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U.S. administration disavowed two Armenian resolutions
WASHINGTON (AP) - President George W. Bush's administration disavowed
two resolutions passed by a Congressional committee that urge the
United States and Turkey to acknowledge that Turkey's former Ottoman
rulers committed genocide against Armenia during and after World War
I.
The House International Relations Committee approved the resolutions
Thursday. Both would have the United States classify the 1915-1923
killings as genocide, and one would endorse diplomatic or political
action against Turkey until it acknowledges the culpability of its
predecessor state, the Ottoman Empire.
``As far as the State Department and the administration goes, our
position remains what it has always been, and that is, this is not a
matter that should be politicized,'' department spokesman Adam Ereli
said Friday.
``This is a matter that needs to be discussed seriously and honestly
and in the spirit of analysis by those involved, or those with a
direct connection to it.''
Armenians contend that 1.5 million of their ancestors were killed as
Turkey forced Armenians from their traditional homes in eastern
Turkey. Armenian activists have campaigned for years to force Turkey
to declare the episode genocide.
Ereli cited a statement by Bush on April 24, the 90th anniversary of
the day Armenians say Ottoman Turks began rounding up intellectuals,
diplomats and other influential Armenians in Istanbul, Turkey.
``On Armenian Remembrance Day, we remember the forced exile and mass
killings of as many as 1.5 million Armenians during the last days of
the Ottoman Empire,'' Bush said in his statement. ``I join my fellow
Americans and Armenian people around the world in expressing my
deepest condolences for this horrible loss of life.''
He urged Turks and Armenians to continue ``to examine the historical
events of the early 20th century with honesty and sensitivity
... toward reconciliation.''
One of the new resolutions, designed as an expression of the feeling
of both houses of Congress, urges sanctions against Turkey as severe
as withholding U.S. support of Turkey's acceptance by the European
Union until it admits Ottoman genocide.
``The administration did not support the vote to pass House Resolution
195 and 316,'' Ereli told a questioner at his daily news
briefing. ``I've given you our view. I think that view has been
communicated to members of Congress. They are in no doubt about it.''
Even if passed by the full House for one resolution and by the House
and Senate for the other, the documents would have no force of law but
would throw the weight of the Congress behind their recommendations.
In Ankara, the Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed sadness that the
resolutions were passed and said in a statement that Turkey's
government strongly hopes ``the resolutions will stay in the committee
and not be carried to the floor.''
The future of the resolutions remained unclear Friday.
House sources said neither resolution has a timetable for introduction
in the House.
09/16/05 18:46 EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) - President George W. Bush's administration disavowed
two resolutions passed by a Congressional committee that urge the
United States and Turkey to acknowledge that Turkey's former Ottoman
rulers committed genocide against Armenia during and after World War
I.
The House International Relations Committee approved the resolutions
Thursday. Both would have the United States classify the 1915-1923
killings as genocide, and one would endorse diplomatic or political
action against Turkey until it acknowledges the culpability of its
predecessor state, the Ottoman Empire.
``As far as the State Department and the administration goes, our
position remains what it has always been, and that is, this is not a
matter that should be politicized,'' department spokesman Adam Ereli
said Friday.
``This is a matter that needs to be discussed seriously and honestly
and in the spirit of analysis by those involved, or those with a
direct connection to it.''
Armenians contend that 1.5 million of their ancestors were killed as
Turkey forced Armenians from their traditional homes in eastern
Turkey. Armenian activists have campaigned for years to force Turkey
to declare the episode genocide.
Ereli cited a statement by Bush on April 24, the 90th anniversary of
the day Armenians say Ottoman Turks began rounding up intellectuals,
diplomats and other influential Armenians in Istanbul, Turkey.
``On Armenian Remembrance Day, we remember the forced exile and mass
killings of as many as 1.5 million Armenians during the last days of
the Ottoman Empire,'' Bush said in his statement. ``I join my fellow
Americans and Armenian people around the world in expressing my
deepest condolences for this horrible loss of life.''
He urged Turks and Armenians to continue ``to examine the historical
events of the early 20th century with honesty and sensitivity
... toward reconciliation.''
One of the new resolutions, designed as an expression of the feeling
of both houses of Congress, urges sanctions against Turkey as severe
as withholding U.S. support of Turkey's acceptance by the European
Union until it admits Ottoman genocide.
``The administration did not support the vote to pass House Resolution
195 and 316,'' Ereli told a questioner at his daily news
briefing. ``I've given you our view. I think that view has been
communicated to members of Congress. They are in no doubt about it.''
Even if passed by the full House for one resolution and by the House
and Senate for the other, the documents would have no force of law but
would throw the weight of the Congress behind their recommendations.
In Ankara, the Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed sadness that the
resolutions were passed and said in a statement that Turkey's
government strongly hopes ``the resolutions will stay in the committee
and not be carried to the floor.''
The future of the resolutions remained unclear Friday.
House sources said neither resolution has a timetable for introduction
in the House.
09/16/05 18:46 EDT