Rice thanked Congressmen for postponing Armenian Genocide resolution vote

PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice thanked Congressmen, who worked for postponement of vote on the Armenian Genocide resolution. When addressing the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, she said the adoption of the resolution would damage the U.S.-Turkey relations.



"We believe strongly that this bill must not move forward.... This is a very sensitive period for Turkey. There are enormous changes taking place. We have very important strategic interests in Turkey," Rice said.



October 10, with a vote 27 to 21 the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.106, which was introduced by Representative Adam Schiff January 30, 2007.



However, in a letter sent to Speaker Pelosi, lead author Adam Schiff (D-CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and Representatives Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) stressed that, in asking for this delay, "we believe that a large majority of our colleagues want to support a resolution recognizing the genocide on the House floor and that they will do so, provided the timing is more favorable." The letter goes on to note that they will continue to work with Speaker Pelosi's staff and the House Foreign Affairs Committee staff to bring up the resolution "sometime later this year or in 2008."