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March 5 2010
Turkey Angry Over US Vote on Armenian Genocide
(March 5) -- Turkey reacted with anger today at a congressional
panel's vote labeling the 1915 killing of Armenians as genocide,
warning it could harm its relations with the U.S.
President Abdullah Gül said Thursday's 23-22 committee vote was "an
injustice to history," adding that "Turkey will not be responsible for
the negative results that this event may lead to."
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country, which recalled
its ambassador to Washington minutes after the vote, had been accused
of a crime it did not commit, and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
said Turkey would assess what other measures it would take.
In reaction to the House panel's vote, Turkey recalled its ambassador
to the United States. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, here
at a news conference Thursday, said his country would consider taking
other actions.
Turkey is a key ally of the U.S., and its cooperation is seen as vital
in the war in Afghanistan, where it has sent about 1,700 troops. It
also holds a seat on the U.N. Security Council, and Washington was
looking to press Turkey to back a resolution calling for tougher
sanctions against Iran.
It remains unclear whether the resolution by the foreign affairs
committee will go for a vote to the full House of Representatives. A
similar resolution passed the committee stage in 2007 but was blocked
by the Bush administration because of its possible impact on
U.S.-Turkish relations.
The Obama administration voiced its opposition shortly before
Thursday's resolution was passed, and Secretary of State Hillary
Rodham Clinton said, "We do not believe that the full Congress will or
should act upon that resolution, and we have made that clear to all
the parties involved."
But Turkey is not satisfied with Washington's stance so far.
"The picture shows that the U.S. administration did not put enough
weight behind the issue," Davutoglu told reporters, The Associated
Press reported. "We are seriously disturbed by the result."
Many European countries and Canada have formally recognized the 1915
events as genocide in the face of Turkey's protests.
Up to 1.5 million Armenians are estimated to have died in 1915 when
they were deported from eastern Anatolia by the Ottoman Turks. The
deaths have been acknowledged by Turkey, a Muslim country, but it says
it was not part of a systematic plan to wipe out the Christian
Armenian people.
The two countries agreed to establish diplomatic relations in October,
but the accord has not been ratified by the two nations.
http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/arm enian-genocide-vote-in-congress-angers-turkey/1938 4781
March 5 2010
Turkey Angry Over US Vote on Armenian Genocide
(March 5) -- Turkey reacted with anger today at a congressional
panel's vote labeling the 1915 killing of Armenians as genocide,
warning it could harm its relations with the U.S.
President Abdullah Gül said Thursday's 23-22 committee vote was "an
injustice to history," adding that "Turkey will not be responsible for
the negative results that this event may lead to."
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country, which recalled
its ambassador to Washington minutes after the vote, had been accused
of a crime it did not commit, and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
said Turkey would assess what other measures it would take.
In reaction to the House panel's vote, Turkey recalled its ambassador
to the United States. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, here
at a news conference Thursday, said his country would consider taking
other actions.
Turkey is a key ally of the U.S., and its cooperation is seen as vital
in the war in Afghanistan, where it has sent about 1,700 troops. It
also holds a seat on the U.N. Security Council, and Washington was
looking to press Turkey to back a resolution calling for tougher
sanctions against Iran.
It remains unclear whether the resolution by the foreign affairs
committee will go for a vote to the full House of Representatives. A
similar resolution passed the committee stage in 2007 but was blocked
by the Bush administration because of its possible impact on
U.S.-Turkish relations.
The Obama administration voiced its opposition shortly before
Thursday's resolution was passed, and Secretary of State Hillary
Rodham Clinton said, "We do not believe that the full Congress will or
should act upon that resolution, and we have made that clear to all
the parties involved."
But Turkey is not satisfied with Washington's stance so far.
"The picture shows that the U.S. administration did not put enough
weight behind the issue," Davutoglu told reporters, The Associated
Press reported. "We are seriously disturbed by the result."
Many European countries and Canada have formally recognized the 1915
events as genocide in the face of Turkey's protests.
Up to 1.5 million Armenians are estimated to have died in 1915 when
they were deported from eastern Anatolia by the Ottoman Turks. The
deaths have been acknowledged by Turkey, a Muslim country, but it says
it was not part of a systematic plan to wipe out the Christian
Armenian people.
The two countries agreed to establish diplomatic relations in October,
but the accord has not been ratified by the two nations.
http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/arm enian-genocide-vote-in-congress-angers-turkey/1938 4781