After meeting Turkey’s Erdogan, US senator blocks genocide measure
November 15, 2019, 10:04 am

After meeting Turkey’s Erdogan, US senator blocks genocide measure

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham on Capitol Hill in Washington in September. (File photo AP)

A US Republican lawmaker who met with visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blocked a Senate resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide, after a similar measure overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives.

Senator Lindsey Graham prevented a Democrat’s effort to pass the resolution by unanimous consent barely an hour after Graham -- a fierce critic of Turkey’s recent invasion of Syria -- met with Erdogan and US President Donald Trump Wednesday at the White House. Graham said his objection to the measure was not “to sugarcoat history or try to rewrite it, but to deal with the present.”

The South Carolina senator, who has been a loyal Trump footsoldier but broke with the president on his withdrawal of US forces from northern Syria, pointed to the status of negotiations on Turkey’s invasion and “some hope that maybe we can resolve things.”

Graham’s block raised Democrats’ ire Thursday.

Senator Robert Menendez, the Democrat who sought unanimous resolution for the measure, said he has repeatedly introduced or co-sponsored such legislation since 2006.

“Despite yesterday’s objection to my resolution, I won’t stop fighting until the Senate finally recognizes this historical fact,” he said.

Armenians say the mass killings of their people from 1915 to 1917 amounted to genocide, a claim recognized by some 30 countries.

Turkey strongly denies the accusation of genocide and says that both Armenians and Turks died as a result of the First World War. It puts the death toll in the hundreds of thousands.

A House resolution officially recognizing the Armenian genocide passed by 405 to 11 last month, drawing Turkey’s fury.

Erdogan brought up the issue at the White House. Standing next to Trump, the Turkish leader warned that “some historical developments and allegations are being used in order to dynamite our reciprocal and bilateral relations.”

The House resolution “served this very purpose and hurt deeply the Turkish nation, and they have a potential of casting a deep shadow over our bilateral relations, Erdogan said, adding he hopes the Senate will “take the United States out of this vicious cycle.”

Graham’s block does not kill the resolution. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell could still bring the measure to the floor through regular order.

source:AFP

UK police investigating alleged assault on Hong Kong justice secretary in London "Amnesty" reveals: Iranian bombs kill demonstrators in Iraq

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”