Congressman: State Department is main stumbling block for Genocide resolution

Scott Garrett, New Jersey Republican, discusses Armenian issues, U.S. policies in interview

Published: Wednesday January 06, 2010

Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.). AIADC.org

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Washington - Since 2003 Scott Garrett has represented northern New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District, which, according to Armenian Church data, includes about 10,000 Armenian-American residents. Mr. Garrett is a supporter of the Armenian Genocide resolution and continued robust U.S. assistance to Armenia. In April 2006, Mr. Garrett visited Armenia on a trip for the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation; he is also a prominent voice on the House Financial Services Committee. On December 28, Mr. Garrett talked with the Armenian Reporter's Shant Shahrigian and Emil Sanamyan.

Armenian Reporter: Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan was in Washington a few weeks ago and made a number of controversial statements, opposing U.S. policy toward Iran and very publicly denying the Armenian Genocide. What is your reaction to those comments?

Rep. Garrett: With regard to the Iran situation, you have one of three alternatives for the United States, Turkey, and the rest of the world to take. That is to take tougher sanctions, A; B, take military actions; or C, find yourselves in the situation where Iran will have acquired the capability to deliver a nuclear threat.

I think none of us want to find ourselves in the latter case. The second position is a difficult one to advocate for at this point, so we hope that will not happen. [That leaves option A.] I hope Turkey would realize it is in everyone's interest to join with us on this issue.

So it is disconcerting, to say the least, to have heard the prime minister's position on this, and we would have hoped for a better statement at that time. At some point, you might even say, as my mother once said, it's better to remain silent than to say the wrong thing.

[Genocide denial] just continues to be so troubling with regard to Turkey. This is truly just a step backward in the dialogue that should be ongoing. Instead of a positive statement for or against, again this is a case where silence would have been preferable to taking such a position in the wrong direction.

Reporter: Why do you think the Armenian Genocide resolution has yet to pass through Congress?

Rep. Garrett: (Smiling) That, again, is one of the easier questions. I believe it's in large part due to pressure that the administration receives from the State Department. Not to put all of the fault on the State Department, but I know what happens on these things. Members of Congress push for the legislation, advocate it on the floor, advocate it to the administration. State is always on the other side of this issue. Regardless of which party is in power, the administration harkens to their pleas. The closer we think we're getting to the Speaker [of the House of Representatives] ever actually posting the bill, the Speaker capitulates and sides with the administration - again, regardless of party, unfortunately.

Reporter: Do you see any cause for optimism about passing the resolution in 2010?

Rep. Garrett: I try to remain optimistic. That's why I join my colleagues on [the Genocide resolution], join the trade media outcry here, join the citizenry on the issue. And that's eventually what it's going to take in order to get this administration to decide. Because at the end of the day I don't think any of the leaders will do so - post it [for a full House vote] - with the president adamantly opposed to the resolution.

Reporter: What would it mean for U.S. foreign policy to reflect Armenian Genocide recognition as is called for in the proposed resolution?

Rep. Garrett: Our policy vis-à-vis Turkey would take a harder line. What does that mean? That means that while we may now skirt the issue of the Genocide, if the resolution were to be passed it would be up front and center stage in any of our discussions, deliberations, negotiations on a host of other issues. [The United States would] work to have them recognize the significance and the importance of the Genocide.

Reporter: Can you give an example of the kind of issues between the United States and Turkey that the Genocide resolution, if passed, would bear on?

Rep. Garrett: Off the top of my head, economic assistance and the like is certainly one that would be at issue.

Reporter: Do you think the normalization process between Armenia and Turkey, the proposed historical sub-commission, throws a monkey wrench in the U.S. legislative process of recognizing the Genocide?

Rep. Garrett: No, [the Genocide resolution] would just be an element of that process

Issues closer to home

Reporter: What would you say the main concerns of your Armenian constituents are?

Rep. Garrett: First and foremost are the ones you have raised right here. But then quite candidly the issues that they come to either as individuals or in groups might not all simply be tied to Armenia/Turkey issues. They are business people and the like, so the rest of the issues are relevant to the business community, the economic condition and consumer issues and so on. Those fall under that category. What I'm saying is they have issues like anyone else.

I guess I would put a caveat on that, in our district, we have seniors there, we have an Armenian [nursing] home. There are certainly plenty of Armenian issues and general constituent issues that are not necessarily pertaining to them that are just middle ground issues.

Reporter: And what are some of the main challenges your district faces?

Rep. Garrett: Here in our district we're suffering just as the rest of the county is from the unemployment situation. With Wall Street in our backyard, so to speak, we have been hit harder than other parts of the country by the economic crisis that occurred with the banking problems last year. That doesn't mean you have to be a Wall Street banker to have been hit by it. It had a ripple effect upon the rest of the community, as well.