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LAWMAKERS WARN TURKEY OF PAYBACK OVER IRAN, ISRAEL POLICIES
CNN.com
June 16, 2010 Wednesday 2:26 PM EST
Supporters of Israel in the U.S. House warned Turkey on Wednesday
they might support a resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide
that so far has failed to come up for a vote by the full chamber.
Turkey opposes the resolution that would bring formal U.S. recognition
of the 1915-1923 campaign by Turkey's Ottoman Empire against the
Armenian population of eastern Anatolia region as genocide.
The resolution passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee by a single
vote in March, but so far has not come up for debate by the full
House. Turkey called home its U.S. ambassador to protest the House
committee vote.
However, House members who have been unwilling to support the
resolution now say they might change their minds due to Turkey's
pro-Iranian moves and support for the recent effort to break Israel's
blockade of Gaza.
"There will be a cost if Turkey stays on its present heading of
growing closer to Iran and more antagonistic to the state of Israel,"
Rep. Mike Pence, Enhanced Coverage LinkingMike Pence, -Search using:
Biographies Plus News News, Most Recent 60 Days R-Indiana, told a news
conference. "It will bear upon my view and I believe the view of many
members of Congress on the state of the relationship with Turkey."
In particular, Pence, said, "They need to understand going forward
there's going to be a cost regarding the Armenian resolution."
Rep. Peter King, R-New York, echoed Pence in saying he was
reconsidering his past opposition to taking up the Armenian genocide
resolution.
King said he and "many" other House members believe there was an
Armenian genocide, but have been reluctant to support the resolution
due to the strategic U.S. relationship with Turkey.
"I think that's about to change," King said.
Turkey provided support to the recent flotilla of six ships that
was stopped by the Israeli military from bringing aid to Gaza. Nine
people -- all Turkish citizens -- died when Israeli commandos boarded
the ships and violence ensued.
In response, Turkey has condemned Israel and led calls for an
international investigation of the incident.
Turkey also has stepped up relations with Iran, joining Brazil
recently in brokering an agreement with Iran intended to head off
new U.S. sanctions over Iran's nuclear program.
The U.S. questioned the agreement and proceeded to win U.N. Security
Council approval for the additional sanctions.
Pence and others told the news conference that such steps by Turkey
must be opposed by the United States to demonstrate unwavering U.S.
support for Israel.
Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, called the actions by Turkey
"disgraceful" because Turkey is a NATO ally, while Rep. Shelley
Berkley, D-Nevada, said she would actively oppose Turkey's bid to
become part of the European Union.
"They don't deserve that recognition and they don't deserve to be a
part of the EU until they start behaving more like European nations
and a whole lot less like Iran," Berkley said.
From: A. Papazian
CNN.com
June 16, 2010 Wednesday 2:26 PM EST
Supporters of Israel in the U.S. House warned Turkey on Wednesday
they might support a resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide
that so far has failed to come up for a vote by the full chamber.
Turkey opposes the resolution that would bring formal U.S. recognition
of the 1915-1923 campaign by Turkey's Ottoman Empire against the
Armenian population of eastern Anatolia region as genocide.
The resolution passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee by a single
vote in March, but so far has not come up for debate by the full
House. Turkey called home its U.S. ambassador to protest the House
committee vote.
However, House members who have been unwilling to support the
resolution now say they might change their minds due to Turkey's
pro-Iranian moves and support for the recent effort to break Israel's
blockade of Gaza.
"There will be a cost if Turkey stays on its present heading of
growing closer to Iran and more antagonistic to the state of Israel,"
Rep. Mike Pence, Enhanced Coverage LinkingMike Pence, -Search using:
Biographies Plus News News, Most Recent 60 Days R-Indiana, told a news
conference. "It will bear upon my view and I believe the view of many
members of Congress on the state of the relationship with Turkey."
In particular, Pence, said, "They need to understand going forward
there's going to be a cost regarding the Armenian resolution."
Rep. Peter King, R-New York, echoed Pence in saying he was
reconsidering his past opposition to taking up the Armenian genocide
resolution.
King said he and "many" other House members believe there was an
Armenian genocide, but have been reluctant to support the resolution
due to the strategic U.S. relationship with Turkey.
"I think that's about to change," King said.
Turkey provided support to the recent flotilla of six ships that
was stopped by the Israeli military from bringing aid to Gaza. Nine
people -- all Turkish citizens -- died when Israeli commandos boarded
the ships and violence ensued.
In response, Turkey has condemned Israel and led calls for an
international investigation of the incident.
Turkey also has stepped up relations with Iran, joining Brazil
recently in brokering an agreement with Iran intended to head off
new U.S. sanctions over Iran's nuclear program.
The U.S. questioned the agreement and proceeded to win U.N. Security
Council approval for the additional sanctions.
Pence and others told the news conference that such steps by Turkey
must be opposed by the United States to demonstrate unwavering U.S.
support for Israel.
Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, called the actions by Turkey
"disgraceful" because Turkey is a NATO ally, while Rep. Shelley
Berkley, D-Nevada, said she would actively oppose Turkey's bid to
become part of the European Union.
"They don't deserve that recognition and they don't deserve to be a
part of the EU until they start behaving more like European nations
and a whole lot less like Iran," Berkley said.
From: A. Papazian