McCain first presidential candidate in past 20 years opposing genocide recognition

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Atlantic Monthly focused in its latest edition on the Armenian vote in the upcoming elections in an article entitled "McCain's Armenia Problem."



The article says, in part,



"John McCain is the first presidential candidate in the past two decades who is on the record as opposing genocide recognition without already being a member of the incumbent Administration…



In 1990, McCain voted against a recognition resolution that was sponsored by then-Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole. In 2000, campaigning for the Republican nomination in California, McCain confirmed that he would not support such a resolution. "It was not under this government in Turkey," McCain said. "I don't see what this resolution does to improve this situation one iota." The Senator has stuck to his position in 2008, attracting widespread criticism from Armenian groups. "I think the most dangerous part of Senator McCain is that he is toeing the old Cold War era line that Turkey is this invaluable ally we cannot offend," warned Areen Ibranossian, the Chairman of Armenians for Obama, a group promoting the Illinois Senator among Armenian-Americans nationwide.



The contrast between Obama and McCain extends more broadly to the United States' relationship with the Republic of Armenia. Obama's January 19th statement pledged to maintain Armenian foreign aid and to move toward a resolution of the Karabakh conflict that would respect the "principle of self-determination"--language close to Armenian demands. On the other hand, John McCain has remained largely silent on these issues, an attitude his critics deride as worrisome indifference.



The California-based Armenians for Obama group plans to educate Armenian-American voters about these differences."