US Vote - reaction in Armenia
Agence France Presse
March 5, 2010 Friday 11:35 AM GMT
Armenia praises US lawmakers' vote on 'genocide'
Yerevan, March 5 2010
Armenia on Friday hailed a vote by US lawmakers to brand the killing
of Armenians by Ottoman forces during World War I as "genocide,"
calling it an important step forward for human rights.
"We highly appreciate the decision," Foreign Minister Eduard
Nalbandian said in a statement. "This is another proof of the devotion
of the American people to universal human values and is an important
step toward the prevention of crimes against humanity."
Officials in Yerevan also said Ankara should not use the vote as a
pretext for delaying fledgling reconciliation efforts.
Armenia insists that a deal signed in October for the two countries to
establish diplomatic ties and re-open their border after decades of
hostility should not be linked with the genocide issue.
"It is groundless to say that the acceptance of the resolution...
should become an obstacle to normalising relations between Armenia and
Turkey," the head of a parliamentary committee studying the protocols,
Armen Rustamian, told reporters.
"The United States supports the normalisation of relations between
Armenia and Turkey without preconditions and the best way for the
United States to show that these processes are not related is to
recognise the Armenian genocide."
Overriding pressure from the White House and Turkey, a long-time NATO
ally, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee narrowly approved the
text on Thursday, opening the door for a vote at the full House of
Representatives.
The non-binding resolution calls on President Barack Obama to ensure
that US foreign policy reflects an understanding of the "genocide" and
to label the mass killings as such in his annual statement on the
issue.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were killed during World
War I by their Ottoman rulers as the empire was falling apart, a claim
supported by several other countries.
Turkey argues 300,000-500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks
died in what was a civil strife when Armenians rose up for
independence and sided with invading Russian troops.
Turkey recalled its ambassador from the United States after the vote
and has warned that ties will suffer.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also warned that the US
resolution raised the "the risk of stopping" the bridge-building
efforts with Armenia.
The signing of the Armenia-Turkey agreements was hailed
internationally but ratification by both countries' parliaments has
since stalled as the two sides have traded accusations of trying to
modify the deal.
March 5, 2010 Friday 11:35 AM GMT
Armenia praises US lawmakers' vote on 'genocide'
Yerevan, March 5 2010
Armenia on Friday hailed a vote by US lawmakers to brand the killing
of Armenians by Ottoman forces during World War I as "genocide,"
calling it an important step forward for human rights.
"We highly appreciate the decision," Foreign Minister Eduard
Nalbandian said in a statement. "This is another proof of the devotion
of the American people to universal human values and is an important
step toward the prevention of crimes against humanity."
Officials in Yerevan also said Ankara should not use the vote as a
pretext for delaying fledgling reconciliation efforts.
Armenia insists that a deal signed in October for the two countries to
establish diplomatic ties and re-open their border after decades of
hostility should not be linked with the genocide issue.
"It is groundless to say that the acceptance of the resolution...
should become an obstacle to normalising relations between Armenia and
Turkey," the head of a parliamentary committee studying the protocols,
Armen Rustamian, told reporters.
"The United States supports the normalisation of relations between
Armenia and Turkey without preconditions and the best way for the
United States to show that these processes are not related is to
recognise the Armenian genocide."
Overriding pressure from the White House and Turkey, a long-time NATO
ally, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee narrowly approved the
text on Thursday, opening the door for a vote at the full House of
Representatives.
The non-binding resolution calls on President Barack Obama to ensure
that US foreign policy reflects an understanding of the "genocide" and
to label the mass killings as such in his annual statement on the
issue.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were killed during World
War I by their Ottoman rulers as the empire was falling apart, a claim
supported by several other countries.
Turkey argues 300,000-500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks
died in what was a civil strife when Armenians rose up for
independence and sided with invading Russian troops.
Turkey recalled its ambassador from the United States after the vote
and has warned that ties will suffer.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also warned that the US
resolution raised the "the risk of stopping" the bridge-building
efforts with Armenia.
The signing of the Armenia-Turkey agreements was hailed
internationally but ratification by both countries' parliaments has
since stalled as the two sides have traded accusations of trying to
modify the deal.
EuroNews , France
March 5, 2010 Friday
Corks pop in Armenia at "genocide" resolution
In the capital of Armenia, applause and the pop of champagne corks
greeted the vote by the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs
Committee.
People rejoiced at the resolution labelling the mass killings of
Armenians in 1915 as "genocide".
"Parliament will now cement itself as the source of progressive
ideas," Sociologist Ludmila Arutunyan said. "What will Armenians
receive? Nothing. They are simply trying to continue their case for
the recognition of genocide against people as a very important step in
preventing genocide in general. There are no personal agendas here.
This is social, human interest."
On the streets of Yerevan, one passer-by said it was important to
speak out against the killings, which happened amid the chaos
surrounding World War I and the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire.
