White House disappointed by Armenian "genocide" bill
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The White House said Thursday it was "disappointed" with a vote in the US Congress labeling the Ottoman Empire's World War I massacre of Armenians a "genocide."
"Certainly we are disappointed in the vote that occurred yesterday," said Scott Stanzel, a spokesman for US President George W. Bush, speaking about the vote in the House Committee of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.
"We understand the feelings that poeple have about the tragic suffering of the Armenian people, and the president, as we've noted, has recognized that through presidential messages," he said.
But Stanzel added that the US leader is concerned that the vote could strain relations with key ally Turkey, which has taken umbrage at the congressional move.
"Turkey is playing a critical role in the war on terror and this action is problematic for everything we're trying to do in the Middle East and would cause great harm to our efforts," Stanzel said.
Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House national security council, said the president had marshaled his top aides, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in a lobbying effort to halt the legislation.
"The President has made phone calls on this, Secretary Rice, other administration officials have made phone calls and had meetings with members of Congress, and we'll continue to do that as long as this resolution is still out there," he said.
