Congressman Kirk says U.S. Congress will not recognize bill on the Armenian Genocide

PanARMENIAN.Net - The resolution would not pass this year again, although there are high expectations this time as U.S. President Obama has promised to recognize the Armenian Genocide during election campaign, Republican congressman Mark Kirk, one of the four authors of the bill presented to the House of Representatives, told Turkey's Aksam daily.



"The expectations are high this year, because President Obama gave an important promise to Armenians. But I think the situation is desperate," he said.



"Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi will not dare pass the bill. She will not place Obama in a difficult position. The bill will not pass, don't worry," he added.



U.S. lawmakers introduced last month a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide. The resolution, titled "The Affirmation of the U.S. Record on the Armenian Genocide," has the support of 77 co-sponsors from both parties in the House of Representatives.



Turkey has warned that the introduction of the resolution could harm both efforts to improve ties with Armenia and bilateral relations with the United States.



U.S. lawmakers almost passed a similar resolution two years ago, but congressional leaders did not bring it up for a vote after intense pressure from then-President George W. Bush and top members of his administration.



Kirk also told Aksam that if the promise given to Armenians is not fulfilled, Democrats may lose Congress elections in 2010.



The U.S. congressmen added he believed that Congress would eventually recognize the Armenian Genocide.