Obama not to impede Congress ‘genocide’ debate: top US diplomat
The top US diplomat for Europe, Philip Gordon, has said the Obama
administration has no intention to hamper tabling in Congress the
bill branding the 1915 developments in Ottoman Turkey as "genocide"
of Armenians, Novosti Armenii news agency reported.
The announcement came after Wednesday’s statement by Republican Congressman George Radanovich that US President Barack Obama’s administration has agreed with the House of Representatives, the US legislature’s lower chamber, not to table the "genocide" bill in Congress.
Gordon, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said Congress is an independent body and decides its agenda on its own. He said that, despite the Obama administration’s disagreement, the resolution is likely to be voted on in the full House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee’s voted on the "genocide" resolution 23-22 in early March, even though the Obama administration had urged Congress not to offend Turkey, a NATO ally. However, the decision is not final, as the bill is now expected to go to the 435-member House. Ankara warned that the resolution could jeopardize U.S-Turkish cooperation and set back negotiations aimed at opening the border between Turkey and Armenia, which remains sealed due to long-standing enmity.
The US assistant secretary of state admitted that the "genocide" resolution is impeding Turkish-Armenian reconciliation. He said historical issues should, rather, be discussed in the context of normalizing bilateral ties, but added: "I think that, ultimately, the two countries’ leaders will finalize the process of normalizing relations."
Turkey and Armenia face decades of enmity. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory and genocide claims. In an effort to mend ties, the two governments signed protocols to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders in Zurich in October 2009. However, the documents require ratification in both countries’ parliaments to take effect.*
The announcement came after Wednesday’s statement by Republican Congressman George Radanovich that US President Barack Obama’s administration has agreed with the House of Representatives, the US legislature’s lower chamber, not to table the "genocide" bill in Congress.
Gordon, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said Congress is an independent body and decides its agenda on its own. He said that, despite the Obama administration’s disagreement, the resolution is likely to be voted on in the full House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee’s voted on the "genocide" resolution 23-22 in early March, even though the Obama administration had urged Congress not to offend Turkey, a NATO ally. However, the decision is not final, as the bill is now expected to go to the 435-member House. Ankara warned that the resolution could jeopardize U.S-Turkish cooperation and set back negotiations aimed at opening the border between Turkey and Armenia, which remains sealed due to long-standing enmity.
The US assistant secretary of state admitted that the "genocide" resolution is impeding Turkish-Armenian reconciliation. He said historical issues should, rather, be discussed in the context of normalizing bilateral ties, but added: "I think that, ultimately, the two countries’ leaders will finalize the process of normalizing relations."
Turkey and Armenia face decades of enmity. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory and genocide claims. In an effort to mend ties, the two governments signed protocols to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders in Zurich in October 2009. However, the documents require ratification in both countries’ parliaments to take effect.*
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