As the Armenian Genocide resolution is reintroduced to the U.S. Congress, let us see what America is talking about America.

Among the several bloggers that have posted entries about the resolution are two of the Co-Sponsors themselves.  Rep. Pallone (D-NJ), for example, had announced the conference a day before it was reported in the news.  Rep. Schiff (D-CA) posted an entry at the same blog connecting the Genocide resolution to stoping the Genocide in Darfur:

The United States has a compelling historical and moral reason to recognize the Armenian Genocide, which cost a million and a half people their lives. But we also have a powerful contemporary reason as well — how can we take effective action against the genocide in Darfur if we lack the will to condemn genocide whenever and wherever it occurs?  With the new leadership in Congress, I am hopeful we can finally get this resolution passed. 

In the meantime, according to a transcript posted at www.state.gov, a State Department spokesperson was asked by on January 31, 2007, if the Department would “block even an open debate and democratic vote on this issue?” The answer was,

Lambros, our policy is clear. We mourn the victims of the tragic events of 1950. We have — 1915. We have never denied these events. The President recognizes these atrocities annually on Armenian Remembrance Day. We oppose attempts to make political determinations on the terminology of this tragedy.

The next question was as followed:

And a follow-up on it? The State Department, Mr. McCormack, apparently not wanting to interfere in the Turkish internal affairs was largely silent on the Turkish Article 301 under which murdered journalist Hrant Dink the other day was prosecuted and sentenced last year. And interestingly the Turkish Government exercised the same restraint. Can you describe for us any Turkish Government efforts to influence your government’s, Mr. McCormack, consideration of legislation on the Armenian genocide?

And the answer was very simple, “No.”

The American Embassy in Ankara, too, said Bush will stick to his policy.  A statement released on January 31, 2007, and received via e-mail, said:

Yesterday a resolution dealing with the tragic events that took place at the end of Ottoman Empire was introduced into the US Congress. The Bush Administration’s position on this issue has not changed. As I have said before, the Administration will be actively involved with the Congress to oppose this resolution.