The House Foreign Relations Committee voted yesterday to pass a 100-year old proposed resolution to condemn the Islamic Republic of Turkey for the Genocide of Christian Armenians in the early 20th century. This is the first time the resolution has passed through committee.

The vote was a slender 23 yeas, to 22 nays. It criss-crossed party lines, with many conservative Republicans voting against the resolution, and some liberal Democrats voting "yes."

Of particular note, California Representatives Dana Rohrabacher and Ed Royce, two longtime libertarian Repubicans, and noted rightwing human rights advocates, voted in favor of the resolution.

From NewsAm.com:

Armenians were displaced and exterminated in the Ottoman Empire, which is considered a crime not only against Armenians, but entire humanity, the Congressman Dana Rohrabacher stated at the March 4 hearing of the Armenian Genocide Resolution by the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Two other Republicans joining in with Rohrabacher and Royce were Rep. Chris Smith of NJ, and Rep. Gus Bilrakis of FL.

According to the Armenian Reporter:

Rep. Smith, in particular, called Turkey's denial of the genocide and lack of appropriate condemnation an "assault on the dignity of the Armenian people."

Meanwhile, Republican Reps Jeff Flake, Mike Pence and Ron Paul voted No.

Some Republicans who voted No cited the presence of US Army bases in Turkey and potential damage to US-Turkish relations.