PELOSI DETERMINED TO CONTINUE WITH GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
Isabelle Duerme – AHN News Writer
AHN
s/7008830299
Oct 15 2007
Washington, D.C. – U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Sunday
that she will continue to push a proposition that considers the
Ottoman Turks’ killing of 1.5 million Armenians an act of genocide.
The resolution states that the deaths caused by the 1915-1923
deportation of the Armenians from the Ottoman Empire as "systematic"
and "deliberate." Such accusations would consider the move from the
Turkish government equal to genocide.
Pelosi defended her decision by explaining that there has never been
a better time to act upon the genocide issue. She claims that it
was important for the resolution to be passed now for it to serve
its purpose of justice as "many of the survivors are very old,"
as quoted by CNN.
"When I came to Congress 20 years ago," Pelosi said, "it wasn’t the
right time because of the Soviet Union. Then that fell, and then it
wasn’t the right time because of the Gulf War One. And then it wasn’t
the right time because of overflights of Iraq. And now it’s not the
right time because of Gulf War Two."
The resolution has threatened to tarnish the relationship between
Turkey and the United States, both close allies and members of NATO.
The notion was confirmed by Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, the chief of the
Turkish armed forces who, according to The New York Times, has claimed
that the mere proposition of the resolution has "caused considerable
disappointment" among the Turkish people. He was quoted saying that,
considering the ties between the U.S. and Turkey, the passage of the
resolution would be "sad and sorrowful."
Gen. Buyukanit continued to say that the complete passing of the
resolution would result in irreversible damage of the amicable
relationship between the two nations.
"We could not explain this to our public," CNN quotes the general.
"The U.S., in that respect, has shot itself in the foot."
The possibility of the resolution being passed has already taken its
toll on US-Turkey relations, as the Turkish ambassador was recalled
from Washington and, according to CNN, a cease in logistical support
to the US from Turkey is already being mentioned
Pelosi’s insistence was met with harsh criticism from the Bush
administration as well.
"I think it’s a really bad idea for the Congress to be condemning
what happened 100 years ago," expressed Senate Minority Leader Mitch
McConnell, quoted by CNN.
"We all know it happened…But I don’t think the Congress passing
this resolution is a good idea at any point," McConnell continues,
stressing the point that Turkey is instrumental in ensuring the safety
of U.S. soldiers.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
