karakash Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 Up to 199 supporters in the House.... www.anca.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irlandahay Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 Up to 199 supporters in the House.... www.anca.org but when are they gonna try and pass it? :s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karakash Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 but when are they gonna try and pass it? :s Now at 200. Look for a vote in late July or early September. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ED Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 we need 238 votes to pass, but before THE actual vote, its up to foreign relations consul at congress to decide to bring resolution to house floor for vote or not, the comity chairman is none other then Lantos, who, was visited by Turkish delegation, who has denied AG before, who fought against such resolutions in the past, who is a Jew and a Holocaust surviver himself, starch supporter of Iraq war, patriot act, fellow member of number of neo-con based various, Jewish organizations.......should i go on more? ( Hagarag loooooves this man) you tell me if this man would let the resolution to be voted on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom22 Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 (edited) Edward, So typically Armenian of you, not to sense a perceptible change in the equation. Congressman Lantos SUPPORTED the Armenian Cause in the last go around. Are you stuck in 14th Century, at the fall of the Cilician Kingdom? The only administrative body for Armenians for 600 years was the Armenian Church, an institution stuck in the 4th Century. Animal sacrifices are still being performed. Best you perceive what is transpiring to better our cause. we need 238 votes to pass, but before THE actual vote, its up to foreign relations consul at congress to decide to bring resolution to house floor for vote or not, the comity chairman is none other then Lantos, who, was visited by Turkish delegation, who has denied AG before, who fought against such resolutions in the past, who is a Jew and a Holocaust surviver himself, starch supporter of Iraq war, patriot act, fellow member of number of neo-con based various, Jewish organizations.......should i go on more? ( Hagarag loooooves this man) you tell me if this man would let the resolution to be voted on Edited June 16, 2007 by phantom22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ED Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 warent you the one who hated lantos?? just last year? now he came around for MOTIVATION (S) be that in monitery or any other form, now you worship him!!! lantos is a whore who would self himself for highest bidder, fortunately my people, the ARMENIANS!; wouldn't give a rats ass for your beloved jew whore come now, face it you always loved him, your only wish was you were born a jew, have lots of money and have lantos as a mentor. commonality is striking sometimes, what would you have done if you set on high position like that? I'm an Armenian!!!! and no lantos, polosi, holosi bush godzila rice wont help me, i better rely on my self! this is the only way to our freedom and someday we will shove AG down........ to your neo-con, likudnik-lantos's turk lover Mother .......ers ...$%#$%^^%$$$sss you are pissing on a wrong tree dude, get lost now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom22 Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 I have great respect for the Jews (who have forged an international presence), more than I have for our Armenians who fight among themselves while the Turks dance in Ankara. As for my mother, God Bless Her in Heaven, she had a very interesting and productive life doing business with the Jewish community. No wonder three of our nine first cousins married Jews. Given your statement, it is no wonder that my former statement that Armenians acting individually are brilliant but acting in unison are imbeciles. Talaat was correct when he predicted that the entourage of Armenians coming to kill him would be down to one Armenian by the time they reached his abode, since they would kill each other off as every one wanted to be the General and not one wanted to be a soldier. warent you the one who hated lantos?? just last year? now he came around for MOTIVATION (S) be that in monitery or any other form, now you worship him!!! lantos is a whore who would self himself for highest bidder, fortunately my people, the ARMENIANS!; wouldn't give a rats ass for your beloved jew whore come now, face it you always loved him, your only wish was you were born a jew, have lots of money and have lantos as a mentor. commonality is striking sometimes, what would you have done if you set on high position like that? I'm an Armenian!!!! and no lantos, polosi, holosi bush godzila rice wont help me, i better rely on my self! this is the only way to our freedom and someday we will shove AG down........ to your neo-con, likudnik-lantos's turk lover Mother .......ers ...