TURKISH GENOCIDE VOTE DELAY IS SOUGHT
By Laura Litvan Bloomberg News Washington

Detroit Free Press, MI
Oct 26 2007

The leading supporters of a resolution declaring the World War I-era
killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks an act of genocide said they
are delaying their push for a vote in the House of Representatives.

Four House Democrats, led by Rep. Adam Schiff of California, sent a
letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asking her to put a vote off,
possibly until next year. Advertisement About a dozen lawmakers
withdrew sponsorship after a Turkish backlash raised concerns about
U.S. security interests. "We believe that a large majority of our
colleagues want to support a resolution recognizing the genocide on
the House floor and that they will do so, provided the timing is more
favorable," Schiff and the other supporters wrote. They said they
want the House to weigh in "later this year, or in 2008." Pelosi and
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, pledged in
recent weeks to hold a vote on the matter, despite the objections
of Turkish leaders. Last week, Pelosi backed off, saying she would
leave it to supporters. Turkey, which helps the United States move
supplies into Iraq war zones, recalled its ambassador to Washington
the day after a House panel approved the resolution this month by a
vote of 27-21. Turkey denies that a systematic slaughter of Armenians
took place, saying Armenians and Turks alike were killed in the
clashes after Armenian groups sided with Russia in World War I. The
resolution has strong support from Armenian Americans. Republicans,
including House Minority Leader John Boehner, criticized Pelosi’s
pledge for a vote that would anger Turkey during a war.