Turkish-American group objects to U.S. bill

A local Turkish-American group is objecting to a U.S. House bill that declares the Turkish government committed genocide almost a century ago against more than 1 million Armenians.

At the same time, a bipartisan group of local politicians is applauding the vote.

The Turkish American Society of Chicago, based in Mount Prospect, believes the characterization of genocide is unfair.

Acts of genocide during World War I never have been proven and the ravages of war caused most of the Armenian deaths, said Suleyman Turhan, director of the Turkish American Society of Chicago.

He added the matter is for historians to decide, not for politicians trying to score points.

"Were the events part of the genocide or part of war?" Turhan said. "Let's try to find the truth."

The Turkish government was equally dismayed by the vote out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It recalled its ambassador, condemning the declaration this week.

But several local politicians of both parties do not share the outrage. Instead, many applaud the move.

Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk of Highland Park gave a speech on the House floor in favor of the genocide vote.

"Bravo! Now let's bring the issue to the (House) floor," Kirk said. "One of the ways to stop genocide in the future is to recognize genocide when it has happened in the past."

Robert Sabonjian of Waukegan, a Democratic Lake County Board member, was adopted as a child by an Armenian father whose own parents came to the U.S. to escape persecution.

"These (The killings of Armenians in 1915) are very well-documented events, and anyone trying to diminish it or reduce what happened because of politics really does great harm to history." Sabonjian said.

Republican U.S. Rep. Donald Manzullo of Egan, a member of the House committee, voted in support of the resolution. Manzullo was one of eight Republicans who supported the resolution in the 27-21 committee vote.

"This isn't a partisan issue," Manzullo spokesman Rich Carter said. "He voted the way he did because the genocide did occur (and) 1.5 million people were killed in the time of the Ottoman Empire. He's believed that for years."

Turkish and Armenian residents in Manzullo's district have questioned the congressman about his decision.

However, "we haven't had nearly the number of calls on this that we've had on other issues," Carter said.

The resolution is expected to go before the full House sometime this year. Carter speculates that the House could vote as early as in 10 days time or by Thanksgiving.

"It's in (House Speaker Nancy) Pelosi's hands now," he said.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean was among the sponsors of the resolution, her spokesman said Friday. She was not available for comment.

Other suburban congressmen and women were not available for comment, including Jan Schakowsky, Peter Roskam, Judy Biggert and Dennis Hastert.