After meeting Erdogan, US senator blocks genocide measure

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. "If you can't call out genocide, what do you stand for, @LindseyGrahamSC?" tweeted House Democrat Katherine Clark.

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.

If you can't call out genocide, what do you stand for, @LindseyGrahamSC? - Katherine Clark, House Democrat

Armenians say the mass killings of their people from 1915 to 1917 amounted to genocide, a claim recognised 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.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay connected