‘Genocide’ resolution on its way to US Congress

A resolution calling for the recognition of an alleged genocide against Armenians at the hands of the late Ottoman Empire in the beginning of the last century will soon be presented to the U.S. Congress for approval, news reports said.

Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff announced he would present a new resolution on the recognition of the alleged genocide to the House of Representatives in two weeks, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.

The resolution comes at a time when Turkey and the United States are trying to recover from the tension that plagued their ties over the past few years. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited the United States on a fence-mending mission last week and said Turkey's strategic partnership with Washington was still strong.

Turkey denies Armenian allegations that some 1.5 million Armenians were killed as part of a genocide campaign in eastern Anatolia during the World War I era and calls for a scientific study of the allegations. Several parliaments, including those of France, Canada and Poland, have passed resolutions backing the Armenians' genocide claims. There has been strong pressure from Armenians worldwide for the U.S. Congress to recognize the allegations as well.

The planned resolution would be similar to a past resolution that was shelved in 2000, Armenian sources said. That legislation was shelved before it was forwarded to the House of Representatives floor following a last-minute intervention by then President Bill Clinton, who had warned House Speaker Dennis Hastert of “possible far-reaching negative consequences for the United States” if the House voted on the legislation.

The resolution is expected to be taken up by one of two sub-committees of the House International Relations Committee after it is presented to the House. Both committees are headed by congressmen known for their unfriendly stance towards Turkey.

If approved by any of these committees, say observers, it will most likely be passed on the House floor as well. It is not clear whether it would subsequently be taken up by the International Relations Committee or whether it would be taken up before early August, when Congress is scheduled to go on recess.

The U.S. administration does not support any congressional move to recognize the alleged genocide.