital U.S. ally. `Be that as it may,’ he added, `nothing justifies
Turkey’s turning a blind eye to the reality of the Armenian Genocide.’

Berman said that the United States, as a leader in promoting human
rights, has a `moral responsibility’ to pass the resolution. `Perhaps
there will be consequences. . . . But I believe that Turkey values its
relations with the United States as much as we value our relations
with Turkey.’

Three elderly genocide survivors were in the packed hearing room
before the vote took place. Pointing to the survivors – ages 97, 98
and 105 – Rep. Gary L. Ackerman (D-N.Y.) said, `They’re here for
justice. How long can they wait?’

The resolution’s supporters said they are unlikely to bring the
resolution to the House floor until they are confident they have the
votes to pass it.

Rep. Adam B. Schiff, its chief sponsor, said, `The whipping operation
starts today.’