US Senate defies Trump in unanimous vote to recognize Armenian genocide
Resolution acknowledges killing of 1.5 million from 1915-1922
Turkey had used leverage as a Nato ally to stifle recognition
Resolution acknowledges killing of 1.5 million from 1915-1922
Turkey had used leverage as a Nato ally to stifle recognition
The US Senate has voted unanimously to recognize the genocide of Armenians by the Ottoman empire, in defiance of both Donald Trump and the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The Senate resolution formally acknowledges the mass killing of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1922 as an act of genocide. Coming after a similar measure adopted in October by the House of Representatives, it marks the culmination of more than 50
years of campaigning by Armenian Americans, who called on the president to follow Congress’s lead.
Until now, Turkey had used its leverage as a US Nato ally to stifle recognition of the Armenian genocide, and has threatened consequences for bilateral relations.
Until now, Turkey had used its leverage as a US Nato ally to stifle recognition of the Armenian genocide, and has threatened consequences for bilateral relations.
The White House, anxious not to exacerbate an already tense relationship with Erdoğan, had sought to stall a Senate vote.
On three occasions over recent weeks, different Republican senators took to the Senate floor to block the Armenian genocide resolution.
On three occasions over recent weeks, different Republican senators took to the Senate floor to block the Armenian genocide resolution.
But on Thursday, Trump appeared unable to persuade any of his Senate supporters to oppose the measure.“The president just ran out of Republican senators. He put the first three guys in a difficult spot because they didn’t want to do it,
” Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America, said. “Now it’s time of the president to defy Erdoğan’s gag rule.”
Hamparian said the Armenian American campaign for US recognition dates back to the mid-1960s.
Hamparian said the Armenian American campaign for US recognition dates back to the mid-1960s.
The vote brings to 32 the number of countries who recognize the mass killings of Armenians as genocide. France and Italy joined the list earlier this year.
