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Clinton Soft On Armenian Genocide Resolution

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  • Clinton Soft On Armenian Genocide Resolution

    CLINTON SOFT ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
    By Ara Khachatourian

    Asbarez
    http://www.asbarez.com/7783 5/clinton-soft-on-genocide-resolution/
    Feb 25th, 2010

    WASHINGTON-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contrast to previous
    State Department positions, refrained from direct opposition to the
    Armenian Genocide resolution, when responding to inquiries Thursday
    at two separate hearings in Congress.

    In response to a question from Arkansas Republican John Boozman,
    whose incomplete sentences and hesitant demeanor clearly indicated
    that he was prompted to address the issue during the hearing, Clinton
    reiterated the Obama administration's interest in "a full, frank and
    just acknowledgements of the facts."

    "On Turkey-Armenia relations it is our position that the normalization
    process that Turkey and Armenia have undertaken carries important
    benefits for both sides and it should take place without preconditions
    and within a reasonable time frame. Last year in his Armenia
    remembrance day statement, President Obama made clear that our interest
    remains a full frank and just acknowledgement of facts related to the
    historical events, but the best way to do that, with all respect,
    is for the Armenian and Turkish people themselves to address the
    facts of their past as part of their efforts to move forward. In that
    spirit we are working very hard to assist Armenia and Turkey in their
    efforts and we would like to continue to support that effort and not
    be diverted in any way at all," said Clinton at a hearing of the House
    Foreign Affairs Committee, which is set to vote on the bill next week.

    Later on Thursday, Clinton also addressed the House Subcommittee
    on State, Foreign Operations, where Armenian Caucus Co-chairman
    Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) thanked Clinton for her past support of the
    resolution as a Senator and expressed hope that the State Department
    would support the resolution.

    In response, Clinton reiterated the US support for diplomatic efforts
    between Turkey and Armenia.

    Clinton did not reference a question by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.),
    the author of the the resolution, when he expressed hope that the
    State Department would not oppose the resolution and would support it,
    and instead responded to a second question by Schiff on another matter.

    "Secretary Clinton's remarks represent the third time in just the
    past few weeks that a senior Obama Administration official - in
    response to pointed questions about the Armenian Genocide Resolution
    - has chosen not to voice any opposition to the adoption of this
    genocide-prevention measure," said Armenian National Committee of
    America Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

    "The current Administration's conduct, at least to date, stands in
    stark contrast to past Administrations - both Democratic and Republican
    - that used every opportunity to score points with Ankara by attacking
    the broad, bipartisan Congressional majority that has long existed in
    support of U.S. condemnation and commemoration of this crime against
    humanity," he added.

    At the House Foreign Affairs Committee meeting, Clinton also discussed
    the ongoing US support for the Armenia-Turkey protocols and expressed
    the administration's unwavering commitment to the process when
    responding to a question from New York Democrat Michael McMahon,
    who asked Clinton whether the State Department could appoint a point
    person to ensure the ratification of the documents by both parliaments.

    "We are very committed to work with both Armenia and Turkey, and
    I have personally been involved in this. I was deeply involved in
    the negotiation in Zurich some months ago that led to the signing of
    the protocols. I'm on the phone probably more with the leadership in
    Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan than any other part of the world on
    a regular basis. We are very committed to doing everything we can,
    both in furthering the protocols for normalization between Armenia
    and Turkey and working for a durable diplomatic solution for the
    conflict over in Nagorno-Karabakh. That is not a precondition for the
    normalization process between Turkey and Armenia but it is essential
    for the long-term regional stability in the Caucasus. So, we have a
    whole team committed to that and we are working as hard as we can,"
    explained Clinton.

    On a related issue, California Democrat Brad Sherman asked Clinton
    about funding for Armenia, with the expectation that the secretary
    would respond in writing to his inquiry.

    "I'm glad you're providing more aid to Armenia, but I think Congress
    should enhance that. Thank you for having parity on military financing,
    but you do not have parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan and as to
    international military training and there should be a specific aid
    request for Nagorno-Karabakh," said Sherman.
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