By Desmond Butler
WASHINGTON (Associated Press) — A US congressional resolution that would recognize World War I-era killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide could go forward despite opposition from the Obama administration.
Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon told reporters there is no deal with Democratic congressional leaders to block the resolution.
Phillip’s statement contradicts earlier claims by the State Department.
Turkey strongly opposes the resolution. It withdrew its ambassador to Washington earlier this month after a congressional committee approved the measure.
Gordon acknowledged the congressional committee vote had set back relations at a time when the United States is seeking help from Turkey to rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions. But he said the United States has not seen a deterioration in cooperation with Turkey on a wide range of foreign policy matters.
The Obama administration has urged lawmakers to keep the measure from a vote in the full US House. It is not clear whether supporters of the resolution have enough support to bring it to the House floor.
