January 28, San Francisco - "It was a day of treacherous activity," said Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) to the Bay Area Armenian-American community, about the day that Congress was set to vote on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.  In describing how Speaker of the House, Rep. Hastert, removed the bill from the voting agenda within minutes of a scheduled vote citing national security concerns.

"I don't believe it for one minute, the excuses that they used.  That's just a lot of nonsense.  We did have the votes, 270 or 280 in favor - more than enough to pass it," said Pallone at the Bay Area Armenian National Committee event attended by over 100 community members.  He said that Rep. Hastert has repeatedly promised to post the bill this year.  "The time is ripe," said Pallone. "Even though it failed this time, the stage is set to bring it up again. I'm not pessimistic."

Congressman Pallone, the co-chair of the Armenian Issues Caucus in the House of Representatives, told the crowd that the Genocide issue is important for the future, and that the only way Turkey and Armenia could ever have good relations, is for Turkey to accept the Armenian Genocide, "so the healing process can begin."  He expressed frustration with the fact that other countries are recognizing the Genocide, while the U.S. hasn't.

"Are we going to be the LAST country to recognize the Armenian Genocide, when countries with allot more to lose are doing it?" Pallone asked rhetorically, while saying that other countries' recognition of the Genocide helped the effort in the U.S.  "The same kind of effort that was necessary last fall, will be necessary again, even more so."

Pallone also said he's optimistic about the prospects for Turkey's eventual recognition of the Genocide. "There have been allot of indications in the last few years that things are changing for the better internally in Turkey," he said, mentioning Turkey's eagerness to join the European Union, the business contacts being established between Turks in Kars and Armenians in Gyumri, and the voices of various Turkish intellectuals who are supporting Armenian Genocide recognition.

When asked about the increasing number of Turkish citizens who are being persecuted in that country for speaking of the Armenian Genocide, Pallone pledged to do more in Congress to admonish Turkey to punishing those who recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Asked about the current U.S. administration's policies on Armenian issues, Pallone expressed some concern, citing the confirmation hearings for Col. Collin Powel as Secretary of State, during which Powel said he was opposed to sanctions against foreign countries.  Pallone said that during the presidential campaign, George W. Bush and Colin Powel sounded "almost isolationist."

Although the new administration has said it does not favor sanctions, Pallone said that Congress will evaluate sanctions on a country-by-country basis, and that they would expect the administration to state whether it wants to eliminate Section 907 (the ban on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan until it lifts it's blockades) in February or March.  If the administration does not ask Congress to repeal the ban on aid to Azerbaijan, said Pallone, "we know we have an administration that's more friendly."

Saying President Bush and Vice President Cheney are perceived as "oil men," and consequently expected to act in favor of Azerbaijan and Turkey and against Armenia, Congressman Pallone said he would reserve judgment against them, in hopes that Cheney may act differently now that he's no longer being paid by the oil companies.  Vice President Cheney previously acted as a lobbyist for oil interests in the Caspian region. Referring to the proposed pipeline running from Azerbaijan to Turkey, Pallone also said he hopes Cheney would "see the reality that the pipeline does not make sense."

"The Baku-Ceyhan pipeline is not a viable alternative.  I will continue to fight to not have our government underwrite the pipeline," said Pallone. "The more direct route is through Armenia."  Pallone also mentioned the recent discoveries that far less oil exists in Azerbaijan than was previously thought.