TURKEY WARNS US ON DRAFT BILL PASSAGE

Gulf News, United Arab Emirates
Feb 7 2007

Washington: Turkey’s Foreign Minister has said a proposed resolution
in Congress to condemn as genocide the early 20th century killings of
up to 1.5 million Armenians would, if passed, harm Turkish-American
relations.

Abdullah Gul, speaking after meeting with top US officials, described
the possible resolution as an irritant to otherwise close cooperation
with the United States on vital issues, including bringing political
stability to Iraq, preventing nuclear proliferation and connecting
Asian energy supplies with European markets.

Even as the Bush Administration says it would try to head off the
resolution, Gul warned that the US should not get involved in the
sensitive dispute.