Ahmet Davutoglu said Thursday approval of the resolution would have harmed U.S.-Turkish ties and hampered Turkey's efforts to normalize ties with longtime foe Armenia.

Davutoglu said "common sense has prevailed once again."

Supporters of the resolution made a push for approval in the final days of Congress, despite opposition from the Obama administration. Instead, the House of Representatives ended its two-year term Wednesday without taking up the matter.

Historians estimate up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks. Turkey denies the deaths constituted a genocide.

ISTANBUL - The Associated Press