WWI Armenia genocide issue heats up
Sat, 21 Apr 2007
Earthtimes.org
Author : World News Editor
WASHINGTON, April 21 Congress and the White House are at odds again over the effort to pass a resolution condemning the alleged genocide in Armenia carried out during World War I.
The Bush administration is following in the footsteps of President Clinton in trying to derail the House resolution for fear of offending NATO ally Turkey.
Rep. George Radanovich, R-Calif., is sponsoring the measure and told the Los Angeles Times Saturday it will likely pass if it reaches the House floor. But passage would require the green light from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will be under pressure to side with the administration and block the vote on national-security grounds.
California is home to a large Armenian community that steadfastly blames Turkey for the deaths of about 1 million of their countrymen between 1915 and 1918. Turkey is equally adamant that the tragedy was not a deliberate campaign of genocide, and Washington is concerned passing the resolution would stir up anti-American feelings among the Turkish public and government.
Radanovich told the Times he didn't see things as quite so dire. "The Turkish government will throw a fit, and three months later, they'll be over it," he said.
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
Earthtimes.org
Author : World News Editor
WASHINGTON, April 21 Congress and the White House are at odds again over the effort to pass a resolution condemning the alleged genocide in Armenia carried out during World War I.
The Bush administration is following in the footsteps of President Clinton in trying to derail the House resolution for fear of offending NATO ally Turkey.
Rep. George Radanovich, R-Calif., is sponsoring the measure and told the Los Angeles Times Saturday it will likely pass if it reaches the House floor. But passage would require the green light from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will be under pressure to side with the administration and block the vote on national-security grounds.
California is home to a large Armenian community that steadfastly blames Turkey for the deaths of about 1 million of their countrymen between 1915 and 1918. Turkey is equally adamant that the tragedy was not a deliberate campaign of genocide, and Washington is concerned passing the resolution would stir up anti-American feelings among the Turkish public and government.
Radanovich told the Times he didn't see things as quite so dire. "The Turkish government will throw a fit, and three months later, they'll be over it," he said.
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
posted by Vahe Balabanian at 9:41 PM
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