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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Feb 1 2007
US-Turkey ties face test as `genocide' resolution introduced
Democratic and Republican lawmakers introduced a resolution in the US
House of Representatives urging the US administration to recognize an
alleged genocide of Armenians at the hands of the late Ottoman Empire
in Anatolia.
The resolution puts Turkish-US relations to a new test after tension
over Iraq throughout the past several years. Turkish officials have
repeatedly warned that relations would suffer irreparable damage if
the resolution is passed, and yesterday Turkish lawmakers expressed
hope that the resolution would not go ahead. "We hope the resolution
will never be brought before the president. Even in this case, we
hope the United States will not show weakness in the face of Armenian
diaspora efforts," said Faruk Çelik, a deputy from the ruling Justice
and Development Party (AK Party). "Otherwise, Turkish-US ties will be
seriously affected."
Turkey denies Armenian allegations that 1.5 million Armenians were
victims of a genocide campaign at the hands of the Ottoman Empire,
saying that the death toll is inflated and that the killings came as
the Ottoman Empire was trying to quell civil unrest caused by revolts
of Anatolian Armenians collaborating with the invading Russian army.
A similar resolution was presented to the US Congress in the past but
it was shelved at the last minute when the administration intervened.
Inal Batu, a lawmaker from the opposition Republican People's Party
(CHP), admitted that prospects were much stronger for passage of the
resolution as compared to the past. "Armenians are closer than ever
to success," he told Today's Zaman. "But I still believe that the
United States will not alienate its strategic partner." The
resolution is opposed by the US administration, but analysts say the
House of Representatives is most likely to pass it.
In a statement, US Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson reiterated that
the Bush administration's position on the issue has not changed and
added: `The administration will be actively involved with the
Congress to oppose this resolution.'
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, a co-sponsor, acknowledged that the
resolution might harm U.S.-Turkish relations in the short term.
Nevertheless, he said: `I'm optimistic that the relationship will go
on. We will move beyond this,' according to The Associated Press.
Schiff and other lead sponsors who introduced the resolution in the
House of Representatives on Tuesday say they have commitments from
more than 150 other members who wanted to add their names as
co-sponsors after the legislation's introduction. That would be a
strong show of support in the 435-member body.
The sponsors, who held a news conference Tuesday attended by two
Armenian survivors of the episode, say that the move to Democratic
control in Congress increases the chances that the bill will reach
the House floor for a vote. `We feel very strongly that this year is
the year we're going to get this passed,' another co-sponsor,
Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., whose state, New Jersey, has a
large Armenian-American community, was quoted as saying by The
Associated Press.
After French lawmakers voted in October to make it a crime to deny
that the killings were a genocide, Turkey said it would suspend
military relations with France. Turkey provides key support to US
military operations. Ýncirlik Air Force Base, a major base in
southern Turkey, has been used by the US to launch operations into
Iraq and Afghanistan.
From: Baghdasarian
Feb 1 2007
US-Turkey ties face test as `genocide' resolution introduced
Democratic and Republican lawmakers introduced a resolution in the US
House of Representatives urging the US administration to recognize an
alleged genocide of Armenians at the hands of the late Ottoman Empire
in Anatolia.
The resolution puts Turkish-US relations to a new test after tension
over Iraq throughout the past several years. Turkish officials have
repeatedly warned that relations would suffer irreparable damage if
the resolution is passed, and yesterday Turkish lawmakers expressed
hope that the resolution would not go ahead. "We hope the resolution
will never be brought before the president. Even in this case, we
hope the United States will not show weakness in the face of Armenian
diaspora efforts," said Faruk Çelik, a deputy from the ruling Justice
and Development Party (AK Party). "Otherwise, Turkish-US ties will be
seriously affected."
Turkey denies Armenian allegations that 1.5 million Armenians were
victims of a genocide campaign at the hands of the Ottoman Empire,
saying that the death toll is inflated and that the killings came as
the Ottoman Empire was trying to quell civil unrest caused by revolts
of Anatolian Armenians collaborating with the invading Russian army.
A similar resolution was presented to the US Congress in the past but
it was shelved at the last minute when the administration intervened.
Inal Batu, a lawmaker from the opposition Republican People's Party
(CHP), admitted that prospects were much stronger for passage of the
resolution as compared to the past. "Armenians are closer than ever
to success," he told Today's Zaman. "But I still believe that the
United States will not alienate its strategic partner." The
resolution is opposed by the US administration, but analysts say the
House of Representatives is most likely to pass it.
In a statement, US Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson reiterated that
the Bush administration's position on the issue has not changed and
added: `The administration will be actively involved with the
Congress to oppose this resolution.'
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, a co-sponsor, acknowledged that the
resolution might harm U.S.-Turkish relations in the short term.
Nevertheless, he said: `I'm optimistic that the relationship will go
on. We will move beyond this,' according to The Associated Press.
Schiff and other lead sponsors who introduced the resolution in the
House of Representatives on Tuesday say they have commitments from
more than 150 other members who wanted to add their names as
co-sponsors after the legislation's introduction. That would be a
strong show of support in the 435-member body.
The sponsors, who held a news conference Tuesday attended by two
Armenian survivors of the episode, say that the move to Democratic
control in Congress increases the chances that the bill will reach
the House floor for a vote. `We feel very strongly that this year is
the year we're going to get this passed,' another co-sponsor,
Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., whose state, New Jersey, has a
large Armenian-American community, was quoted as saying by The
Associated Press.
After French lawmakers voted in October to make it a crime to deny
that the killings were a genocide, Turkey said it would suspend
military relations with France. Turkey provides key support to US
military operations. Ýncirlik Air Force Base, a major base in
southern Turkey, has been used by the US to launch operations into
Iraq and Afghanistan.
From: Baghdasarian