Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives (10/19/00)
                              THE WHITE HOUSE

                       Office of the Press Secretary

_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                            October 19, 2000


                    TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
              TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES


                                 October 19, 2000


Dear Speaker Hastert:

I am writing to you to express my deep concern about H. Res. 596, dealing
with the tragic events in eastern Anatolia under Ottoman rule in the years
1915-1923.

Every year on April 24, I have commemorated Armenian Remembrance Day,
mourning the deportations and massacres of innocent Armenians during that
era.  And every year, I have challenged all Americans to recommit
themselves to ensuring that such horrors never occur again.

However, I am deeply concerned that consideration of H. Res. 596 at this
time could have far-reaching negative consequences for the United States.
We have significant interests in this troubled region of the world:
containing the threat posed by Saddam Hussein; working for peace and
stability in the Middle East and Central Asia; stabilizing the Balkans; and
developing new sources of energy.  Consideration of the resolution at this
sensitive time will not only negatively affect those interests, but could
undermine efforts to encourage improved relations between Armenia and
Turkey -- the very goal the Resolution?s sponsors seek to advance.

We fully understand how strongly both Turkey and Armenia feel about this
issue.  Ultimately, this painful matter can only be resolved by both sides
examining the past together.

I urge you in the strongest terms not to bring this Resolution to the floor
at this time.

                               Sincerely,


                               WILLIAM J. CLINTON


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