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ANKARA: Ankara Plays Afghanistan, Iraq Cards

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  • ANKARA: Ankara Plays Afghanistan, Iraq Cards

    ANKARA PLAYS AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ CARDS
    Fulya Ozerkan

    Hurriyet
    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com /n.php?n=turkey-regrets-genocide-resolution-2010-0 3-01
    March 1 2010
    Turkey

    Ankara has threatened that U.S. expectations from Turkey regarding
    Afghanistan and Iraq may not be fulfilled if the U.S. Congress passes
    the controversial Armenian "genocide" resolution, which will be voted
    on this week.

    Rep. Howard L. Berman, who chairs the U.S. Foreign Affairs Committee
    and is backing the resolution, plans to bring the resolution
    categorizing the killings of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman
    Empire as "genocide" before the panel Thursday. If the bill passes
    the committee, then it could go to a full vote in the House.

    While Ankara has conveyed its concerns over the resolution to
    Washington at various levels, it also plans to play the Afghanistan
    and Iraq cards, warning that the passage of the genocide resolution
    would harm the Turkish-U.S. partnership and cause Ankara to not
    fulfill U.S. requests on the two challenging issues.

    Washington is satisfied with Turkish diplomacy and soft power in
    Afghanistan, with U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan
    Richard Holbrooke praising Turkey for knowing "how to speak with
    Afghans like Afghans." Washington also wants the country to be more
    engaged in the war-torn country, it has been learned. Washington also
    needs Turkish support for withdrawal from Iraq.

    Turkey regrets the vote

    The Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed regret Monday about the U.S.

    Foreign Affairs Committee readying to put the resolution to vote this
    week, calling on the members to act responsibly.

    "We expect the [U.S.] House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs
    Committee to reject the draft resolution that would harm the
    relationship between Turkey and the United States and put a dent
    in the normalization of Turkish-Armenian ties," Foreign Ministry
    spokesman Burak Ozugergin said in written response to a question.

    Turkey's concerns over such a resolution have been conveyed to U.S.

    officials at various levels, the spokesman said.

    "We want to believe the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee are
    aware of the harm that will be caused by the adoption of the draft
    resolution to Turkish-U.S. relations, as well as the efforts for
    peace and stability in the South Caucasus, and that they will act
    with a feeling of responsibility," he said.

    Two groups of Turkish deputies are visiting the United States to
    prevent the adoption of the controversial resolution.

    The first group is led by Turkish Parliament Foreign Affairs
    Commission head Murat Mercan and includes opposition and ruling party
    deputies. The second group, meanwhile, includes Turkish Parliament
    U.S. Caucus head Suat Kınıklıoglu of the ruling Justice and
    Development Party.

    On Sunday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned a wrong step
    would harm efforts to normalize Turkish-Armenian relations.

    "If a wrong step is taken there [in the U.S.], that will deal a blow
    to the process," he said, referring to the government efforts to
    engage with Armenia. "We are in contact. A group of Turkish deputies
    is currently in the U.S. A wrong step on March 4 and on April 24 will
    sabotage the process. I hope the members of the Congress will observe
    this sensitivity."
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