The Fresno Bee
A chance to tell the truth about Armenian genocide
House committee will soon debate latest resolution.
10/02/07 22:50:00
A resolution that will be debated in the House of Representatives next
week would formally acknowledge that an Armenian genocide occurred
between 1915 and 1923, with the Ottoman Empire killing 1.5 million
Armenians. Like similar previous congressional resolutions, this one
is opposed by Turkey, a key U.S. ally, and the administration.
But this time, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs will debate the
resolution, and Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, who has been
pushing this issue his entire career, says there is a real possibility
of success.
While this version is symbolic, it would put the House on record
acknowledging the genocide. It does not need the president’s signature
or Senate approval. The resolution has 226 co-sponsors, more than the
218 needed for a majority, according to resolution sponsors.
While the facts are clear, there are some who have joined Turkey in
denying what most of the world has known: There was a genocide of the
Armenian people beginning in 1915 when the Ottoman Turks began the
systematic roundup of Armenian intellectuals and other leaders. Then
the murders began.
Because Turkey is an important ally, President Bush and Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice fear that any resolution would antagonize the
Turks. In that they resemble a long line of administrations from both
parties that have sought to appease Turkey, long regarded as a
strategic ally, owing to its location just south of the former Soviet
Union and present-day Russia. So we should ignore the truth? How does
that further the ideals of our country?
The Foreign Affairs Committee should send the resolution to the House
floor and the full House should quickly pass it.
The only glitch would be for Speaker Nancy Pelosi to block the
resolution from reaching the House floor. But Pelosi has consistently
supported this issue, so that shouldn’t happen. That won’t stop the
Turkish government from pressuring her to prevent a vote.
She should not only ignore that lobbying, she should also send a
strong message to other genocide deniers that it’s time to formally
acknowledge the truth about the inhumane events of more than 90 years
ago.
This issue is really very simple. The House of Representatives should
go on record acknowledging the Armenian genocide. Anything less would
be a lie. Tell us what you think. Comment on this editorial by going
to , then click on the editorial.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
