United States resolution on Armenian genocide

The Armenian Genocide resolution (USBill|110|H.Res.|106) was submitted to the House of Representatives by Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), during the 110th United States Congress. It is a non-binding resolution calling upon the US President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide, and for other purposes. The resolution was introduced on January 30, 2007.

ummary

Affirmation of the United States Record on the Armenian Genocide Resolution - Calls upon the President to ensure that U.S. foreign policy reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the U.S. record relating to the Armenian Genocide and the consequences of the failure to realize a just resolution and in the President's annual message commemorating the Armenian Genocide to characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide, and to recall the proud history of U.S. intervention in opposition to the Armenian Genocide. [ [http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HE00106:@@@D&summ2=m& Thomas.gov] ]

Current co-sponsors

As of now, including Rep. Schiff, the resolution has 215 co-sponsors [ [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-genocidebox17oct17,1,2794296.story?coll=la-news-politics-national&ctrack=1&cset=true Los Angeles Times. Who changed their minds, and when] ] (in alphabetical order):

*Rep Neil Abercrombie [HI-1] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Gary Ackerman [NY-5] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Thomans Allen [ME-1] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Robert Andrews [NJ-1] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Michael Arcuri [NY-24] - 7/18/2007
*Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Bachmann, Michele [MN-6] - 3/1/2007
*Rep Baird, Brian [WA-3] - 3/12/2007
*Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] - 6/20/2007
*Rep Bean, Melissa L. [IL-8] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Becerra, Xavier [CA-31] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50] - 3/12/2007
*Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 4/19/2007
*Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Bono, Mary [CA-45] - 1/31/2007
*Del Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] - 6/21/2007
*Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] - 3/12/2007
*Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] - 4/19/2007
*Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] - 6/28/2007
*Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Camp, Dave [MI-4] - 6/7/2007
*Rep Campbell, John [CA-48] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Capps, Lois [CA-23] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. [CA-18] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Carson, Julia [IN-7] - 6/28/2007
*Del Christensen, Donna M. [VI] - 7/10/2007
*Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] - 4/16/2007
*Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] - 5/14/2007
*Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 6/28/2007
*Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] - 6/26/2007
*Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] - 1/31/2007
*Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] - 1/31/2007
*Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1] - 2/5/2007
*Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 1/31/2007
*Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [FL-21] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Diaz-Balart, Mario [FL-25] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Dingell, John D. [MI-15] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Doolittle, John T. [CA-4] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Dreier, David [CA-26] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 2/5/2007
*Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Ferguson, Mike [NJ-7] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 1/31/2007
*Del Fortuno, Luis G. [PR] - 10/4/2007
*Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Frelinghuysen, Rodney P. [NJ-11] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY-20] - 7/18/2007
*Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 3/1/2007
*Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] - 2/5/2007
*Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] - 8/2/2007
*Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] - 2/8/2007
*Rep Herseth, Stephanie [SD] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Hinojosa, Ruben [TX-15] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] - 6/20/2007
*Rep Hodes, Paul W. [NH-2] - 5/9/2007
*Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [OH-11] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Kagen, Steve [WI-8] - 6/28/2007
*Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Kingston, Jack [GA-1] - 6/26/2007
*Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Knollenberg, Joe [MI-9] - 1/30/2007
*Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. [NY-29] - 6/20/2007
*Rep LaHood, Ray [IL-18] - 8/2/2007
*Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Larsen, Rick [WA-2] - 6/28/2007
*Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] - 5/24/2007
*Rep LaTourette, Steven C. [OH-14] - 3/1/2007
*Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Levin, Sander M. [MI-12] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] - 1/31/2007
*Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Lungren, Daniel E. [CA-3] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Marchant, Kenny [TX-24] - 2/8/2007
*Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Marshall, Jim [GA-8] - 6/26/2007
*Rep Matheson, Jim [UT-2] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5] - 1/31/2007
*Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] - 1/31/2007
*Rep McCarthy, Kevin [CA-22] - 2/5/2007
*Rep McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10] - 1/31/2007
*Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] - 1/31/2007
*Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 1/30/2007
*Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 1/31/2007
*Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 1/31/2007
*Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23] - 8/2/2007
*Rep McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [CA-25] - 1/31/2007
*Rep McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5] - 1/31/2007
*Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] - 2/5/2007
*Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Meehan, Martin T. [MA-5] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Meek, Kendrick B. [FL-17] - 6/21/2007
*Rep Melancon, Charlie [LA-3] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] - 2/8/2007
*Rep Millender-McDonald, Juanita [CA-37] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Miller, Gary G. [CA-42] - 3/29/2007
*Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Murphy, Christopher S. [CT-5] - 5/21/2007
*Rep Musgrave, Marilyn N. [CO-4] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2] - 1/31/2007
*Del Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Nunes, Devin [CA-21] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] - 1/30/2007
*Rep Pastor, Ed [AZ-4] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] - 3/29/2007
*Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] - 6/7/2007
*Rep Porter, Jon C. [NV-3] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Radanovich, George [CA-19] - 1/30/2007
*Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Reichert, David G. [WA-8] - 4/16/2007
*Rep Renzi, Rick [AZ-1] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37] - 10/4/2007
*Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] - 6/26/2007
*Rep Rogers, Mike J. [MI-8] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-46] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Roskam, Peter J. [IL-6] - 5/21/2007
*Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Roybal-Allard, Lucille [CA-34] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Royce, Edward R. [CA-40] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Ryan, Paul [WI-1] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] - 4/16/2007
*Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3] - 6/28/2007
*Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-5] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 6/26/2007
*Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27] - 1/30/2007
*Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Solis, Hilda L. [CA-32] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] - 3/12/2007
*Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] - 3/29/2007
*Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [CA-10] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Thompson, Bennie G. [MS-2] - 6/20/2007
*Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Tierney, John F. [MA-6] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Udall, Mark [CO-2] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Udall, Tom [NM-3] - 5/14/2007
*Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12] - 2/5/2007
*Rep Visclosky, Peter J. [IN-1] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Walberg, Timothy [MI-7] - 6/7/2007
*Rep Walsh, James T. [NY-25] - 2/8/2007
*Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Wamp, Zach [TN-3] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Watt, Melvin L. [NC-12] - 6/28/2007
*Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Weller, Jerry [IL-11] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Wu, David [OR-1] - 2/8/2007
*Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] - 1/31/2007
*Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] - 7/10/2007