$%#$%^^%$$$sss you are pissing on a wrong tree dude, get lost now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annannimusss Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 Phantom, you better watch what the hell your saying man, your last statement is very disrespectful to all here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ED Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 i never said i dont respect Jewish people, what i said was NEO-CON jews, makes no defarance to me, a whore is a whore, in this case guess who is acting like one? yes there are armenians whores as well, dont douge the questions OF WHAT i'm asking you, DID YOU OR YOU DID NOT HATED LANTOS JUST LAST YEAR???? dont play games with me, now you can stick (you know where) ataturk-talat-enver-jamal-saron-wolfowitz-DUMBsfeld-dick the cheny........along with the rest so called turk lovers and have fun by the way! my customers are mostly in medical industry, and BIG companies, as big as MEDTRONICS & ST. JUDE! i deal with them for past 10 years. there engineering staff who are Israeli Jews, Armenians, asians and anglos, but none are whores!!! its MUTUAL respect we have for each other, and they have come to know great deal about MY people and me about them, I never sell my self for making a living!!! only hard work and dedication. Yegishe Charets said it well YES IM MATNERS AMEN KEXTOT BANI CHEM QSSUM! my roots go back to SASUN (fathers side), my mother who is Iranian Armenian was an angel, father was handsome tall just like my son We never spoke anything but Armenian in our home, no one says your mother was a bad mother, rest in peace but do not ever underestimate your people, what do you know anyways? how much do you care anyways? there is a project (s), even in this forum, how many are you involved in? or you just read Ara baliozian? answer to those who tend to ignore you, how many here have respect for you? dont make mistake, Jews will use you like a toilet paper. they are smart, if a man is not proud to be who he is then the man is lost, only looking for scrups i dident mean to be harsh on you, i have no openion of you, i dont wish to, live and let live but what ever is left from your life! try to leave some meaning, a lagacy, a contribution or you are going to suffer to the last minute now go in peace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 Hagagra your on Moderator Preview for 120 - if you start posting like an human - i might let you post aging - if not i will ban you for forever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DominO123 Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 I have great respect for the Jews (who have forged an international presence), more than I have for our Armenians who fight among themselves while the Turks dance in Ankara. As for my mother, God Bless Her in Heaven, she had a very interesting and productive life doing business with the Jewish community. No wonder three of our nine first cousins married Jews. Given your statement, it is no wonder that my former statement that Armenians acting individually are brilliant but acting in unison are imbeciles. Talaat was correct when he predicted that the entourage of Armenians coming to kill him would be down to one Armenian by the time they reached his abode, since they would kill each other off as every one wanted to be the General and not one wanted to be a soldier. I wrote a big junk, then deleted it. We should have a dummy account with an answer generator, based on a set of words. The dummy would have the same username as yours. I am sure it will attract many users. We could bid on who is the fake Hagarag. We can even place money. It could be cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 (edited) Turks dance in Ankara No! They're disputing among themselves as well. There's the islamists, the nationalists, the panturkists, the socialists, the ones who support EU, the ones who don't, and we can never forget the Kurds and the plethora of ethnicities that still exist in Turkey. And the list goes on. Edited June 17, 2007 by Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takoush Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 (edited) we need 238 votes to pass, but before THE actual vote, its up to foreign relations consul at congress to decide to bring resolution to house floor for vote or not, the comity chairman is none other then Lantos, who, was visited by Turkish delegation, who has denied AG before, who fought against such resolutions in the past, who is a Jew and a Holocaust surviver himself, starch supporter of Iraq war, patriot act, fellow member of number of neo-con based various, Jewish organizations.......should i go on more? ( Hagarag loooooves this man) you tell me if this man would let the resolution to be voted on Probably not Ed. And the unfortunate part is that for 90+ years now they have been rejecting it. Hagarag AKA Phantom22, sometimes I wonder, really wonder whether you are an Armenian or not. Why are you quoting ESHEGG Talaat's animosity garbage against us. And for who??? An anti-Armenian jew who most probably wouldn't even want to pass the AG resolution for our behalf????? Edited June 17, 2007 by Anahid Takouhi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karakash Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 Probably not Ed. And the unfortunate part is that for 90+ years now they have been rejecting it. Hagarag AKA Phantom22, sometimes I wonder, really wonder whether you are an Armenian or not. Why are you quoting ESHEGG Talaat's animosity garbage against us. And for who??? An anti-Armenian jew who most probably wouldn't even want to pass the AG resolution for our behalf????? First off, we need 218 votes to pass, not 238. Second, Lantos is the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In the past, he has not been supportive of the Armenian Genocide Resolution. However, he voted for it in 2005 during the committee vote and is expected to support it again this time. Regardless of what Lantos believes, if Speaker Pelosi tells him to bring it up for a mark up in committee, he will do it. Watch for the committee mark up and floor vote for some time at the end of July or beginning of September. