AMERICANS HOST DYP MEMBERS IN ANKARA

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb 10 2007

Nancy Mc Eldowney, the deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in
Ankara, hosted True Path Party (DYP) officials at a working dinner
on Thursday.

DYP deputy chairmen Nedim Bilgic, Gultekin Uysal, Umut Arýk, Hatay
deputy Mehmet Eraslan, Denizli deputy Ummet Kandoðan and Ankara
provincial chairman Bulent Kuþoðlu were in attendance.

Issues ranging from the Armenian genocide resolution, the Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK) and Iraq to the rise of nationalism and the
murder of Hrant Dink were discussed. The Americans asked about DYP
leader Mehmet Aðar’s new policy of "politics on the plain," upon
which the DYP’s top-ranking officials expounded.

Mc Eldowney stated that the US administration was doing its best
to halt the Armenian genocide resolution. "Although the current
administration is against the Armenian resolution, it does not have the
majority. So there is a risk. We will do our best. The resolution was
introduced by the Democrats, and they are currently in the majority,"
she said.

Turkish-American relations would be disrupted in the event the
resolution passes, the DYP officials warned. If the US fails to keep
its promises concerning the PKK, passage of the resolution might
increase anti-American sentiment in Turkey, they cautioned.

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