Cyprus Press and Information Office: Occupied Northern Cyprus
Sept 23 2005

Turkish diplomats warn the US over Armenian genocide Bill

Ankara Turkish Daily News (22.09.05) reports that Turkeys
relationship with the United States, already damaged by disputes over
Iraq, may deteriorate at an unprecedented rate in the event the U.S.
House of Representatives approves two Armenian genocide resolutions
passed by a house panel last week, Turkish diplomats warned.
We dont expect this to happen, but if the resolutions are approved by
a floor vote at the House of Representatives, it will mean that the
United States legislation in one way or another will have labeled the
Armenian events as a genocide, and the effect will have catastrophic
dimensions in terms of ties between Turkey and the United States,
said one diplomat. The Turkish people will never forget this, and no
Turkish government may remain indifferent to what the people think.

Despite objections by U.S. President George W. Bushs administration,
the House of Representatives International Relations Committee on
Sept. 15 endorsed the two resolutions denouncing the deaths of
Armenians early last century as genocide. The House is the lower
house of the U.S. Congress, while the Senate is its higher house.

The committee voted 35-11 to approve a resolution, sponsored by
Democratic lawmakers, calling on Turkey to acknowledge the
culpability of its predecessor state, the Ottoman Empire, in the
1915-1923 deaths.

A second resolution, sponsored by Republican representatives, passed
40-7, calling for U.S. foreign policy to reflect an understanding of
the Armenian genocide and for the president to recognize the deaths
as genocide.

It is not clear if or when the resolutions will be brought before the
full House of Representatives.

In private talks Turkish diplomats say House Speaker Dennis Hastert,
a Republican lawmaker close to Bush, is not expected to bring the
resolutions to a floor vote at the House because he is aware of the
grave consequences in Turkish-U.S. relations.

However, Armenian groups also claim that they have Hasterts support
for their cause.

As we work to build on the committees favorable action, we look to
Speaker Hastert to honor his pledge and schedule a full floor vote on
the Armenian Genocide legislation at the earliest opportunity, said
Ken Hachikian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of
America.

Armenians claim that the Ottoman empire caused the deaths of up to
1.5 million of their kinsmen in a planned genocide. Turkey says the
toll is wildly inflated and that Armenians were killed or displaced
in civil unrest during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey
says many Muslims also lost their lives. Ankara believes that Armenia
will use the genocide claims to make territorial demands against
Turkey.