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted June 22, 2007 Report Share Posted June 22, 2007 Armenian Genocide resolution cosponsorship clears the 200 mark 21.06.2007 14:03 GMT+04:00 Print version Send to mail In Russian In Armenian /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.106, continued to gain momentum toward passage with the total number of Members cosponsoring the human rights measure clearing the 200 mark, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Representatives from Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi and New York were the latest additions, bringing the overall cosponsor total to 202. "We are encouraged by the growing bipartisan support for the Armenian Genocide Resolution - as so dramatically illustrated today by the growth of the number of cosponsors for this genocide prevention measure to more than two hundred," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We value the leadership of the resolution’s authors, appreciate the support of each of its cosponsors, and look forward to working with all of these friends to see the Armenian Genocide Resolution adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives at the first opportunity." "Two hundred cosponsors is an important milestone," stated resolution lead sponsor Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). "This overwhelming support for the resolution is evidence that Members of Congress and their constituents believe that recognizing the Armenian Genocide, which claimed more than a million and a half lives, is a moral imperative." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom22 Posted June 23, 2007 Report Share Posted June 23, 2007 All of you here, stop twirling your fingers and start moving it towards 218. It is above 205 at this moment. Armenian Genocide resolution cosponsorship clears the 200 mark 21.06.2007 14:03 GMT+04:00 Print version Send to mail In Russian In Armenian /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.106, continued to gain momentum toward passage with the total number of Members cosponsoring the human rights measure clearing the 200 mark, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Representatives from Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi and New York were the latest additions, bringing the overall cosponsor total to 202. "We are encouraged by the growing bipartisan support for the Armenian Genocide Resolution - as so dramatically illustrated today by the growth of the number of cosponsors for this genocide prevention measure to more than two hundred," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We value the leadership of the resolution’s authors, appreciate the support of each of its cosponsors, and look forward to working with all of these friends to see the Armenian Genocide Resolution adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives at the first opportunity." "Two hundred cosponsors is an important milestone," stated resolution lead sponsor Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). "This overwhelming support for the resolution is evidence that Members of Congress and their constituents believe that recognizing the Armenian Genocide, which claimed more than a million and a half lives, is a moral imperative." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted June 25, 2007 Report Share Posted June 25, 2007 U.S. House of Representatives likely to vote on Armenian Genocide Resolution in September 25.06.2007 15:11 GMT+04:00 Print version Send to mail In Russian In Armenian /PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The Armenian Genocide Resolution, H. Res.106, is of utmost importance. It’s a resolution which confirms the decisions taken in the Congress since 1970-ies. Moreover, the authors urge the President to use term ‘genocide’ in his annual April 24 statement,” Kiro Manoyan, director of the ARF Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office, told a news conference in Yerevan. Passage of the resolution is a political act, according to him. “It’s one the ways to exert pressure on Turkey. In my opinion, the voting will be scheduled for September, after the parliamentary and presidential elections in Turkey. I should also mention that the voting procedure is set by the Speaker,” Kiro Manoyan said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted June 25, 2007 Report Share Posted June 25, 2007 San Francisco Mayor petitions Speaker Pelosi to pass Armenian Genocide Resolution 23.06.2007 13:53 GMT+04:00 http://panarmenian.net/news/images/ico_print.gif http://panarmenian.net/news/images/ico_mail.gif http://panarmenian.net/news/images/ico_rus.gif http://panarmenian.net/news/images/ico_arm.gif /PanARMENIAN.Net/ San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom recently sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi urging her to support H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reported. Newsom, whose city falls into Pelosi’s eighth congressional district, expressed his utmost support of the Armenian Genocide Resolution. In his correspondence to Speaker Pelosi, Newsom states, “I write this letter in respect to House Resolution 106, which would officially place the U.S. House of Representatives as recognizing the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Along with San Francisco’s large and active Armenian-American community, it is an honor to add my name to the growing number of supporters to House Resolution 106.” Mayor Newsom also referred to the assassination of Hrant Dink as being “silenced as he advocated for official Turkish recognition of the Armenian Genocide.” Mayor Newsom stated in his letter that, “[he] can find no better way to honor the memory of Mr Dink than to ask that the House of Representatives pass this resolution.” Mayor Newsom was appointed to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1997, representing District 2. He was elected Mayor of San Francisco in 2004 and has always been in support of the Armenian-American Community. The Resolution has already gained support of 202 Congressmen and 31 Senators. To be passed it needs support of 218 Congressmen and 51 Senators. