Clinton tries to justify her position on Genocide

March 1, 2012 - 11:14 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - During testimony before two key U.S. House Committees, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was pressed on a range of concerns to Armenian Americans, including, most prominently, her recent remarks misrepresenting the Armenian Genocide.

“I want to ask you, is there any question that you have that the facts of that tragic period between 1915 and 1923 constitute genocide? Do you have any different view on the subject now than you did as a state - as a U.S. senator?” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) asked.

“But last month you made some very different statements, and said, " ... I think it's fair to say that this has always been viewed, and I think properly so, as a matter of historical debate and conclusions, rather than political”,” he said.

Clinton responded: “Well, Congressman, you know, you quoted something that I said in response to a question about France trying to criminalize speech about this terrible event in history. And I do think criminalizing speech is a dangerous path to go down. And in fact, as I understand it, the French courts just declared that law unconstitutional under the French constitution. So let me be very clear. The United States recognizes the events of 1915 as one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. And every April 24th the president honors the victims and expresses American solidarity with the Armenian people.”

As to last week’s Ninth Circuit decision that said that the victims of genocide cannot bring claims for relief under California law because it is preempted by a federal position of non-recognition of the genocide, Rep. Schiff asked: “Is it the position of the State Department that states should be prevented from allowing redress to victims of genocide?”

“I can only reiterate and underscore that it is certainly the policy of this administration that there has to be steps taken between the Armenian and Turkish people and between the two governments, between them as to how to create a peaceful, productive, prosperous relationship. And that is a, you know, in our view a very important goal to bring about the normalization of relations for future generations of Armenians and Turks,” Secretary Clinton replied.