Wall Street Journal
March 5 2010
White House Puts Brakes on Armenia Vote
Resolution to Brand 1915 Killings ‘Genocide’ Is Less Likely to Reach
Full Vote, as U.S. Appears to Try to Soothe Turkey
By JOHN D. MCKINNON in Washington and MARC CHAMPION in Istanbul
The White House attempted to rein in a legislative effort to condemn
the 1915 killings of Armenians, an apparent salve to Turkey that
threatens to compromise one of President Barack Obama’s campaign
promises.
Administration officials said Friday they have reached an
"understanding" with congressional leaders on the fate of a resolution
condemning the mass killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as
genocide, suggesting prospects for full House approval of the measure
are dimming.
On Thursday, the resolution passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee
by a narrow 23-22 vote. That cheered Armenians world-wide who have
long lobbied for U.S. recognition, and threatened to chill U.S.
relations with Turkey, a key North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally.
Turks protest Friday outside the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, a day after a
House committee passed up a resolution on 1915 Armenian killings.
Asked what steps the administration would take to block a floor vote
on the resolution, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told
reporters Friday: "I think that the leadership of the Congress
understands our position and they¦have taken this into account as they
evaluate¦if any actions will be taken."
Spokesmen for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi didn’t respond to requests
for comment.
Most Western historians say the mass deportations and executions of as
many as 1.5 million Armenians in central and Eastern Anatolia were an
act of genocide. Turkey denies the crumbling Ottoman regime had any
such intent, citing the chaos and civil strife of World War I.
Recent administrations have lobbied against such resolutions. The
Obama administration remained publicly silent on the vote until
administration officials, including Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, began speaking out against congressional action earlier this
week. Mrs. Clinton said during a visit to Costa Rica on Thursday that
"we do not believe that the full Congress will or should act upon that
resolution."
Influential Armenian-American leaders say they plan to lobby for a
full House vote. They also criticized Mr. Obama for undermining a
campaign promise to recognize the killings as genocide. "I don’t know
how the president could have sent a more negative message to
Armenian-American voters," said Aram Hamparian, executive director of
the Armenian National Committee of America.
The administration says the genocide question should be addressed
between Turkey and Armenia, its neighbor.
The Aerospace Industries Association issued a statement Friday urging
the full House not to act on the resolution. The association fears the
controversy could dampen an expected $11 billion in defense and
aerospace sales to Turkey this year.
Turkish officials took comfort in the closeness of the committee vote,
saying it suggests Congress wouldn’t risk a full House vote.
Armenian-Americans have won several previous votes but never a full
Congressional approval. The Bush administration blocked a 2007 floor
vote in the House.
Still, there was no hiding the concern the vote caused in Ankara.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, speaking at a news conference, said
he would consult with President Abdullah Gül and opposition parties to
formulate a common policy on what was "a matter of national honor for
us," the state news agency reported.
Mr. Davutoglu called for the U.S. not to let the genocide issue move
to the floor of the House for a vote. He also said he expected Mr.
Obama not to inflame tensions on April 24, the date of an annual
presidential statement on the tragedies, by describing the killings as
genocide.
Turkey is NATO’s sole Muslim member and operates the alliance’s
second-largest military. It hosts U.S. airbases on the border with
Iraq, heads the international force in the Afghan capital Kabul and
has taken a prominent unofficial role as mediator between Iran and the
U.S. in their dispute over Iran’s nuclear fuel program.
Turkey is currently on the United Nations Security Council, where it
would have a vote on any effort to impose new economic sanctions on
Iran.
"We expect our contributions not to be sacrificed by some local
political games in the United States," Mr. Davutoglu said.
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