"A progressive and civilised society should express its opinion, that
it condemns such events, then it will be possible to live on this
planet in a civilized way," he said.
The vote comes at a tense time for Turkish-Armenian relations. The two
countries had agreed on protocols forseeing diplomatic relations and
an opening of the common border.
But Armenia's highest court ruled against them, saying foreign policy
must conform with the view of the killings as genocide.
March 5, 2010 Friday
Corks pop in Armenia at "genocide" resolution
In the capital of Armenia, applause and the pop of champagne corks
greeted the vote by the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs
Committee.
People rejoiced at the resolution labelling the mass killings of
Armenians in 1915 as "genocide".
"Parliament will now cement itself as the source of progressive
ideas," Sociologist Ludmila Arutunyan said. "What will Armenians
receive? Nothing. They are simply trying to continue their case for
the recognition of genocide against people as a very important step in
preventing genocide in general. There are no personal agendas here.
This is social, human interest."
On the streets of Yerevan, one passer-by said it was important to
speak out against the killings, which happened amid the chaos
surrounding World War I and the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire.
"A progressive and civilised society should express its opinion, that
it condemns such events, then it will be possible to live on this
planet in a civilized way," he said.
The vote comes at a tense time for Turkish-Armenian relations. The two
countries had agreed on protocols forseeing diplomatic relations and
an opening of the common border.
But Armenia's highest court ruled against them, saying foreign policy
must conform with the view of the killings as genocide.
Armenians welcome U.S. resolution recognizing genocide by Turks
RIA Novosti
March 5, 2010 Friday 10:20 AM GMT+3
Armenian groups in the United States rejoiced as the U.S. House
Foreign Affairs Committee narrowly approved a resolution condemning as
genocide the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during
World War I.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives
voted on Thursday 23-22 in support of the resolution following almost
six hours of heated debates.
Ankara responded by recalling its newly appointed ambassador to the
United States, Namik Tan, for "consultations."
"We condemn this bill that blames the Turkish nation for a crime it
did not commit. Our Washington ambassador was invited to Ankara
tonight for consultations," Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
said in a statement posted on his office's website.
Turkey, which has always refused to recognize the killings of an
estimated 1.5 million Armenians at the end of the Ottoman period in
1915 as an act of genocide, earlier warned Washington that this move
could jeopardize U.S-Turkish cooperation and set back the talks aimed
at opening the border between Turkey and Armenia, which has been
closed since 1993 on Ankara's initiative.
A similar vote in the committee was approved by a wider margin in
2007, but the U.S. Bush administration, anxious to retain Turkish
cooperation in Iraq, scuttled a full House vote.
"By a vote of 23 to 22 the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee
approved [House Resolution] 252, the Armenian Genocide Resolution,"
the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) said in a statement.
"The committee passed the motion despite a well-funded lobbying effort
by the Turkish government supported by major defense corporations
doing business with Turkey. Parliamentarians from Turkey and Turkey's
ambassador to the United States personally weighed in on the committee
and the Obama Administration."
"The truth prevailed today, and the cause of genocide affirmation and
prevention has been furthered," AAA Executive Director Bryan Ardouny
said.
"We commend the leadership of Chairman Howard Berman and all those who
supported the bill's passage, which was introduced by Representatives
Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr.
(D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL)."
"The truth prevailed in the end," Elizabeth Chouldjian, a spokeswoman
for the Armenian National Committee of America, told Armenian
television. "The Turkish pressure proved futile."
The resolution was also welcomed by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.
"We highly appreciate the decision by the Committee on Foreign Affairs
of the United States House of Representatives to adopt Resolution 252
on the recognition of the Armenian genocide," he said in a statement.
"This is further proof of the devotion of the American people to
universal human values and is an important step toward the prevention
of crimes against humanity."
On the eve of the vote, the Obama administration urged the committee
not to approve the resolution, fearing it could alienate Washington's
NATO ally, whose help the White House considers invaluable in solving
confrontations in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
A number of countries have recognized the killings in Armenia as the
first genocide of the 20th century, including Russia, France, Italy,
Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Greece, as well as 42 of the 50
U.S. states. The Vatican, the European Parliament and the World
Council of Churches have also denounced the killings as genocide.
Uruguay was the first to do so in 1965.
World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
March 5, 2010
Armenia Welcomes U.S. Congressional Committee's Recognition of
Armenian GenocideRIA Novosti
March 5, 2010 Friday 10:20 AM GMT+3
Armenian groups in the United States rejoiced as the U.S. House
Foreign Affairs Committee narrowly approved a resolution condemning as
genocide the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during
World War I.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives
voted on Thursday 23-22 in support of the resolution following almost
six hours of heated debates.
Ankara responded by recalling its newly appointed ambassador to the
United States, Namik Tan, for "consultations."
"We condemn this bill that blames the Turkish nation for a crime it
did not commit. Our Washington ambassador was invited to Ankara
tonight for consultations," Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
said in a statement posted on his office's website.