At least 11 representatives have withdrawn as cosponsors since October 15, 2007, and the number of cosponsors fell short of a majority of the House. [ [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-genocide17oct17,1,6017016.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-news-politics-national&ctrack=2&cset=true Los Angeles Times. Genocide resolution's support is fading] ] [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/washington/17cong.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin New York Times. Support Wanes in House for Genocide Vote] ]

Current status

Upon its introduction it was referred to United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs [http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press_display.asp?id=430 Opening Statement by Chairman Lantos at markup ofH. Res. 106] where it passed a 27-21 vote and was sent back for a full house vote. On October 26, 2007, in a letter addressed to the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, four key sponsors of the bill, requested a debate on the bill in full House to be postponed [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22651554-5005961,00.html Agence France Presse. "Backers of Armenia genocide bill bow to White House pressure", "October 26, 2007"] ] .

Background

Introduction of resolution

On October 11, 2007, regarding a proposed US House resolution 106, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said that the measure would be brought to a vote because "While that may have been a long time ago, genocide is taking place now in Darfur, it did within recent memory in Rwanda, so as long as there is genocide there is need to speak out against it..." [cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-10-11-voa71.cfm |title=US House Speaker: Armenian Genocide Measure Will Go Forward |accessdate=2007-10-11] However, later she was forced to backtrack from a pledge to bring the measure for a vote because of a waning support for this resolution, since many believe that "angering Turkey would hamper efforts in Iraq". [ [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119284681093765809.html?mod=googlenews_wsj The Wall Street Journal. How Turkey Could Undermine Iraq.] ] Currently the resolution has 215 co-sponsors, comparing to 236 co-sponsors it had earlier this year.

