Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

Speaker Hastert withdraws Armenian Genocide Resolution
by H.Res.596 Committee: The Coalition for Affirmation of the U.S. Record on the Armenian Genocide Resolution
Posted: Friday, October 20, 2000 10:10 pm CST

PRESS RELEASE

Speaker Hastert withdraws Armenian Genocide Resolution

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• Citing Clinton Administration Claims that its Consideration Would Threaten American Lives, Speaker Withdraws Measure Only Moments before Adoption by House

Washington, DC -- Citing claims by President Clinton that the consideration of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.596) would endanger American lives, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert today broke his pledge to bring the measure to the House floor, acceding to the President's request that he withdraw the resolution. This action was taken only moments before the resolution was to come to the House floor for a vote, reported the H.Res.596 Committee.

Speaker Hastert, in an announcement explaining his decision, noted that, based on the concerns raised by the President, he was removing the resolution from the legislative schedule of the House. The Speaker said that President Clinton had raised "grave national security concerns" over the resolution, stressing that even the measure's consideration would pose a threat to American lives. The President, in a letter to the Speaker dated today, noted that bringing the resolution to the House floor "could have far-reaching negative consequences for the United States." The Speaker acknowledged in his statement that the resolution "would have enjoyed support among the majority of the House."

In a statement released after the Speaker's decision was announced, the "596 Committee" said, "Turkish threats are not credible, but have nevertheless prevailed. Instead of succumbing to threats against American service personnel stationed in Turkey, the Speaker should have called upon the President to reject Turkey's threats and put that nation on notice that it would be held fully accountable for the safety of Americans there."

The Committee also noted that it was "deeply troubled that the Speaker had allowed Turkish threats, as conveyed by the President, to prevent the House of Representatives from voting on a measure which he himself supports, which has progressed through every stage of the legislative process, and which, by his own admission, enjoys the support of a majority in the House."

The Armenian Genocide Resolution has been cosponsored by over 140 members of Congress and was the subject of more than ten hours of mark-ups and hearings at the committee level. It was amended several times to accommodate the concerns of members of Congress, had been approved by the Rules Committee, and was slated - as late as 7:00 p.m. this evening - for a final vote on the House floor.

In a statement on the House floor following announcement of the Speaker's decision, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) expressed sharp disappointment with the Speaker's decision, noting that, "If America is going to live up to the standards we set for ourselves, and continue to lead the world in affirming human rights everywhere, we need to stand up and recognize the Armenian catastrophe for what it was - the systematic elimination of a people. Commenting on the Speaker's claim that he was pressured into withdrawing the resolution, Rep. Pallone stressed that, "if the House of Representatives cannot speak to our historical experience because of threats from a foreign government, then what message do we send to our friends and enemies alike?"

The full texts of the Speaker's press release, President Clinton's letter, and Congressman Pallone's remarks are provided below.

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