US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVES DRAFT RESOLUTION 252 ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
ArmInfo
2010-03-05 08:48:00
ArmInfo. US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee under
a ratio of 23 votes "for" and 22 "against" voted for adoption of
the draft Resolution 252 on recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
the Caucasian Knot portal reports.
Chairman of the Committee Howard Berman reported on completion of
discussion and voting regarding the draft Resolution 252 on March 4
at 11:45 PM by Moscow time. The voting procedure was preceded by a
long discussion, during which the Committee members expressed their
opinions on the necessity of adoption of the draft Resolution and
presented their substantiations of for or against its adoption.
A democrat Bill Delahunt, who voted against adoption of the draft
Resolution, expressed concern over the fact that adoption of the
Resolution will negatively affect the process of normalization of
the Armenian-Turkish relations. As he said, the last closed border
of Europe will be opened in case of ratification of the Protocols on
settlement of the Armenian-Turkish relations, as a result of which
Armenia will be in pocket and will have an opportunity to become EU
member. According to a democrat Gerald Connelly, Turkey is a faithful
ally of the USA. He said one should not adopt the Resolution when
condemning the incumbent government for the actions of the previous
one. He added that Great Britain may be condemned for the pogroms of
the Irish or Russia for Stalin repressions just as well.
A congressman-republican Mike Pence said he sincerely believes that a
genocide was committed with respect to the Armenian people, however,
he said he will vote against adoption of the Resolution condemning
the Armenian Genocide. According to him, this is not yet the time
to recognize the Armenian Genocide, and added that Turkey is a
strategic partner of the USA. Mike Pence thinks that adoption of the
Resolution will damage the presence of the American troops in Iraq
and Afghanistan. A congressman- democrat Jeff Fortenberry recognizes
the fact of the Armenian Genocide, though he thinks that this is the
wrong time for the Resolution adoption. As he said, the process of
settlement of the Armenian-Turkish relations is currently underway,
and the Resolution may hinder this process. He offered to delay this
process until Armenia and Turkey reach a consensus. In his turn,
a Congressman Jimm Xot who voted for adoption of the Resolution,
asked a question: "Those who speak out against the Resolution say
this is not yet the time. When this time will come then?".
Chairman of the Committee Howard Berman said he has been in the
Congress for 27 years already and he does not remember a moment to
be convenient for adoption of such a resolution. According to him,
the majority of the world experts and scientists agree that the
events in Ottoman Turkey in early XX Century were a genocide. As he
said, a Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk was persecuted in Turkey for his
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Howard Berman added that the
materials, proving the reality of the Genocide, are available in the
archives of the USA, France, Great Britain, Russia and even the allies
of Turkey in the World War I – Germany, Austria and Hungary. According
to Berman, all the states should put up with their history, though this
will be a difficult but useful process for Turkey in the context of
its democratization and even in the context of the Turkish-Armenian
relations. We cannot but recognize the truth, and Turkey cannot
resent. Germany could not resent either if we voted for the Holocaust.
A congressman-republican Dan Rorabaker urged to vote for the truth.
According to him, pendency of this issue will give a handle to further
disputes. As he said, Turkey is a friendly country for them, however
they cannot but acknowledge the truth, and Turkey cannot resent.
Germany could not resent either if we voted for the Holocaust.
Earlier, the Parliament of Turkey sent a letter to the House of
Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, indicating the inexpediency
of discussing the Resolution of recognition of the Armenian Genocide
and emphasizing that this step may hinder the process of normalization
of the Armenian-Turkish relations.
The American aerospace and military-industrial corporations also argued
against the draft Resolution 252. They are sure that adoption of the
Resolution will damage USA- Turkey relations and may cause loss of
jobs in a number of concerns.
Draft Resolution 252 calls on the US president to assure adequate
perception and reflection of the Armenian Genocide in the foreign
policy of the United States. Approval by the House of Representatives
is just required for adoption of the draft Resolution, i.e. approval
by the Senate and the president’s signature are required for its final
adoption. The Armenian Genocide has been recognized by 44 American
states, and chapters about the Armenian Genocide n Ottoman Empire
have been included in the history schoolbooks of these states. The
Armenian Genocide has been recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France,
Lithuania, the Lower Chamber of Italian Parliament, the majority of
American States, the Greek, Cyprian, Argentinean, Belgian Parliaments,
the Parliament of Wales, the National Council of Switzerland, the
House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament and Polish Seim.