CLINTON DISTANCES STATE DEPARTMENT FROM TRADITIONAL STAND AGAINST GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
26/clinton-distances-state-department-from-traditi onal-stand-against-genocide-resolution/
February 26, 2010
WASHINGTON-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in response earlier
today to a series of questions during her testimony before Congress,
broke with the Department of State’s long-standing pattern of
aggressively opposing legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
During her testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on
Foreign Operations, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Mark Kirk
(R-Ill.) noted Secretary Clinton’s previous support for Armenian
Genocide legislation in the Senate. Referring to the impending
Committee vote on a similar resolution, H.Res.252, Rep. Kirk stated:
"I hope we do that; and I hope the House of Representatives does that,
and I hope you let that happen."
Secretary Clinton responded, citing the ongoing Turkey-Armenia
Protocols discussion and continued efforts by the Administration to
urge their ratification, but remained silent on the resolution. In
past years, previous administration’s, both Democratic and Republican,
have used every opportunity to seek to defeat such legislation.
Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsor Adam Schiff (D-Calif.),
during his questioning, stated, "I don’t think the prospect of
reconciliation, as much as I would like it to happen, should be used
as a reason not to recognize the undeniable fact of the Armenian
Genocide." He urged "the Administration’s support on the legislation
and at a minimum certainly not to get involved in opposing the
legislation."
Secretary Clinton offered her support for the Turkey-Armenia Protocols,
but, once again, did not attack the Armenian Genocide Resolution
in response to questions during an earlier hearing before the House
Foreign Affairs Committee.
"Secretary Clinton’s remarks represent the third time in just the past
few weeks that a senior Obama Administration official-in response to
pointed questions about the Armenian Genocide Resolution-has chosen not
to voice any opposition to the adoption of this genocide-prevention
measure," said ANCA executive director Aram Hamparian. "The current
Administration’s conduct, at least to date, stands in stark contrast
to past Administrations-both Democratic and Republican-that used
every opportunity to score points with Ankara by attacking the broad,
bipartisan Congressional majority that has long existed in support
of U.S. condemnation and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide."
Secretary Clinton appeared before both Committees to outline the
fiscal year 2011 State Department foreign aid priorities. Foreign
Affairs Committee member Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) praised the Obama
Administration for increasing its assistance request for Armenia
in 2011, but argued that "Congress should enhance that." He noted
that while the Obama Administration had maintained parity in Foreign
Military Financing assistance between Armenia and Azerbaijan, military
training assistance was not balanced. He also called for a "specific
aid request for Nagorno Karabagh."
Secretary Clinton will have an opportunity to respond to his questions
in writing.
"We would like to thank Representatives Kirk, Schiff and Sherman
for speaking out about Armenia foreign aid priorities and once again
urging passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution," stated Hamparian.
"With the Foreign Affairs Committee set to vote on
H.Res.252 and the foreign aid process in full gear, we are actively
reaching out to our community expand our engagement with legislators
from across the country."
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-Calif.) has
scheduled a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252)
on March 4. Over 137 House Members have cosponsored this measure,
spearheaded by Representatives Schiff, George Radanovich (R-Calif.),
and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and
Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). A similar measure in the Senate (S.Res.316),
led by Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.) has
13 cosponsors