WHITE HOUSE OPPOSITION TO GENOCIDE RESOLUTION WILL NOT SERVE ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Bush Administration's determination to bloc any resolution of the US Congress reaffirming the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire will further erode Washington's ability to normalize relations between Armenia and Turkey, the Armenian Assembly of America said Monday. "It is obvious that there is ample bipartisan support to pass any legislation on this subject, therefore the Administration's latest statement on the issue was totally unnecessary, and at best, it only served to further pander to Turkey, just as President Bush did during the recent NATO Conference," Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian said. "Despite four years of pressure from the United States, Turkey has not appreciably changed its hostile policies against Armenia. It has not lifted its blockade of Armenia, thus maintaining the only closed border in Europe, or established diplomatic relations with its neighbor," Barsamian said.