Recognition of Armenian Genocide by USA

[Karabed]

Re: Recognition of Armenian Genocide by USA

The Congress LIVE:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/horizon-television

[Alexandros]

Re: Recognition of Armenian Genocide by USA

The Ayes have it!

23 Ayes and 22 Nays.

Phew, that was close.

[ara87]

Re: Recognition of Armenian Genocide by USA

this is how much the USA cares. The vote has been delayed because some of the members are voting on a unanimous bill to congratulate the New Orleans Saints for winning the Superbowl

the vote is also unfair, there are congressmen and women from the same states that voted no that would have voted yes, but they aren't on the committee to do so

[Karabed]

Re: Recognition of Armenian Genocide by USA

Resolution passed .
Be aware the video in my link has delay!


Armenian Genocide Resolution Passes House Foreign Affairs Committee. 23-Yes 22-No.
That was a close call. God Bless Armenia and Armenians.

[Alexandros]

Re: Recognition of Armenian Genocide by USA

One of the the members actually declined to vote therefore I edited my post. Don`t know who it was. In any case, the resolution passed.

[Eddo211]

Re: Recognition of Armenian Genocide by USA

Here we go again, Turkey recalls its Ambassador from US.

I like what Al Jazeera has done in there article


Turkey says that the Armenian death toll has been inflated [EPA]



BTW, they seem to be taking our side.
more often lately.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/03/201034205657248619.html

[Alexandros]

Re: Recognition of Armenian Genocide by USA


(Corbis)
Armenian orphans in Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, board a ship bound for Greece. The ship was laid on during World War One by Near East Relief, an American charity


Turkey recalls ambassador after US vote on Armenia 'genocide'

From Times Online

March 4, 2010

David Byers

Turkey recalled its ambassador to Washington tonight after a congressional panel voted to label the massacre of Armenians in the First World War as "genocide", in developments that threatened to poison relations between the US and its closest Muslim ally.

Despite pressure to drop the matter by the Obama administration, the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee voted 23-22 to approve the resolution, which calls on the US to formally refer to the massacre as genocide. The vote means that the resolution - which is non-binding - is now cleared for consideration by the full House.

Turkey had warned that its ties with the United States, and attempts to normalise relations with Armenia, would be damaged if the resolution were approved. Turkey and Armenia signed a protocol last year to normalise relations but it has yet to pass through the parliament of either country.

In a last-ditch attempt to avoid a vote, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton telephoned Howard Berman, the House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, a fellow Democrat, to highlight the potential fallout.

Despite the appeal, Mr Berman went ahead with the debate. He said Turkey was a “vital” ally but “nothing justifies Turkey’s turning a blind eye to the reality of the Armenian genocide.”

Turkey accepts that many Christian Armenians were killed by Ottoman forces but strongly denies that up to 1.5 million died and that it amounted to genocide - a term employed by many Western historians and some foreign parliaments.

In a statement issued after the vote, a Turkish government spokesman said: “We condemn this resolution which accuses the Turkish nation of a crime it has not committed. Following this development, our ambassador to Washington, Namik Tan, was recalled to Ankara for consultations.”

Armenia, however, described the vote as a boost for human rights. Edward Nalbandian, the Armenian Foreign Minister, told Reuters: “We highly appreciate the decision. This is further proof of the devotion of the American people to universal human values and is an important step towards the prevention of crimes against humanity."

More follows...

Link

[Anoush]

Re: Recognition of Armenian Genocide by USA

One of the the members actually declined to vote therefore I edited my post. Don`t know who it was. In any case, the resolution passed.

Yes Yes the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed for the Resolution with 23 yes and 22 no votes. Now it will go to the House of Representatives.

I hope Obama will stand with the Armenians now and let the AG Resolution be passed by Congress.

[Mos]

Re: Recognition of Armenian Genocide by USA

I really don't care because this thing is not going to pass. Obama, Clinton, Zionists, xxx Lobby, Turk Lobby will very successfully defeat this before it comes to a vote. US is a country of hypocrisy if you haven't noticed.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Recognition of Armenian Genocide by USA

U.S. panel backs Armenian genocide declaration

A U.S. congressional panel has approved a resolution declaring the Ottoman-era killing of Armenians genocide.

In Turkey, the government said it was recalling its ambassador from Washington in response.

The U.S. foreign affairs committee endorsed the resolution with a 23-22 vote Thursday, even though the Obama administration had urged Congress not to offend Turkey by approving it.

The resolution now goes to the full House, where prospects for passage are uncertain.

In April, Obama broke a campaign promise to brand the killing of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks as genocide. Obama said that while he had not changed his personal views, he did not want to upset promising talks between Turkey and Armenia on improving relations and opening their border.

The Thursday vote by the congressional committee could alienate Turkey, which plays an important role for U.S. interests in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

Mike Hammer, a National Security Council spokesman, said in a statement that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had spoken with foreign affairs committee chairman Howard Berman on Wednesday and indicated that "further congressional action could impede progress on normalization of relations" between Turkey and Armenia.


Prospects in House uncertain

Hammer would not specify whether Clinton urged Berman to cancel Thursday's hearing or to vote against the resolution.

Still, Berman urged fellow members of the committee to approve the resolution. The committee appeared likely to endorse it, sending it to the full U.S. House of Representatives, where its prospects are uncertain.

"The Turks say passing this resolution could have terrible consequences for our bilateral relationship, and indeed perhaps there will be some consequences," Berman said. "But I believe that Turkey values its relations with the United States at least as much as we value our relations with Turkey."

The U.S. relies on Turkey as a key supply route for American troops in Iraq and Turkey's troops serve in the U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan. The U.S. is also pressing Turkey, which holds a rotating seat in the UN Security Council, to support sanctions against Iran, Turkey's neighbour.

Hammer said Obama called President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday to express his appreciation for Turkey's efforts to normalize relations with Armenia.

Hammer said Obama called President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday to express his appreciation for Turkey's efforts to normalize relations with Armenia.

The Foreign Affairs Committee approved a similar genocide measure in 2007, but it was not brought to the House floor for a vote following intensive pressure by George W. Bush, the president at the time.


First genocide of 20th century

Following the 2007 committee vote, Turkey promptly recalled its ambassador, and U.S. officials feared the Turks might cut off American access to a Turkish air base essential to operations in Iraq. After intensive lobbying by top Bush administration officials, the resolution was not considered.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she will wait to see the result of the committee vote before deciding whether to bring the resolution before the full House.

Armenian-American groups have for decades sought congressional affirmation of the killings as genocide. The killings around the time of the First World War is an event widely viewed by scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey says the toll has been inflated and those killed were victims of civil war and unrest, not genocide.

In October, Turkey and Armenia signed an agreement to normalize relations, but Turkey has yet to ratify it.

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/0...menia-usa.html