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REP. MARK KIRK IS WAITING FOR SPEAKER'S DECISION ON GENOCIDE RESOLUTION DENIES MEDIA REPORT THAT HE CLAIMED IT "WILL NOT PASS"
by Emil Sanamyan
The Armenian Reporter
Thursday April 02, 2009
Washington, - Rep. Mark Kirk (R.-Ill.), co-chair of the congressional
Armenian caucus, says that he remains hopeful about the progress of
the Armenian Genocide resolution and was misquoted by the Turkish
media about it.
"My hope is that we get this resolution to [a vote on] on the floor and
that we adopt it," Mr. Kirk told the Armenian Reporter on April 2. But,
he added, "I don't know when Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi is going to put
this resolution on the floor. We are all waiting for the Speaker to
tell us."
"My hope is that [Speaker Pelosi] puts the resolution on the floor,"
he said. "President [Barack] Obama said that he is for this resolution
and campaign promises should matter."
Together with Reps. Adam Schiff (D.-Calif.), George Radanovich
(R.-Calif.) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D.-N.J.), Mr. Kirk is an original
co-sponsor of House Resolution 252 affirming the U.S. record on the
Armenian Genocide, which is currently co-sponsored by 85 additional
members of the House of Representatives.
On April 2, the English version of Hurriyet daily published a
translated excerpt of an interview with Rep. Kirk published the same
day in the daily Aksam in Turkish.
The excerpt quoted Rep. Kirk as saying, "Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Nancy Pelosi will not dare pass the bill. She will
not place Obama in a difficult position. The bill will not pass,
don't worry."
When asked about this line, Mr. Kirk said that it was "quite an
addition to what I said."
While confirming that he spoke with Aksam newspaper correspondent
Nagehan Alci, Mr. Kirk said the quote was inaccurate.
"When my words were translated from English to Turkish and then
back to English, I did not recognize them anymore," Mr. Kirk
said. "The interview made it sound like I was not a supporter of
the resolution. Not only I am supporter, but I am a lead Republican
supporter."
The Armenian Reporter's request for Ms. Alci to comment made shortly
before press time has not yet been answered.
by Emil Sanamyan
The Armenian Reporter
Thursday April 02, 2009
Washington, - Rep. Mark Kirk (R.-Ill.), co-chair of the congressional
Armenian caucus, says that he remains hopeful about the progress of
the Armenian Genocide resolution and was misquoted by the Turkish
media about it.
"My hope is that we get this resolution to [a vote on] on the floor and
that we adopt it," Mr. Kirk told the Armenian Reporter on April 2. But,
he added, "I don't know when Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi is going to put
this resolution on the floor. We are all waiting for the Speaker to
tell us."
"My hope is that [Speaker Pelosi] puts the resolution on the floor,"
he said. "President [Barack] Obama said that he is for this resolution
and campaign promises should matter."
Together with Reps. Adam Schiff (D.-Calif.), George Radanovich
(R.-Calif.) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D.-N.J.), Mr. Kirk is an original
co-sponsor of House Resolution 252 affirming the U.S. record on the
Armenian Genocide, which is currently co-sponsored by 85 additional
members of the House of Representatives.
On April 2, the English version of Hurriyet daily published a
translated excerpt of an interview with Rep. Kirk published the same
day in the daily Aksam in Turkish.
The excerpt quoted Rep. Kirk as saying, "Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Nancy Pelosi will not dare pass the bill. She will
not place Obama in a difficult position. The bill will not pass,
don't worry."
When asked about this line, Mr. Kirk said that it was "quite an
addition to what I said."
While confirming that he spoke with Aksam newspaper correspondent
Nagehan Alci, Mr. Kirk said the quote was inaccurate.
"When my words were translated from English to Turkish and then
back to English, I did not recognize them anymore," Mr. Kirk
said. "The interview made it sound like I was not a supporter of
the resolution. Not only I am supporter, but I am a lead Republican
supporter."
The Armenian Reporter's request for Ms. Alci to comment made shortly
before press time has not yet been answered.