GENOCIDE RESOLUTION UP FOR VOTE ARMENIA MEASURE GOES TO FULL HOUSE.

Byline: Jennifer Hamm Staff Writer

Local Armenian-Americans were ecstatic Tuesday after a resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide reached the House of Representatives for a vote.

``This vote was a significant victory,'' said Peter Abajian, director of the Armenian Assembly Western Region Office. ``To have a simple resolution that says, 'It happened,' is something that closes those open wounds as the people who survived are dying off.''

The nonbinding resolution that would recognize the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923 was passed 24-11 by the full House International Relations Committee.

The measure has been closely monitored by Armenian-Americans in the Glendale-Burbank area and by the Turkish government, which denies that the genocide occurred. On Sunday, the Turkish parliament passed a motion condemning the House of Representatives for considering the resolution.

``There is a wide sentiment that Turkey's pride and its history and its heritage is being sacrificed at the altar of domestic politics of the United States,'' said Guler Koknar, executive director of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations.

As a member of the NATO alliance, Turkey commits more soldiers than any other country, including the United States. It also is home to the heavily used Incirlik Air Base, where some 4,000 Americans are based.

Some members of Congress have been unwilling to support the measure because it could jeopardize U.S.-Turkish relations.

``This is the hardest bill that I've ever had to work in my life,'' said Rep. James Rogan, R-Pasadena, who is campaigning for re-election. ``I've never seen anything like this. The government of Turkey has pulled out all the stops.''

The resolution could go to the full House for a vote as early as next week.