Congressman Berman challenges Turkish lobby tactics

Says Armenia-Turkey protocols' ratification unlikely

by Emil Sanamyan

Published: Thursday April 15, 2010

Committee chair Howard Berman. weblogs.sun-sentinel.com

Washington - In a strongly-worded letter released by House Foreign Affairs Committee on April 15, Committee chair Rep. Howard Berman condemned fellow Democratic members of Congress for questioning the veracity of the Armenian Genocide.

In a Dear Colleague letter circulated since April 6 Reps. Gerald Connolly (D-Va.) and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) not to act on what they termed the "so-called Armenian Genocide Resolution."

Reps. Connolly and Cohen are members of the Turkey caucus, while Mr. Berman is a member of both the Turkey and Armenian caucuses.

Last month, Mr. Berman played a leading role in the adoption of House Resolution 252, the Armenian Genocide resolution, in the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Connolly voted against the resolution, while Mr. Cohen, who is not a committee member, is known for his past rhetoric against the Genocide resolution.

"I disagree with many points in the [Connolly-Cohen] letter, but I take particularly strong exception to the use of the phrase "so-called ‘Armenian Genocide Resolution'", which casts doubt on the historicity of the Armenian Genocide," Mr. Berman wrote in his response letter.

Mr. Berman also dismissed arguments that a resolution affirming U.S. record on the Genocide would lead Turkey to retaliate against U.S. national security interests or would undermine long-running efforts to normalize Armenia-Turkey relations.

"The protocols have been gathering dust in the Turkish parliament since they were signed [by Armenia and Turkey] in October," Mr. Berman wrote. "In light of the preconditions established by the Turkish leadership, there is little likelihood that they will be ratified any time soon."

"In a more general sense, I am deeply disturbed by this morally-blind line of argument, as it could be used to justify inaction on any number of human rights issues around the world," he concluded.