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted June 26, 2007 Report Share Posted June 26, 2007 ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION CO-SPONSORSHIP REACHES 209 OUT OF 218 NECESSARY * article's photo 209 U.S. House members co-sponsor the H. Res. 106 – the Armenian Genocide Resolution. Representatives from Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi and New York were among the latest additions, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reported. “We are encouraged by the growing bipartisan support for the H. Res. 106. We appreciate the support of each of its cosponsors, and look forward to working with all of these friends to see the Armenian Genocide Resolution adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives at the first opportunity,” ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian said Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION REACHED 210 IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PanARMENIAN.Net 28.06.2007 14:02 GMT+04:00 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Congresswoman from Los Angeles Lucille Roybal-Allard has joined forces with over 210 cosponsors of the Armenian Genocide resolution (H. Res. 106). She is working in the Halls of Congress to end the Turkish Government's denial of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reports. "The growing support for H. Res. 106 reflects the call for strong moral leadership that Americans demand from their elected officials. This resolution honors those killed during this dark period of history and sends an important message to all countries, where the lives of every man, woman, and child are in danger," Lucille Roybal-Allard underscored. Votes of 218 U.S. congressmen are necessary to put the H. Res. 106 to the vote in the House of Representatives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom22 Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 This is Old News!!!!! The count is higher than that. As of today, it is almost at the magic number of 218. SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION REACHED 210 IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PanARMENIAN.Net 28.06.2007 14:02 GMT+04:00 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Congresswoman from Los Angeles Lucille Roybal-Allard has joined forces with over 210 cosponsors of the Armenian Genocide resolution (H. Res. 106). She is working in the Halls of Congress to end the Turkish Government's denial of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reports. "The growing support for H. Res. 106 reflects the call for strong moral leadership that Americans demand from their elected officials. This resolution honors those killed during this dark period of history and sends an important message to all countries, where the lives of every man, woman, and child are in danger," Lucille Roybal-Allard underscored. Votes of 218 U.S. congressmen are necessary to put the H. Res. 106 to the vote in the House of Representatives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusader1492 Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 218! http://www.anca.org/press_releases/press_r...s.php?prid=1222 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted June 30, 2007 Report Share Posted June 30, 2007 Congressman Harry Mitchell brings number of Armenian Genocide Resolution cosponsors to 211 29.06.2007 18:21 GMT+04:00 Print version Send to mail In Russian In Armenian /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Americans from the Grand Canyon State welcomed this week Congressman Harry Mitchell’s cosponsorship of human rights legislation concerning the Armenian Genocide (H. Res. 106). Congressman Mitchell, who represents Arizona’s fifth Congressional District, has previously served as the Mayor of Tempe, as Chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party and had a distinguished tenure in the State Senate. "Our community here in Arizona appreciates Congressman Mitchell’s cosponsorship of the Armenian Genocide resolution," commented Arizona ANC Chairman Yervant Baltajian. “We thank Congressman Mitchell for his principled leadership on this issue which is important to our rapidly growing community in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District," Baltajian added. Baltajian and ANC activists working with the ANCA-WR and national ANCA offices contacted Congressman Mitchell’s local and Washington, D.C. staff regarding the resolution back in March of this year. This past May, Baltajian and Arizona ANC activist Salpi Demirjian met with Congressman Mitchell’s aides in his Scottsdale office to discuss the resolution and the Armenian Genocide. Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, which covers Scottsdale, Tempe, and portions of Phoenix's northwestern suburbs such as Fountain Hills, Camp Creek, and Sunflower, is home to a large and growing Armenian American community. The community is composed of many legal, medical and business professionals, along with a large number of entrepreneurs who own their own businesses. The resolution needs 218 cosponsors for voting in the House of Representatives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aratta-Kingdom Posted July 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 Majority Of US House Members Cosponsor Armenian Genocide Resolution WASHINGTON--The Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106) reached an important milestone today with the number of cosponsors for the human rights measure growing to 218 's a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives, reported the Armenian National Committee of America. "We welcome the growth of Armenian Genocide Resolution cosponsors to the 218 threshold 's and want to extend our appreciation to Congressman Schiff and his colleagues who helped us reach this mark, as well as to each and everyone of the two hundred and eighteen cosponsors of this measure," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "We look forward in the coming days and weeks to working with our chapters and activists across the country in maintaining and expanding the bipartisan majority in favor of the timely adoption of this human rights legislation." "In gaining 218 cosponsors, we have demonstrated that a majority of the House strongly supports recognizing the facts of the Armenian Genocide," said lead sponsor, Congressman Adam Schiff. "While there are still survivors left, we feel a great sense of urgency in calling attention to the attempted murder of an entire people. Our failure to acknowledge these dark chapters of history prevents us from taking more effective action against ongoing genocides, like Darfur." Introduced on January 30th by Rep. Adam Schiff along with Representative George Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), the Armenian Genocide resolution calls upon the 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. A similar resolution in the Senate (S.Res.106), introduced by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) currently has 31 cosponsors, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY). Over the past five months, Armenian Americans and human rights advocates have joined with Members of Congress in educating their colleagues about the Armenian Genocide and the importance of proper recognition of this crime against humanity. Just this week, thousands participated in the ANCA "Call for Justice Campaign," a national Congressional call-in effort in support of H.Res.106. The campaign was a follow up to the weeklong ANCA "Click for Justice" web campaign in April. On March 22 and 23, over 100 activists from 25 states participated in the Washington, DC advocacy days, titled "End the Cycle of Genocide: Grassroots Capitol Campaign." By the end of the whirlwind two-day campaign, organized by the ANCA and the Genocide Intervention Network (GI-Net), activists had visited all 100 Senate and 435 House of Representatives offices, meeting with Members of Congress and their staff, and dropping off information regarding pending Armenian and Darfur genocide legislation. The grassroots campaign continued with the launching of the ANCA Western and Eastern Region POWER Initiatives designed to significantly expand community outreach and support. Dubbed "Project Outreach Western Region" in the West and "Project Outreach Waves the Eastern Region" in the East, the program has generated renewed grassroots activism in large and small communities. Travels to traditional strongholds in California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois have been complemented with visits to Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, North Carolina and South Carolina, expanded outreach to established communities in Ohio, Wisconsin and Missouri and burgeoning communities in Alabama, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington state. The Armenian Genocide resolution is supported by a broad-based coalition of over 47 human rights, religious, civic, and ethnic organizations, including the (in alphabetical order): American Federation of Jews from Central Europe (New York, NY), American Hellenic Council of CA (Los Angeles, CA), American Hellenic Institute (Washington, DC), American Hungarian Federation (Washington, DC), American Jewish World Service (New York, NY), American Latvian Association in the U.S. (Rockville, MD), American Values (Washington, DC), Arab American Institute (Washington, DC), Belarusan-American Association (Jamaica, NY), Bulgarian Institute for Research and Analysis (Bethesda, MD), Center for Russian Jewry with Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry (New York, NY), Center for World Indigenous Studies (Olympia, WA), Christian Solidarity International (Washington, DC), Congress of Romanian Americans (McLean, VA), Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (Lafayette, LA), Estonian American National Council (Rockville, MD), Genocide Intervention Network (Washington, DC), Global Rights (Washington, DC), Hmong National Development, Inc., Hungarian American Coalition (Washington, DC), Institute on Religion and Public Policy (Washington, DC), International Association of Genocide Scholars (New York, NY), Jewish Social Policy Action Network (Philadelphia, PA), Jewish War Veterans of the USA (Washington, DC), Jewish World Watch (Encino, CA), Joint Baltic American National Committee (Rockville, MD), Leadership Council for Human Rights (Washington, DC), Lithuanian American Community (Philadelphia, PA), Lithuanian American Council (Rockville, MD), National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (New York, NY), National Council of Churches USA (New York, NY), National Federation of American Hungarians (Washington, DC), National Federation of Filipino American Associations (Washington, DC), National Lawyer's Guild (New York, NY), Polish American Congress (Chicago, IL), Progressive Jewish Alliance (Los Angeles, CA), Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (Wyncote, PA), Slovak League of America (Passaic, New Jersey), The Georgian Association in the USA (Washington, DC), The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring (New York, NY), U.S. Baltic Foundation (Washington, DC), Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (New York, NY), Ukrainian National Association (Parsippany, NJ), Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (Washington, DC), United Hellenic American Congress (Chicago, IL), Washington Chapter Czechoslovak National Council of America (Washington, DC), and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (Philadelphia, PA). 