The Hill, DC
March 22 2009
Wagering on the question of genocide
By Bridget Johnson
Posted: 03/21/09 09:55 PM [ET]
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has introduced a controversial measure to
recognize mass killings nearly a century ago in Armenia as genocide,
while an Armenian betting website wagered on whether President Obama
will dare to use the word.
The resolution, which comes as Obama prepares to travel to Turkey for
an April 6-7 visit that will include a forum on fostering dialogue
between the West and the Muslim world, calls the deaths of as many as
1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire starting in
1915 "genocide." Turkey blames the deaths on civil upheaval toward the
end and directly after World War I, saying that 300,000 Armenians were
killed and at least as many Turks.
Schiff’s resolution, which was introduced with 76 bipartisan
cosponsors ranging from Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) to Rep. Barney Frank
(D-Mass.), has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs. It calls on the president to "accurately characterize the
systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians as
genocide."
Schiff authored the resolution with Reps. George Radanovich
(R-Calif.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.).
`The facts of history are clear, well documented, and non-negotiable,"
Schiff said in a statement. `…It has never served our national
interest to become complicit in the denial of genocide, and it never
will. While there are still some survivors left, we have a compelling
moral obligation to speak plainly about the past.’
Schiff’s district includes Glendale, Calif., the city with the largest
population of Armenians in the United States, which regularly marks
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day each April 24 with commemorations
and calls for the U.S to recognize the killings as genocide.
And one Armenian betting site has been taking wagers on just what
words Obama will use a little over a month from now, after his trip to
Turkey is long over and Schiff’s resolution proceeds at an yet-unknown
pace.
The website PanARMENIAN.net reported Saturday that Vivaro bookmakers
had been taking bets on whether Obama will actually use the word
"genocide" when commemorating April 24. Odds were just 1 to 30 for
Obama saying "genocide," while odds were 3 to 2 for Obama choosing
cautious terminology to mark the day of remembrance.
The Armenian news site reported that the wager had been taken down
from Vivaro’s site as of their story.
Obama does face a political gamble, though, in choosing where to fall
on the Schiff resolution.
Schiff and other co-authors of the resolution, which had a predecessor
that didn’t make it to a vote two years ago under pressure from the
Bush administration, wrote to Obama last week, reminding him of his
past stances in recognizing the killings as genocide.
In a Jan. 19, 2008, campaign statement, Obama vowed to do just that
should he become president. "As a U.S. Senator, I have stood with the
Armenian American community in calling for Turkey’s acknowledgement of
the Armenian Genocide," he wrote. "Two years ago, I criticized the
Secretary of State for the firing of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John
Evans, after he properly used the term ‘genocide’ to describe Turkey’s
slaughter of thousands of Armenians starting in 1915. I shared with
Secretary Rice my firmly held conviction that the Armenian Genocide is
not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather
a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of
historical evidence. The facts are undeniable.
"An official policy that calls on diplomats to distort the historical
facts is an untenable policy. As a senator, I strongly support passage
of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106), and as
President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide."
But his efforts to build a stronger relationship with Turkey — and
likely use the secular Muslim nation as a conduit to reach out to Iran
— may result in a changed agenda.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan responded to the bill’s
introduction in a TV interview Wednesday, reported Hurriyet Daily
News. "The complete normalization of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey
ties will create a brand-new geopolitical situation in the southern
Caucasus," Babacan said. "A decision or a statement to be made by a
third country [on the 1915 killings] will cause harm. While we are
looking into the future from a broader perspective, we believe that
any interference by a third country is very wrong.
"We hope that an irrational step will not be taken," Babacan said. "We
are openly speaking with our American friends. We hope no wrong steps
will be taken."
watching-wagering-on-the-question-of-genocide-2009 -03-21.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
