PELOSI BACKTRACKS ON ARMENIA ‘GENOCIDE’ BILL
By Daniel Dombey in Washington
Financial Times, UK
Oct 17 2007
Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday
backtracked on her support for a congressional resolution that has
infuriated Turkey’s government, amid doubts over whether the measure
would ever be approved.
As recently as the weekend, Ms Pelosi said she planned to take the
bill, denouncing mass killings of Armenians during the Ottoman Empire
as genocide, to the full House this year.
Ms Pelosi is a longstanding backer of the measure, despite the anger
it has caused in Turkey.
But, on Wednesday, facing increasing criticism and high-profile
defections from among the bill’s supporters, she toned down her
commitment to take it to a full House vote. "Whether it will come up
or not and what the action will be remains to be seen," she said.
This week declared support for the bill fell below the level needed
for House approval – at least 10 members of Congress withdrew their
backing, in addition to several others who peeled off earlier this
year. As of Wednesday, the bill had 215 sponsors or co-sponsors in
the 435-member House.
"If it came to the floor today it wouldn’t pass," said Representative
John Murtha, an influential Democratic legislator, at a press
conference on Wednesday with four other Democrats who also called on
Ms Pelosi not to proceed with the bill.
The legislation, backed by the House’s foreign affairs committee
last week, has sparked concerns that US influence on Ankara could
be weakened at a time when the Turkish government is contemplating
a large military incursion into northern Iraq, to Washington’s dismay.
The US military is also alarmed that the Turkish government could
reduce logistical support for its troops in Iraq.
"Congress has more important work to do than antagonising a democratic
ally in the Muslim world, especially one that’s providing vital support
for our military every day," said President George W. Bush
yesterday. after having made a phone call to Ms Pelosi on the issue
the day before.
"Turkey’s threats of base closures and supply route disruptions
in our Iraq action are simply shameful and, once again, expose the
unreliable nature of the US relationship with Turkey," countered the
Armenian National Committee of America.
"Members of Congress who argue against Armenian genocide recognition
citing timing and geopolitical considerations are missing the point.
It is always the right time to condemn genocide."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
