TURKISH GENOCIDE VOTE DELAYED
By Bill Waters
Half Life Source
Oct 26 2007
A vote on Turkish genocide could be delayed. A resolution declaring the
deadly massacres of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a genocide will not be
put to a House vote this year after an international furor forced the
bill’s Southern California supporters to seek a postponement. Turkey
denies that a systematic slaughter of Armenians took place, saying
Armenians and Turks alike were killed in the brutal conflicts after
Armenian groups Digg Delicious StumbleUpon Redditsided with Russia
in World War I.
The resolution has strong support from Armenian Americans. Four House
Democrats, led by Rep. Adam Schiff of California, sent a message to
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asking her to put the extraordinary vote
off until next year. About a dozen lawmakers withdrew sponsorship
after a Turkish backlash raised deep concerns about U.S. security
interests. Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland
Democrat, pledged in recent weeks to hold a formal vote on the matter,
despite the objections of Turkish leaders. Last week, Pelosi backed
off, saying she would leave it to supporters. Republicans, including
House Minority Leader John Boehner, criticized Pelosi’s pledge for
a vote that would anger Turkey during the war in Iraq.
Despite the delay until 2008, Vicken Papazian, spokesman for the
Armenian National Committee in Glendale, said he respects the
lawmakers’ program decisions and remains confident it will come to
a scheduled vote.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
