PenceBlog: Pence on Turkey and Armenian genocide - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence : 6th District Of Indiana

The NY Times has this report on the Armenian genocide bill that was before the House Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday. Here is Congressman Pence's quote in the piece:

Representative Mike Pence, a conservative Republican from Indiana who has backed the resolution in the past, said Mr. Bush persuaded him to change his position and vote no. He described the decision as gut-wrenching, underscoring the emotions stirred in American politics by a 92-year-old question.

“While this is still the right position,” Mr. Pence said, referring to the use of the term genocide, “it is not the right time.”

CQ had this report. Excerpt below:

That message clearly got through to Mike Pence, R- Ind., who voted against the resolution, saying he nonetheless believed genocide had been committed.

“I believe this is a season that calls for standing with our troops first, who are in harm’s way,” he said.

UPDATE: Turkey just recalled its ambassador to the U.S. USA Today has the report here.

Congressman Pence's reaction:

“The news that Turkey has ordered its ambassador in Washington to return for consultations is an ominous but predictable result of yesterday's vote in the Committee on Foreign Affairs and could foreshadow more serious diplomatic consequences to come. By placing the demands of history over the importance of our alliance with Turkey, the Democrat leadership in Congress may be endangering our ability to provide our troops with the resources they need in Iraq. Congress should foreclose any further consideration of this resolution while American forces are in harm’s way."

posted by Pence Press Office # 2:36 PM