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U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee passes resolution on so-called Armenian genocide

11 October 2007 10:41 (UTC +04:00)

The House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee voted for the resolution by 27 votes to 21. All the members of Foreign Affairs Committee participated in 7-hour discussions which started at 10.30. Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Lantos gave information about resolution, and then stated that Committee members are in dilemma and lives of US troops in Iraq depend on their resolution.
Tom Lantos mentioned that 8 former state secretaries and 3 former defense ministers were against passing resolution.
Gregory Meeks, democrat from New York said Congress should focus on the failings of U.S. history, such as slavery or the killings of Native Americans.
"We have failed to do what we’re asking other people to do ... We have got to clean up our own house," said Meeks, who voted against the resolution.
David Scott, democrat from Georgia stated that Congress stated that Congress should not deal with political ventures at present. He said that Turkey is one of the main bases for US troops and it is also strategic state which shares intelligence with Washington.
David Veksler stated that resolution of the Congress will be ineffective and minimize reconciliation of Turks and Armenians. All these counter pleas did not give any result and Armenian lobby won. Armenian which were in the hall meet the results of voting with applauds. Turkish parliamentary delegation led by deputy chief of Justice and development Party Egemen Bagish and Turkish ambassador to US Nabi Sansoy also observed the debates.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement that the administration continues strongly to oppose this resolution, passage of which may do grave harm to US-Turkish relations and to US interests in Europe and the Middle East.
Turkish ambassador to US Nabi Sansoy met with speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer after results of voting was known. The resolution is expected to be brought to the agenda of the House of Representatives in the next stage after being approved in Foreign Affairs Committee. If Speaker Nancy Pelosi presents resolution to the debate, document will be probably adopted. 236 out of 450 members of the House of Representatives support Armenian position.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul protested US approval of genocide bill and accused the House members of sacrificing US interests to "petty games of domestic politicsâ€. Bagis regarded the bill as a new initiative launched by "these militants" exploiting the weak spots of the US Congress against Turkey.
Democrat congressmen Adam Schiff, Frank Pallone, Bred Sherman, republican congressmen George Radanovich, Joe Knollenberg and Tadeush Maccotter presented draft resolution envisaging recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide.
The document says that Ottoman Empire made a decision on deportation of 2 million Armenians in 1915-1923, 1.5 million of their kinsmen were killed, 500 thousand were removed from the country. The document says that War Minister of Ottoman Empire Anvar Pasha, Interior Minister Telet Pasha and Minister of Navy Jamal pasha conducted the genocide.
Congressmen call US Presidents to stress Armenian genocide, criticize it and establish their foreign policy due to it in the statement made on April 24 every year. /APA/