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Cihan News Agency, Turkey
April 12 2014
Turkey calls on US not to harm ties with 'Genocide' resolution
TR_ISTA - 12.04.2014 09:44:52
Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu has called on US authorities to
prevent the deterioration of US-Turkey relations after the US Senate
Foreign Relations Committee passed a resolution commemorating and
condemning what it called the `Armenian genocide' on Thursday.
`Strategic cooperation between Turkey and the US plays a significant
role in resolving many disputes around the world. Thus, Turkey-US
relations should not be hampered by the activities of any lobby,' he
said at a press conference on his visit to Japan on Friday.
Sen. Robert Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, and Sen. Mark Kirk introduced the resolution last week.
Twelve of the committee's 18 senators voted for the resolution and
five voted against it, with one abstention. It is now up to Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring the resolution to the floor of the
US Senate.
"[Secretary of State John] Kerry will also exert efforts on the
issue," the Turkish foreign minister said, without giving specifics.
DavutoÄ?lu stressed that Turkey does not expect the resolution to be
adopted in the US Senate, while the Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned
the resolution on Friday, describing it as biased and calling on US
authorities not to provide further support for such resolutions.
DavutoÄ?lu said the Turkish ambassador to the US had been given
instructions to cooperate with US authorities to prevent the abuse of
such historical issues.
Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan also expressed his discontent with
the resolution, saying it is not appropriate for the US to consider
the so-called Armenian genocide a domestic policy issue.
In a daily press briefing on Thursday, US State Department
Spokesperson Jen Psaki said `our position has long been that we
acknowledge -- clearly acknowledge as historical fact and mourn the
loss of 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred or marched to their
deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire.'
Psaki described the 1915 killings as "horrific events" that `resulted
in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century, and the United
States recognizes that they remain a great source of pain for the
people of Armenia and of Armenian descent, as they do for all of us
who share basic universal values."
Psaki made her remarks an hour before the US Senate Foreign Relations
Committee voted on the "Armenian genocide" resolution.
Psaki also noted that Washington continues `to urge both countries
[Turkey and Armenia] to work together to achieve a full, frank and
just acknowledgement of the facts. We believe that by working together
to address their shared history, Armenia and Turkey can promote
stability and prosperity in the entire Caucasus region, so we continue
to work with them on that.'
In 2010, however, the US State Department strongly opposed a similar
resolution in the House of Representatives. P.J. Crowley, then
spokesman of the State Department, said, `We continue to believe that
the best way for Turkey and Armenia to address their shared past is
through their efforts to normalize relations.'
Ankara denies claims that the events of 1915 amount to genocide,
arguing that both Turks and Armenians were killed when Armenians
revolted against the Ottoman Empire during World War I in
collaboration with the Russian army, which was then invading eastern
Anatolia.
DavutoÄ?lu said the involvement of a third country could adversely
affect the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia.
`The Armenian Genocide is a horrifying factual reality that can never
be denied,' Menendez said when he introduced the resolution. `This
resolution reaffirms in the strongest terms that we will always
remember this tragedy and honor the memory of innocent Armenian men,
women and children who were killed and expelled from their homeland.
The Armenian Genocide must be taught, recognized, and commemorated to
prevent the re-occurrence of similar atrocities from ever happening
again,' he said.
The resolution calls on the Senate to remember and observe the
anniversary of the "Armenian genocide" on April 24, 2014, and urges
President Barack Obama to `work toward an equitable, constructive,
stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relationship that includes the
full acknowledgment by the Turkish government of the facts about the
Armenian Genocide. ¦"
`The President should ensure that the foreign policy of the US
reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues
related to human rights, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing,
and genocide documented in the US record relating to the Armenian
Genocide," the resolution says.
Justice Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairman Salih Kapusuz
criticized the US for ignoring the fact that Turkey welcomed Armenians
who fled violence in the Kessab region of Syria. `The US is focusing
on the 1915 Armenian resolution although it takes no action while
people are burned alive in the 21st century and tens of thousands of
people are slaughtered in Syria,' he said.
In a strongly worded statement on Thursday, the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) quoted its executive director, Aram
Hamparian, as saying, `Today's vote affirms America's commitment to
truth, deals a serious setback to Turkey's campaign of genocide
denial, and sends a clear message to President Obama that he must end
his Administration's complicity in Ankara's cover-up of this crime."
