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CEOS WARN AGAINST ARMENIA "GENOCIDE" BILL
Andrea Shalal-Esa
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article /idUSTRE62157G20100302
March 3 2010
UK
Tue Mar 2, 2010 6:19pm ESTWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The aerospace and
defense industry is urging House of Representatives lawmakers to
reject a measure that would call a World War One-era massacre of
Armenians by Turkish forces genocide, warning it could jeopardize
U.S. exports to Turkey.
Barack Obama
The chief executives of Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co, Raytheon
Co, United Technologies Corp and Northrop Grumman Corp issued a rare
joint letter, warning that passage of the measure by the House Foreign
Affairs Committee could lead to "a rupture in U.S.-Turkey relations"
and put American jobs at risk.
"Alienating a significant NATO ally and trading partner would have
negative repercussions for U.S. geopolitical interests and efforts to
boost both exports and employments," the CEOs warned in a February
26 letter to the committee's Democratic chairman, Representative
Howard Berman.
They said U.S. defense and aerospace exports to Turkey exceeded
$7 billion in 2009 and were seen reaching a similar level in 2010,
supporting tens of thousands of U.S. jobs.
Industry executives are worried about Turkey's continued participation
in several big U.S. weapons programs, including the Lockheed F-35
fighter, a $1.2 billion deal with Boeing for 14 CH-47 Chinook
helicopters, and Patriot missile sales.
Turkey is one of eight international partners working with the United
States on development of the $300 billion F-35 fighter, a program
that has already seen some erosion of overseas amid cost overruns
and delays in critical testing.
"Turkey is clearly one of the critical partners on the F-35 program
and one that is buying a lot of airplanes early in the program, so it
would have a corrosive effect if they pulled out," said Jim McAleese,
a Virginia-based defense consultant. "It would set the stage for other
allies to reevaluate their schedule or even the overall quantity of
F-35 purchases."
The nonbinding resolution, to be voted on Thursday by the House panel,
would require President Barack Obama to ensure that U.S. policy
formally refers to the massacre as "genocide" and to use that term
when he delivers his annual message on the issue in April -- something
Obama avoided doing last year.
The Aerospace Industries Association, which represents more than 270
member companies, expressed concern in a separate letter, noting that
U.S. exports to Turkey had more that tripled to over $10 billion
in 2008, and U.S. companies were pursuing further arms sales at
the moment.
"In this current economy, we cannot afford to turn our back on
increasing U.S. exports and sustaining U.S. jobs by alienating one of
our most important trading partners," said Marion Blakey, president
of AIA, the largest U.S. trade group.
Turkey on Monday warned its ties with the United States would be
damaged if the House panel approved the measure.
One industry executive, who was not authorized to speak on the record,
said U.S. companies fear Turkey could back out of deals with them
and buy weapons form European firms instead.
Andrea Shalal-Esa
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article /idUSTRE62157G20100302
March 3 2010
UK
Tue Mar 2, 2010 6:19pm ESTWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The aerospace and
defense industry is urging House of Representatives lawmakers to
reject a measure that would call a World War One-era massacre of
Armenians by Turkish forces genocide, warning it could jeopardize
U.S. exports to Turkey.
Barack Obama
The chief executives of Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co, Raytheon
Co, United Technologies Corp and Northrop Grumman Corp issued a rare
joint letter, warning that passage of the measure by the House Foreign
Affairs Committee could lead to "a rupture in U.S.-Turkey relations"
and put American jobs at risk.
"Alienating a significant NATO ally and trading partner would have
negative repercussions for U.S. geopolitical interests and efforts to
boost both exports and employments," the CEOs warned in a February
26 letter to the committee's Democratic chairman, Representative
Howard Berman.
They said U.S. defense and aerospace exports to Turkey exceeded
$7 billion in 2009 and were seen reaching a similar level in 2010,
supporting tens of thousands of U.S. jobs.
Industry executives are worried about Turkey's continued participation
in several big U.S. weapons programs, including the Lockheed F-35
fighter, a $1.2 billion deal with Boeing for 14 CH-47 Chinook
helicopters, and Patriot missile sales.
Turkey is one of eight international partners working with the United
States on development of the $300 billion F-35 fighter, a program
that has already seen some erosion of overseas amid cost overruns
and delays in critical testing.
"Turkey is clearly one of the critical partners on the F-35 program
and one that is buying a lot of airplanes early in the program, so it
would have a corrosive effect if they pulled out," said Jim McAleese,
a Virginia-based defense consultant. "It would set the stage for other
allies to reevaluate their schedule or even the overall quantity of
F-35 purchases."
The nonbinding resolution, to be voted on Thursday by the House panel,
would require President Barack Obama to ensure that U.S. policy
formally refers to the massacre as "genocide" and to use that term
when he delivers his annual message on the issue in April -- something
Obama avoided doing last year.
The Aerospace Industries Association, which represents more than 270
member companies, expressed concern in a separate letter, noting that
U.S. exports to Turkey had more that tripled to over $10 billion
in 2008, and U.S. companies were pursuing further arms sales at
the moment.
"In this current economy, we cannot afford to turn our back on
increasing U.S. exports and sustaining U.S. jobs by alienating one of
our most important trading partners," said Marion Blakey, president
of AIA, the largest U.S. trade group.
Turkey on Monday warned its ties with the United States would be
damaged if the House panel approved the measure.
One industry executive, who was not authorized to speak on the record,
said U.S. companies fear Turkey could back out of deals with them
and buy weapons form European firms instead.