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OBAMA URGES CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE TO HOLD OFF ON ARMENIAN BILL
Today's Zaman
March 4 2010
Turkey
The Obama administration is urging a U.S. congressional committee
to hold off on a resolution declaring the Ottoman era killing of
Armenians as genocide, a White House spokesman said on Thursday.
The move comes despite a campaign promise by President Barack Obama
to brand the killings as a genocide. But such a vote could alienate
Turkey, a NATO ally with a pivotal role for US interests in the Middle
East and Afghanistan.
Spokesman Mike Hammer said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
had spoken with the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
Democratic Rep. Howard Berman, on Wednesday and indicated that passing
the resolution could jeopardize reconciliation talks between Turkey
and Armenia.
Despite the call from Clinton, Berman on Thursday urged fellow members
of the committee to pass the resolution and the committee appeared
likely to endorse it, sending it to the full House, where prospects
for passage are uncertain.
But even if the measure doesn't go beyond the committee, Turkey
has warned it could jeopardize U.S-Turkish cooperation and set back
negotiations aimed at opening the border between Turkey and Armenia.
Hammer said Obama called President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday to
express his appreciation for Turkey's efforts to normalize relations
with Armenia.
The Foreign Affairs Committee approved a similar "genocide" measure in
2007, but it was not brought to the House floor for a vote following
intensive pressure by then President George W. Bush. Following the
2007 committee vote, Turkey promptly recalled its ambassador, and US
officials feared the Turks might cut off American access to a Turkish
air base essential to operations in Iraq. After intensive lobbying by
top Bush administration officials, the resolution was not considered
by the full House.
On Thursday, a Turkish official suggested his country could again
recall its ambassador to the United States if the congressional panel
approves the resolution.
"All options are on the table," the government official said, speaking
on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says the resolution could damage
Turkish-US ties and undermine reconciliation efforts with Armenia.
"If it passes, then the Obama administration should try to prevent it
from being voted by Congress," Turkey's state-run Anatolia news agency
quoted Davutoglu as saying Thursday during a visit to Egypt. House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she will wait to see the result of the
committee vote before deciding whether to bring it up for vote.
The United States still wants Turkey's support for its operations
in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also is pressing Turkey, which holds
a rotating seat in the UN Security Council, to support sanctions
against Iran, Turkey's neighbor.
Armenian American groups have for decades sought congressional
affirmation of the killings as genocide. Turkey denies that the
deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and
those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.
In October, Turkey and Armenia signed an agreement to normalize
relations, but Turkey has yet to ratify it. As progress toward a
breakthrough between the two countries appears stalled.
Today's Zaman
March 4 2010
Turkey
The Obama administration is urging a U.S. congressional committee
to hold off on a resolution declaring the Ottoman era killing of
Armenians as genocide, a White House spokesman said on Thursday.
The move comes despite a campaign promise by President Barack Obama
to brand the killings as a genocide. But such a vote could alienate
Turkey, a NATO ally with a pivotal role for US interests in the Middle
East and Afghanistan.
Spokesman Mike Hammer said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
had spoken with the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
Democratic Rep. Howard Berman, on Wednesday and indicated that passing
the resolution could jeopardize reconciliation talks between Turkey
and Armenia.
Despite the call from Clinton, Berman on Thursday urged fellow members
of the committee to pass the resolution and the committee appeared
likely to endorse it, sending it to the full House, where prospects
for passage are uncertain.
But even if the measure doesn't go beyond the committee, Turkey
has warned it could jeopardize U.S-Turkish cooperation and set back
negotiations aimed at opening the border between Turkey and Armenia.
Hammer said Obama called President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday to
express his appreciation for Turkey's efforts to normalize relations
with Armenia.
The Foreign Affairs Committee approved a similar "genocide" measure in
2007, but it was not brought to the House floor for a vote following
intensive pressure by then President George W. Bush. Following the
2007 committee vote, Turkey promptly recalled its ambassador, and US
officials feared the Turks might cut off American access to a Turkish
air base essential to operations in Iraq. After intensive lobbying by
top Bush administration officials, the resolution was not considered
by the full House.
On Thursday, a Turkish official suggested his country could again
recall its ambassador to the United States if the congressional panel
approves the resolution.
"All options are on the table," the government official said, speaking
on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says the resolution could damage
Turkish-US ties and undermine reconciliation efforts with Armenia.
"If it passes, then the Obama administration should try to prevent it
from being voted by Congress," Turkey's state-run Anatolia news agency
quoted Davutoglu as saying Thursday during a visit to Egypt. House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she will wait to see the result of the
committee vote before deciding whether to bring it up for vote.
The United States still wants Turkey's support for its operations
in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also is pressing Turkey, which holds
a rotating seat in the UN Security Council, to support sanctions
against Iran, Turkey's neighbor.
Armenian American groups have for decades sought congressional
affirmation of the killings as genocide. Turkey denies that the
deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and
those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.
In October, Turkey and Armenia signed an agreement to normalize
relations, but Turkey has yet to ratify it. As progress toward a
breakthrough between the two countries appears stalled.