Transcript [PDF] - House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats

29
Mr. TANNER. Move to strike the last word, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman BERMAN. You are recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. TANNER. I ask unanimous consent to submit my statement
for the record, but before so doing——
Chairman BERMAN. Without objection, your statement will be entered
into the record.
Mr. TANNER [continuing]. Let me make one observation. A lot
has been said, but it is my view that the timing of this resolution
is not in the best interest of the Turkish Government and Armenian
Government or the United States Government right now.
These governments are in consultation, and the timing of this is
not in the interest of furthering what I view to be a disposition of
this matter. Thank you.
Chairman BERMAN. The gentleman from Texas, Mr. McCaul, for
what purpose do you seek recognition
Mr. MCCAUL. I seek recognition to move to strike the last word.
Chairman BERMAN. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. MCCAUL. I thank the chairman. It is a very difficult vote. I
in the past have supported this resolution. I do think that the historical
truth is that genocide took place, and the record is replete
with that evidence.
Ambassador Morgenthau, who we have mentioned before, talked
about a campaign of race extermination that was taking place
under a pretext of reprisal against rebellion. We had the full cable
from the American Embassy in Constantinople that talked about
protecting Armenians from violence at the hands of those of other
religions and to prevent the massacre of noncombatant Armenians
in Turkish territory.
John Paul II stated the Armenian Genocide which began the century
was a prologue to horrors that would follow. This Congress
has already passed this resolution 25 years ago. And then of course
we have Adolf Hitler’s famous line, the words when he said in defense
of invading Poland who after all speaks today of the annihilation
of the Armenians
I see that as truth, as my colleague from California. I don’t question
the truth here. I think we all see it for what it is. I wish the
Government of Turkey would recognize it for what it is as well.
What I do question here is the timing.
Secretary Clinton testified before this committee just last week,
and she said on this very issue that it is our position that the normalization
process that Turkey and Armenia have undertaken carries
important benefits for both sides and should take place without
preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe.
And then she says but the best way to do that with all respect
is for the Armenian and Turkish people themselves to address the
facts of their past as part of their efforts to move forward, and in
that spirit we are working very hard to assist Armenia and Turkey
in their efforts and we would like to continue to support that effort,
and then lastly she says and not be diverted.
She is referring to this resolution as a diversion from the process.
The documents I read, some sensitive, said that this resolution as
we have a protocol, the two governments who I think are in the
best position to carry this out, the documents I have read said that
this resolution will derail the process. Derail the process. A histor-
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