Monday, March 01, 2010

Armenia: Congressman McMahon "bankrolled" to deny Armenian Genocide

PanARMENIAN.Net - Congressman Michael McMahon has become bankrolled by the Turkish Coalition of America.

In 2009, Congressman Michael McMahon became a member of the Subcommittee on Europe in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. On May 10, 2009, Congressman McMahon joined the Turkish Caucus. He joined the Hellenic Caucus pledging support for Cyprus and the Patriarchate. To the dismay of Armenian Americans and Greek Americans, he took the Turkish side to deny the Armenian Genocide. He took the Azeri Turkish side to condemn the freedom of Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan Turkish persecution. How trustworthy is this man to Greek Americans when he supports the Turkish side’s denial of the Armenian Genocide which means he probably denies the Genocide of Greeks and Assyrians of Asia Minor, 1915-1923.

Congressman McMahon pledged not to vote ‘Yes’ for the Armenian Genocide Resolution in an upcoming March 4, 2010 vote in the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Turkish Lobby is using Michael McMahon, after Robert Wexler’s resignation from Congress on Jan 10, 2010, to be the next strong Turkey supporter in the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe. Wexler was Co-chair of the Turkish Caucus and Chair of the Subcommittee on Europe. McMahon like Wexler occupied congressional districts where huge Greek American communities resided. Regardless, they keep to their strong support for Turkey. Democrat Michael McMahon is the only strong Turkey supporter in the Subcommittee on Europe along with Democrat David Scott (he voted against Armenian Genocide Resolution), The Cyprus Action Network of America reported.

McMahon represents New York’s 13th Congressional District which includes Staten Island, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights and neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

The Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res. 106) was submitted to the House of Representatives by Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), on January 30, 2007, during the 110th United States Congress. It was a non-binding resolution calling upon the US President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide, and for other purposes. Upon its introduction it was referred to United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs where it passed a 27-21 vote and was sent back for a full house vote. On October 26, 2007, in a letter addressed to the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, four key sponsors of the bill, requested a debate on the bill in full House to be postponed.

Another resolution affirming the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide (H.Res.252) was formally introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Adam Schiff (D.-CA), George Radanovich (R.-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D.-NJ), and Mark Kirk (R.-Ill) in 2009. It currently has 137 co-sponsors.

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