U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Saturday that the Armenian Genocide resolution can damage U.S.-Turkish relations.

“We are hopeful that the Congress and the House of Representatives will not advance the measure,” Mr. Gates said in an interview with al-Arabia TV channel.

“Turkey and Armenia are making progress toward a reconciliation,” he said.”The Protocols were drafted along those lines and the U.S. supports this process.”

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs approved the Armenian Genocide resolution with a vote 23 to 22 on March 4. Turkey recalled its ambassador to the United States minutes after the congressional panel decision.