(Cihan/Today's Zaman)
http://en.cihan.com.tr/news/Turkey-calls-on-US-not-to-harm-ties-with-Genocide-resolution_1079-CHMTQwMTA3OS8xMDA1
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
April 12 2014
Turkey calls on US not to harm ties with 'Genocide' resolution
TR_ISTA - 12.04.2014 09:44:52
Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu has called on US authorities to
prevent the deterioration of US-Turkey relations after the US Senate
Foreign Relations Committee passed a resolution commemorating and
condemning what it called the `Armenian genocide' on Thursday.
`Strategic cooperation between Turkey and the US plays a significant
role in resolving many disputes around the world. Thus, Turkey-US
relations should not be hampered by the activities of any lobby,' he
said at a press conference on his visit to Japan on Friday.
Sen. Robert Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, and Sen. Mark Kirk introduced the resolution last week.
Twelve of the committee's 18 senators voted for the resolution and
five voted against it, with one abstention. It is now up to Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring the resolution to the floor of the
US Senate.
"[Secretary of State John] Kerry will also exert efforts on the
issue," the Turkish foreign minister said, without giving specifics.
DavutoÄ?lu stressed that Turkey does not expect the resolution to be
adopted in the US Senate, while the Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned
the resolution on Friday, describing it as biased and calling on US
authorities not to provide further support for such resolutions.
DavutoÄ?lu said the Turkish ambassador to the US had been given
instructions to cooperate with US authorities to prevent the abuse of
such historical issues.
Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan also expressed his discontent with
the resolution, saying it is not appropriate for the US to consider
the so-called Armenian genocide a domestic policy issue.
In a daily press briefing on Thursday, US State Department
Spokesperson Jen Psaki said `our position has long been that we
acknowledge -- clearly acknowledge as historical fact and mourn the
loss of 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred or marched to their
deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire.'
Psaki described the 1915 killings as "horrific events" that `resulted
in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century, and the United
States recognizes that they remain a great source of pain for the
people of Armenia and of Armenian descent, as they do for all of us
who share basic universal values."
Psaki made her remarks an hour before the US Senate Foreign Relations
Committee voted on the "Armenian genocide" resolution.
Psaki also noted that Washington continues `to urge both countries
[Turkey and Armenia] to work together to achieve a full, frank and
just acknowledgement of the facts. We believe that by working together
to address their shared history, Armenia and Turkey can promote
stability and prosperity in the entire Caucasus region, so we continue
to work with them on that.'
In 2010, however, the US State Department strongly opposed a similar
resolution in the House of Representatives. P.J. Crowley, then
spokesman of the State Department, said, `We continue to believe that
the best way for Turkey and Armenia to address their shared past is
through their efforts to normalize relations.'
Ankara denies claims that the events of 1915 amount to genocide,
arguing that both Turks and Armenians were killed when Armenians
revolted against the Ottoman Empire during World War I in
collaboration with the Russian army, which was then invading eastern
Anatolia.
DavutoÄ?lu said the involvement of a third country could adversely
affect the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia.
`The Armenian Genocide is a horrifying factual reality that can never
be denied,' Menendez said when he introduced the resolution. `This
resolution reaffirms in the strongest terms that we will always
remember this tragedy and honor the memory of innocent Armenian men,
women and children who were killed and expelled from their homeland.
The Armenian Genocide must be taught, recognized, and commemorated to
prevent the re-occurrence of similar atrocities from ever happening
again,' he said.
The resolution calls on the Senate to remember and observe the
anniversary of the "Armenian genocide" on April 24, 2014, and urges
President Barack Obama to `work toward an equitable, constructive,
stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relationship that includes the
full acknowledgment by the Turkish government of the facts about the
Armenian Genocide. ¦"
`The President should ensure that the foreign policy of the US
reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues
related to human rights, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing,
and genocide documented in the US record relating to the Armenian
Genocide," the resolution says.
Justice Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairman Salih Kapusuz
criticized the US for ignoring the fact that Turkey welcomed Armenians
who fled violence in the Kessab region of Syria. `The US is focusing
on the 1915 Armenian resolution although it takes no action while
people are burned alive in the 21st century and tens of thousands of
people are slaughtered in Syria,' he said.
In a strongly worded statement on Thursday, the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) quoted its executive director, Aram
Hamparian, as saying, `Today's vote affirms America's commitment to
truth, deals a serious setback to Turkey's campaign of genocide
denial, and sends a clear message to President Obama that he must end
his Administration's complicity in Ankara's cover-up of this crime."
(Cihan/Today's Zaman)
http://en.cihan.com.tr/news/Turkey-calls-on-US-not-to-harm-ties-with-Genocide-resolution_1079-CHMTQwMTA3OS8xMDA1
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress