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Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Feb 9 2007
`Armenian Claims' tops Turkish FM Gul's talks with US Congressmen
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Friday , 09 February 2007
In Washington for talks with senior US officials, Turkish Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul met with John Murtha, the chairman of the
defense sub-committee of the House of Representatives Appropriations
Committee, and House majority leader Congressman Steny Hoyer.
During both meetings Mr. Gul said a resolution proposed to the US
House of Representatives constitutes a threat to relations between
the two countries.
Gul later had talks with Congressman Robert Wexler, co-chairman of
the Turkish- American Friendship Group, Tom Lantos, the chairman of
the House Committee on Foreign Relations, and Congressman Roy Blunt.
Lantos had supported Turkey's position on the "Armenian genocide
claims" issue in the past, but after the Turkish Parliament's refusal
on March 1, 2003 to allow the deployment of 62,000 US troops in
Turkish territory to launch a northern front in the war with Iraq,
Lantos said he would shift his position and back the resolution.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Levent Balman said Gul's meetings
at the US Congress have been positive.
US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, "We understand
very clearly that this is a sensitive issue not only for the Turkish
people but also for the Armenian people."
McCormack also said that the State Department is working with the
Congress to pass Turkey's concerns regarding the issue. However, he
said, "I think Gul and the Turkish government understand how our
government system work, and that the Congress is a separate body."
US President George Bush will have to persuade the new
Democratic-controlled congress, which does not need presidential
approval to pass such a resolution. Members behind the proposed bill
have said they expect a push by the administration and lobbyists
working for the Turkish government to keep the resolution from a full
vote by the House.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will decide whether to offer the bill
for a full vote if, as expected, it is approved by the House Foreign
Affairs Committee, has already expressed support.
Gul said they do not plan to meet with Pelosi because she is "too
engaged" in the issue but he will meet with her close aides and
friends to make sure Turkey's views are heard.
Turkey rejects the "genocide" accusations and argues that only
300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in mutual civil
strife. The Ottoman Armenians rioted during the First World War and
the armed Armenian groups attacked the Turkish and Kurdish villages.
The Istanbul Government decided to re-settle about 800.000 Armenians
to Syria province of the State. The decision was similar to the
re-settlement campaign of the Japanese American people during the
Second World War.
Feb 9 2007
`Armenian Claims' tops Turkish FM Gul's talks with US Congressmen
Friday , 09 February 2007
In Washington for talks with senior US officials, Turkish Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul met with John Murtha, the chairman of the
defense sub-committee of the House of Representatives Appropriations
Committee, and House majority leader Congressman Steny Hoyer.
During both meetings Mr. Gul said a resolution proposed to the US
House of Representatives constitutes a threat to relations between
the two countries.
Gul later had talks with Congressman Robert Wexler, co-chairman of
the Turkish- American Friendship Group, Tom Lantos, the chairman of
the House Committee on Foreign Relations, and Congressman Roy Blunt.
Lantos had supported Turkey's position on the "Armenian genocide
claims" issue in the past, but after the Turkish Parliament's refusal
on March 1, 2003 to allow the deployment of 62,000 US troops in
Turkish territory to launch a northern front in the war with Iraq,
Lantos said he would shift his position and back the resolution.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Levent Balman said Gul's meetings
at the US Congress have been positive.
US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, "We understand
very clearly that this is a sensitive issue not only for the Turkish
people but also for the Armenian people."
McCormack also said that the State Department is working with the
Congress to pass Turkey's concerns regarding the issue. However, he
said, "I think Gul and the Turkish government understand how our
government system work, and that the Congress is a separate body."
US President George Bush will have to persuade the new
Democratic-controlled congress, which does not need presidential
approval to pass such a resolution. Members behind the proposed bill
have said they expect a push by the administration and lobbyists
working for the Turkish government to keep the resolution from a full
vote by the House.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will decide whether to offer the bill
for a full vote if, as expected, it is approved by the House Foreign
Affairs Committee, has already expressed support.
Gul said they do not plan to meet with Pelosi because she is "too
engaged" in the issue but he will meet with her close aides and
friends to make sure Turkey's views are heard.
Turkey rejects the "genocide" accusations and argues that only
300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in mutual civil
strife. The Ottoman Armenians rioted during the First World War and
the armed Armenian groups attacked the Turkish and Kurdish villages.
The Istanbul Government decided to re-settle about 800.000 Armenians
to Syria province of the State. The decision was similar to the
re-settlement campaign of the Japanese American people during the
Second World War.