March 11, 2010
The massacre of Armenians and other ethnic groups in 1915 was a genocide. This the Swedish Parliament decided with least possible margin on Thursday evening.
By a vote of 131 to 130 the opposition’s reservations became victorious over the committee’s proposal. For this to be possible required four centre-right members to vote against their own parties. This was done by two members of the Liberal Peoples party, one from the Christian Democrats and one maverick MP who formerly belonged to the Moderates.
The government’s line was to not classify the massacre of, among others, Assyrians and Armenians as genocide as it should not be up to politicians to write history.
Source: A1Plus – Original Article
March 10, 2010
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had a meeting with Turkish Ambassador to the US Namik Tan, who was recalled to Ankara following the endorsement of the Armenian Genocide Resolution by the US House Foreign Relations Committee.
According to the Turkish Stargazete, Davutoglu-Tan discussed Ankara’s further steps providing US President Barack Obama uses “Genocide” in his April 24 speech.
Thus, providing Obama uses “Genocide”, Ankara will freeze $1,2 billion deal on F-35 fighter jet and 14 CH-47 Chinook helicopter, as well as Patriot Missile sale talks. Ankara will also limit the support to the US over Iran and Afghanistan.
Source: Panorama – Original article
March 5, 2010
Just hours after recalling its ambassador to Washington, Turkey urged the U.S. government on Friday to thwart further progress of a draft congressional resolution that describes the mass killings and deportations of Armenians by Ottoman forces as genocide.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also warned President Barack Obama against using the word “genocide” in a statement on the issue expected next month. “We expect Obama not to perpetuate or exaggerate this crisis in April,” Davutoglu was reported to say, reiterating Ankara’s strong condemnation of the resolution’s approval by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, indicated that the Obama administration will try to block the resolution’s passage by the full House. In that regard, she downplayed its endorsement by the House panel. Read more... (612 words)
March 5, 2010
The Azerbaijani Presidential Administration categorically condemned the adoption of the resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide by the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee.
Such step by the U.S congressmen is mistaken and unfair, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Socio-Political Department Head Ali Hasanov told reporters.
Hasanov said the Azerbaijani government condemns this step by the U.S. congressmen, and brings to attention that this decision was unilateral, unjust, pro-Armenian and anti-Turk in spirit. “We believe this decision also does not correlate strongly with the interests of the United States and the American people, and seriously damages the international image of this country,” he said. Read more... (276 words)
March 5, 2010
Immediately following Thursday’s dramatic House Foreign Affairs Committee vote approving House Resolution 252 affirming the Armenian Genocide, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the resolution should go no further.
While on a tour of Latin America, Clinton said from Costa Rica that the Obama administration has made its intentions clear:
“We do not believe that the full Congress will or should vote on that resolution and we have made that clear to all the parties involved,” Clinton said.
A day earlier, prior to the Committee vote, Clinton had urged Committee Chairman Howard Berman – a 27-year veteran congressman from California – not to bring the resolution to a vote, as had been scheduled since last month. Berman (a cosponsor of HR252), denied the Secretary’s appeal, leading to the narrow (23-22) approval. Read more... (402 words)
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