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Aratta-Kingdom Posted July 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 TURKS SHOCKED AS CLOSE TO MAJORITY IN CONGRESS COSPONSORS GENOCIDE BILL The news last week, that the number of cosponsors of the congressional Armenian Genocide resolution reached 200, sent shudders throughout the Turkish world. The Turkish government and its compliant mass media would probably get even more hysterical in the coming days as the number of House members supporting the resolution will reach for the first time the magical number of 218 -- the majority of the House of Representatives. In an article titled, "Risk rising for genocide bill’s passage in U.S. Congress," published in the June 22 issue of the Turkish Daily News, journalist Umit Enginsoy wrote: "The chances" of the approval of the Armenian Genocide resolution "are rising dangerously after pro-Armenian groups secured the backing of 200 lawmakers in the 435-member chamber of Congress. This is a record figure ever obtained by the Armenians and is rapidly approaching 218…. Turkish efforts to prevent the bill’s passage first in the [Foreign Affairs] committee and then on the House floor have so far been successful but the number of the measure’s backers is increasing in a threatening way and it may only be a matter of weeks before the Armenians manage to obtain the majority figure of 218, analysts said." Enginsoy then proceeded to present an accurate estimation of the prospects for the approval of the resolution as follows: "The figure of 218 lawmakers supporting the genocide measure’s passage will mean a psychological threshold. If or when the Armenians reach that number, [speaker] Pelosi herself will likely be compelled to obey the will of the majority and bring the resolution to a floor vote, analysts said…. At this pace, the resolution may reach the House floor agenda any time after early September, when Congress returns to work after summer recess…. Turkish officials and their lobbyists are now working to prevent other lawmakers from backing the genocide bill and urging some House members to withdraw their signatures from the list of supporters. But so far such efforts could not stop the Armenians reaching the 200 figure." Enginsoy’s article would have been even more alarming had he known that on the day his report was published, nine additional Congressmen would cosponsor the resolution, bringing the total number of its supporters to 209 -- just nine short of the required 218. Of course, "the analysts" that Enginsoy consulted had grossly misjudged the rapid increase of the bill’s backers, when he reported that it would take several weeks for the number of cosponsors to reach 218. It now appears that the magic threshold would be reached within a matter of days, not weeks! In sharp contrast to Erginsoy’s straightforward reporting, prominent Turkish commentator Mehmet Ali Birand tried to deceive his readers rather than urging them face up to the truth of the Armenian Genocide. In an article titled, "Armenians work, we sleep," published in the June 21 issue of the Turkish Daily News, Birand blamed Turkish officials for doing nothing to block the congressional resolution. He wrote: "I have repeated this theme for years. I have even used harsher words to make it more effective. But not a word. Nobody cares. We are in such ignorance that we knowingly lie to ourselves. I refer to the sleepwalking state of Turkey in the face of the activities of the Armenian lobby…. Turkey is in a haze. There is neither any activity nor a change of policy except for persuasion talks with the House members. As Turkey continues to sleepwalk, Armenians make it more decisive. Turkey's reputation is being besmirched. We can continue settling for trying to convince. Once it is too late, we should not knock on the White House door in vain. We should not try to shut down the Incirlik Air Base and cut off relations. We should quit threatening Washington, as it will do no good. We should get ready for what is to come in September." In an attempt to look at the future, Birand observed: "What will happen if [the resolution] does become a law? The decision by the U.S. House of Representatives will serve as a precedent. It will encourage the parliaments of other countries. The number of parliaments accepting genocide claims will increase. Then it will be time to pressure the governments. And we can keep on sleeping." Birand is flat wrong in accusing Turkish leaders of sleepwalking. On the contrary, Ankara officials have done everything in their power to block the Armenian Genocide bill -- paying millions of dollars to hire powerful American lobbying firms; dispatching delegations of parliamentarians and high-ranking political and military leaders to Washington; and threatening to undermine the American war effort in Iraq by blocking access to military bases in Turkey and canceling multi-billion dollar arms purchases from the United States. A more honest analyst would have urged Turkish leaders to refrain from lying and acknowledge the fact of the Armenian Genocide. By taking such a step, Turkey would save itself much embarrassment, avoid wasting millions of dollars on lobbying and acquire political mileage and respectability in the international community. By Harut Sassounian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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