Pelosi backtracks on Armenia ‘genocide’ bill

By Daniel Dombey

Washington - Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, on Wednesday backtracked on her support for a US Congressional resolution that has infuriated Turkey's government, amid increasing doubts over whether the measure would ever be approved.

As recently as the weekend, Ms Pelosi said that she planned to take the bill, which denounces mass killings of Armenians during the Ottoman Empire as genocide, to the full House this year. Ms Pelosi is a long- standing backer of the measure, despite the anger it has caused in Turkey.

But on Wednesday, facing increasing criticism and a series of high-profile defections from the ranks of the bill's supporters, she toned down her commitment to take it to a full House vote.

"Whether it will come up or not and what the action will be remains to be seen," she said.

During this week, declared support for the bill has fallen below the level needed for House approval, with at least 10 Congressmen withdrawing their backing in addition to several others who peeled off earlier this year. As of yesterday, the bill had 215 sponsors or co-sponsors in the 435-member House.

"If it came to the floor today it wouldn't pass," said Representative John Murtha, an influential Democratic legislator at a press conference with four other Democrats who also called on Ms Pelosi not to proceed with the bill.

"This is clearly causing nervousness among House members who are only now realising the implications," said a Republican aide. "It puts in doubt whether this resolution will ever be voted on by the House."

The legislation, which was backed by the House's foreign affairs committee last week, has sparked concerns that US influence with Ankara could be weakened at a time when the Turkish government is contemplating a large-scale military incursion into northern Iraq, to Washington's dismay.

The US military is also alarmed that the Turkish government could reduce logistical support for its troops in Iraq.

"One thing Congress should not be doing is sorting out the historical record of the Ottoman Empire," said President George W. Bush on Wednesday, after having spoken by phone to Ms Pelosi on the issue the day before. "Congress has more important work to do than antagonising a democratic ally in the Muslim world, especially one that's providing vital support for our military every day."