State Dept. Objects to Congress’ Plan for Armenian Day

In an effort to smooth ruffled relations with Turkey, the State Department said Thursday that it strongly opposes a congressional resolution establishing an Armenian Day of Remembrance.

The House Post Office and Civil Service committee approved, 14-4, a resolution describing as victims of genocide the Armenians who died in the 1915-1923 struggle with the Ottoman government of Turkey.

“We regret the suffering and tragedy experienced by the Armenians, Turks and other members of the populace of the Eastern Ottoman empire, Christian and Muslim alike,” the department said in a statement. “Armenians and others undoubtedly experienced devastation and massacres during those years.

“We also understand and sympathize with the feelings of anger and resentment that this resolution has aroused among the people of our friend and ally, the Republic of Turkey,” the statement said.

The department said Turkey has been an important political and military ally and said, “Passage of a resolution offensive to Turkey and to Turks would undermine the effectiveness of our support for these efforts when we have every reason to want Turkey to succeed as a prospering member of the Western democratic community of nations.”