Opposition

The bill has been opposed by the US President's administration and the Republic of Turkey. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged US lawmakers to drop the resolution. She said: "I continue to believe that the passage of the ... Armenian genocide resolution would severely harm our relationships with Turkey". [ [http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2007/10/24/afx4256937.html Forbes.com. Rice urges US Congress to drop Armenia 'genocide' Bill] ]

Eight former US secretaries of state, both republican and democrat, signed a petition calling for refraining from passing this resolution. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/bronwen_maddox/article2673395.ece Times Online. Stirring up the past, jeopardising the future] ]

Gregory Meeks, a Democrat representative from New York in the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, voted against the resolution, arguing that Congress should focus on the failings of U.S. history, such as slavery or the killings of Native Americans, before it starts condemning the histories of other countries. He said, "We have failed to do what we're asking other people to do ... We have got to clean up our own house." [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071011/pl_nm/turkey_usa_armenians_dc_13 House panel OKs Armenian genocide resolution] ]

Zbigniew Brzezinski, a former U.S. national security adviser, stated in an interview to CNN:

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter also stated in an interview to CNN:

The resolution also received negative reactions in mass media. Richmond Times-Dispatch columnist expressed his surprise that “a Congress that has historically lacked the spine or heart to tackle the nation's ugliest legacies in a meaningful way is censuring Turkey”. The newspaper quotes Robert J. Miller, a professor at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Ore., who called it "unbelievable" that Congress is pointing fingers elsewhere while ignoring a U.S. history of black enslavement and the destruction and displacement of Indians. [ [http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-10-22-0145.html Richmond Times-Dispatch. Apologies needed for U.S. wrongs. Monday, Oct 22, 2007.] ]

Republic of Turkey

Turkish ambassador Nabi Şensoy stated: " [genocide] is the greatest accusation of all against humanity... You cannot expect any nation to accept that kind of labeling."

According to the Washington Post, to defeat the initiative for the resolution, the Turkish government "is spending more than $300,000 a month on communications specialists and high-powered lobbyists, including former congressman Bob Livingston" [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/09/AR2007100902347_pf.html White House And Turkey Fight Bill On Armenia: Genocide Label for WWI-Era Killings Has House Support, By Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, October 10, 2007] ] .

On October 11, 2007, Gunduz Aktan, a member of the delegation of Turkish parliamentarians, who were in Washington to protest against the resolution, stated:

"What was bothering me yesterday was that those (US representatives) who were supporting the Turkish case, 21 of them, they said loud and clear that the events of 1915 amounted to genocide. Despite this fact, because of the strategic importance of Turkey, because of the national interest of the US, they are voting no. This was unbearable." [ [http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav101107a.shtml TURKISH MPS: BUSH ADMINISTRATION MUST MAKE GOODWILL GESTURE TO COMPENSATE FOR US HOUSE COMMITTEE VOTE, by Joshua Kucera, EurasiaNet, 10/11/07] ]

Armenian diaspora

According to Newsweek:

cquote|The measure passed despite a lobbying blitz from the Turkish government, which hired an army of K Street lobbyists to fight it. The team included former House majority leader Dick Gephardt, who as a congressman had cosponsored genocide resolutions but switched sides in March when his firm signed a $1.2 million-a-year contract to represent the Turks.

The Armenian push was also boosted by campaign contributions: Annie Totah, co-chair of the Armenian American Political Action Committee, told NEWSWEEK she has raised "hundreds of thousands of dollars" for Democratic candidates and recently joined Hillary Clinton's finance committee. (Clinton is a cosponsor of the resolution in the Senate.) [ [http://www.newsweek.com/id/43405 Newsweek. A Fight Over an Ugly Past.] ]

Comments from Russia

"The Armenian Genocide resolution is a proper test for American democracy. It will uncover priorities of the United States – good relations with Turkey or historical truth", Russian State Duma member, Konstantin Zatulin told a news conference in Yerevan October 21. [ [http://www.regnum.ru/news/902667.html Константин Затулин: Планы Турции по вторжению в Ирак - "циничный, но грамотный блеф"] (in Russian)]

ee also

*Recognition of the Armenian Genocide

References