Turkey, which has always refused to recognize the killings of an
estimated 1.5 million Armenians at the end of the Ottoman period in
1915 as an act of genocide, earlier warned Washington that this move
could jeopardize U.S-Turkish cooperation and set back the talks aimed
at opening the border between Turkey and Armenia, which has been
closed since 1993 on Ankara's initiative.
A similar vote in the committee was approved by a wider margin in
2007, but the U.S. Bush administration, anxious to retain Turkish
cooperation in Iraq, scuttled a full House vote.
"By a vote of 23 to 22 the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee
approved [House Resolution] 252, the Armenian Genocide Resolution,"
the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) said in a statement.
"The committee passed the motion despite a well-funded lobbying effort
by the Turkish government supported by major defense corporations
doing business with Turkey. Parliamentarians from Turkey and Turkey's
ambassador to the United States personally weighed in on the committee
and the Obama Administration."
"The truth prevailed today, and the cause of genocide affirmation and
prevention has been furthered," AAA Executive Director Bryan Ardouny
said.
"We commend the leadership of Chairman Howard Berman and all those who
supported the bill's passage, which was introduced by Representatives
Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr.
(D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL)."
"The truth prevailed in the end," Elizabeth Chouldjian, a spokeswoman
for the Armenian National Committee of America, told Armenian
television. "The Turkish pressure proved futile."
The resolution was also welcomed by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.
"We highly appreciate the decision by the Committee on Foreign Affairs
of the United States House of Representatives to adopt Resolution 252
on the recognition of the Armenian genocide," he said in a statement.
"This is further proof of the devotion of the American people to
universal human values and is an important step toward the prevention
of crimes against humanity."
On the eve of the vote, the Obama administration urged the committee
not to approve the resolution, fearing it could alienate Washington's
NATO ally, whose help the White House considers invaluable in solving
confrontations in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
A number of countries have recognized the killings in Armenia as the
first genocide of the 20th century, including Russia, France, Italy,
Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Greece, as well as 42 of the 50
U.S. states. The Vatican, the European Parliament and the World
Council of Churches have also denounced the killings as genocide.
Uruguay was the first to do so in 1965.
World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
March 5, 2010
Armenia Welcomes U.S. Congressional Committee's Recognition of
BYLINE: Lilit Gevorgyan
Today, Armenian foreign minister Eduard Nalbandyan issued a statement
hailing the 4 March decision by U.S. lawmakers to define the massacres
of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide. Nalbandyan called the
decision by the U.S. House of Foreign Affairs Committee as an
important step forward for human rights and "an important step toward
the prevention of crimes against humanity". The Congressional
Committee's resolution can now enter the House of Representatives for
a full vote. The resolution is non-binding and calls on U.S. president
Barack Obama to reflect on the Armenian genocide, and label the
killings of over 1.5 million Armenians accordingly in his annual
statements made on 24 April, the day when Armenians commemorate the
victims of genocide.
The voting on the resolution went ahead despite the last-minute call
from U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton to the Committee Chairman
Howard Berman urging him to defer the vote in order not to derail the
reconciliation efforts recently launched between Armenia and Turkey.
Prior to the Congressional Committee's session Turkish president
Abdullah Gul had warned the U.S. administration of the serious
repercussions that passing the resolution could have for bilateral
relations. Berman opened the session by acknowledging Turkey's role as
a vital and loyal ally but added that "nothing justifies Turkey's
turning a blind eye to the reality of the Armenian genocide", urging
Turkey "to come to terms with its own history."
Significance:While the Armenian government and indeed the
6-million-strong Armenian Diaspora will celebrate the latest
resolution, they also realise that with the opposition of the Obama
administration, the document is not likely to garner enough support in
the House of Representatives. This is the second time in recent years
that the Congressional Committee has endorsed a resolution recognising
the Armenian genocide. The latest resolution was adopted in 2007.
However successive U.S. administrations have proven to follow the same
pattern when it comes to this painful issue both for Armenians and
Turks. Nearly all U.S. presidents, including Obama, have promised to
support the recognition of the genocide if elected to the White House.
However following their elections they have failed to deliver on their
promises as the benefit of a non-binding and morally motivated
resolution had been consistently outweighed by the importance of
maintaining U.S. relations with Turkey. Turkey is likely to use the
adoption of this resolution as an excuse to delay the ratification of
the Armenian-Turkish October 2009 peace protocols, aimed at
normalisation of bilateral relations (seeTurkey - Armenia: 12 October
2009:). Turkey has been hoping that by signing the protocols it would
be able to contain the Armenian government's efforts to see worldwide
recognition of the genocide. However this policy by the Turkish
government is not likely to succeed given that the pursuit of the
recognition of the Armenian genocide is enshrined in the Armenian
declaration of independence and also it has not been an issue of
discussion during the signing of the October protocols.
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