Examiner.com
March 5 2010
Obama won’t push for Armenian genocide resolution, Turkey relations cited
March 5, 8:00 AMBoston
ExaminerJohn Zorabedian
Armenian Americans have long sought official recognition of the
Armenian genocide, but President Obama is backing away from a
resolution in Congress out of deference to strategic relations with
Turkey — a key NATO ally in the Middle East and a home to a U.S. air
base.
The dilemma over U.S. relations with Turkey, which refuses to call the
WWI-era elimination of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire a
genocide, pits foreign policy realists against an Armenian-American
lobby with strong support in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Yesterday, after a resolution recognizing the genocide passed through
the House Foreign relations Committee by a 23-22 vote, Turkey pulled
its ambassador to the U.S. in protest.
On Route 1 in Foxboro near Gillette Stadium and Patriots Place, a
billboard sponsored by Peace of Art, Inc. says "Yes, We Can Recognize
the Armenian Genocide," invoking Obama’s 2008 campaign theme and
perhaps reminding the President of his previous promise to push for
recognition.
However, U.S. defense contractors interested in selling weapons to the
Turkish military oppose the measure, and the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan require Turkey’s support for the basing of U.S. warplanes
at Incirlik.
President Bush ran into the same dilemma in 2007, and asked the House
not to pass a resolution putting the U.S. at odds with Turkey’s
official line.
An Armenian group pushing for recognition issued a statement calling
for full passage by the House of the resolution.
"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," said Ken Hachikian, chairman of the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
"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," Hachikian said.
ews-Examiner~y2010m3d5-Obama-wont-push-for-Armenia n-genocide-resolution-Turkey-relations-cited