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TURKISH GROUPS RESUME LOBBYING EFFORTS AGAINST 'GENOCIDE' BILL
Hurriyet
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n. php?n=turkish-groups-resume-lobbying-efforts-again st-8216genocide8217-bill-2010-03-02
March 2 2010
Turkey
Turkish Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission head Murat Mercan at
a press conference in Washington DC on Tuesday. AA photo
Two groups of Turkish parliamentarians resumed Tuesday their lobbying
efforts against the Armenian "genocide" bill that will be voted on
by the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
Turkish Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission head Murat Mercan
said that such a measure will be seen by the Turkish public as
"inappropriate pressure on Turkey," warning: "There will be an
overwhelming public reaction and outcry [over the 'genocide' bill]."
Å~^ukru Elekdag, former Turkish ambassador to the United States
and an opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, member said
the Armenian issue should not be allowed to have a detrimental
effect on U.S.-Turkish relations. Mithat Melen, Istanbul deputy
from the National Movement Party, or MHP, also said the passage of
the resolution would not only be detrimental to the U.S.-Turkey and
Turkey-Armenia relationships, but also would be very bad news for
about 50,000 Armenian illegal workers, whom he said live in Istanbul.
Possible chill
Meanwhile, Turkish Parliament U.S. Caucus head Suat Kınıklıoglu, who
led the second Turkish group, also drew attention to a possible chill
in U.S.-Turkish ties and said the partnership between the two countries
"should not be marred by events of almost 100 years ago." He also said
the passage of the resolution might "radicalize" an already sensitive
debate within Turkey about the future of Turkish-Armenian relations.
Noting the United States and Turkey have worked closely and
constructively together on a wide range of international issues,
Mercan said: "If the resolution passes the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, this mutually beneficial cooperation will be put into
immediate jeopardy. That outcome is good for neither Turkey nor the
United States."
Responding to a question, Mercan said they have not talked to any
officials from the U.S. administration yet, and said the place they
like to be more involved is with the U.S. Congress, where the vote
will be taken. Nevertheless, Mercan conceded that the U.S.
administration's role is always important and they still expect the
U.S. administration take a greater role to stop the resolution.
While discussing the protocols between Turkey and Armenia, Elekdag
reminded Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's promise
that Turkey will not open the borders with Armenia unless the former
Soviet country withdraws from the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. He
described the relationships between Turkey and Azerbaijan as "holy,"
and said he received assurances repeatedly by both the prime minister
and foreign minister
Hurriyet
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n. php?n=turkish-groups-resume-lobbying-efforts-again st-8216genocide8217-bill-2010-03-02
March 2 2010
Turkey
Turkish Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission head Murat Mercan at
a press conference in Washington DC on Tuesday. AA photo
Two groups of Turkish parliamentarians resumed Tuesday their lobbying
efforts against the Armenian "genocide" bill that will be voted on
by the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
Turkish Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission head Murat Mercan
said that such a measure will be seen by the Turkish public as
"inappropriate pressure on Turkey," warning: "There will be an
overwhelming public reaction and outcry [over the 'genocide' bill]."
Å~^ukru Elekdag, former Turkish ambassador to the United States
and an opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, member said
the Armenian issue should not be allowed to have a detrimental
effect on U.S.-Turkish relations. Mithat Melen, Istanbul deputy
from the National Movement Party, or MHP, also said the passage of
the resolution would not only be detrimental to the U.S.-Turkey and
Turkey-Armenia relationships, but also would be very bad news for
about 50,000 Armenian illegal workers, whom he said live in Istanbul.
Possible chill
Meanwhile, Turkish Parliament U.S. Caucus head Suat Kınıklıoglu, who
led the second Turkish group, also drew attention to a possible chill
in U.S.-Turkish ties and said the partnership between the two countries
"should not be marred by events of almost 100 years ago." He also said
the passage of the resolution might "radicalize" an already sensitive
debate within Turkey about the future of Turkish-Armenian relations.
Noting the United States and Turkey have worked closely and
constructively together on a wide range of international issues,
Mercan said: "If the resolution passes the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, this mutually beneficial cooperation will be put into
immediate jeopardy. That outcome is good for neither Turkey nor the
United States."
Responding to a question, Mercan said they have not talked to any
officials from the U.S. administration yet, and said the place they
like to be more involved is with the U.S. Congress, where the vote
will be taken. Nevertheless, Mercan conceded that the U.S.
administration's role is always important and they still expect the
U.S. administration take a greater role to stop the resolution.
While discussing the protocols between Turkey and Armenia, Elekdag
reminded Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's promise
that Turkey will not open the borders with Armenia unless the former
Soviet country withdraws from the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. He
described the relationships between Turkey and Azerbaijan as "holy,"
and said he received assurances repeatedly by both the prime minister
and foreign minister