ANCA: CONGRESSMEN YIELDED TO TURKISH THREATS
YERKIR
26.10.2007 14:46
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – "Trying to advance American interests by
compromising our values is a fast-track to failure in foreign policy,"
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian said when commenting on the
decision by H.Res.106 leading authors to call for a revised schedule
for the House consideration.
"By enabling Turkey’s genocide denial, America undermines its own
ability to be a positive influence in the Middle East and around the
world," he said.
In a letter circulated today to every member of the House, Hamparian
noted that, "In the days since the House Foreign Affairs Committee
approved the Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res.106), the initial
cautious response by many Members of Congress to Turkey’s threats
has already begun to give way to a more lasting impression of
disappointment, even anger, that an ally is so brazenly threatening
the security of our troops." He added that, "we are confident that,
as the confusion over these threats lifts, an even stronger bipartisan
majority will stand up against Turkey’s intimidation and vote to
adopt this human rights resolution on its merits."
The four leading Democratic sponsors of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (H.Res.106) have called on Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to
adopt a revised schedule for the consideration of this human rights
legislation by the House of Representatives, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
In a letter sent today to Speaker Pelosi, lead author Adam Schiff
(D-CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ),
and Representatives Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) stressed
that, in asking for this delay, "we believe that a large majority of
our colleagues want to support a resolution recognizing the genocide on
the House floor and that they will do so, provided the timing is more
favorable." The letter goes on to note that they will continue to work
with Speaker Pelosi’s staff and the House Foreign Affairs Committee
staff to bring up the resolution "sometime later this year or in 2008."