ARMENIAN MINISTER WARNS AGAINST EXCESSIVE OPTIMISM REGARDING ARMENIAN RESOLUTION IN US CONGRESS

Armenpress
Feb 09 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS: Deputy foreign minister Arman
Kirakosian said the official Yerevan is not able to intervene and lobby
the adoption of an Armenian genocide resolution by U.S. Congress,
but nevertheless he said Armenia welcomes and supports Armenian
Diaspora organizations’ efforts in the USA and elsewhere to press
for international acknowledgment of the first genocide of the 20-the
century.

Speaking to a news conference Kirakosian warned against optimistic
expectations that adoption of the resolution by the USA would
automatically entail its adoption by Turkey. Kirakosian said USA
acknowledgment of the genocide would be a very important move, but
reminded that similar resolutions have been introduced to Congress
since 1980-s but none was approved.

Turkey’s strained relationship with the Bush administration is
likely to worsen after foreign minister, Abdullah Gul, failed to
make significant progress on Ankara’s main objectives in Washington
this week. One of Abdullah Gul’s week-long visit’s objectives was to
lobby against the Armenia resolution. However, the proposed genocide
resolution is backed by key lawmakers, including Nancy Pelosi,
Democratic speaker of the House. Ms Pelosi signaled her position by
not being available to meet Gul.

But Kirakosian said this does not mean that the Bush administration
does not wield other leverages to block the resolution. "Turkey will
do everything possible to block the resolution’s passage and the
US administration will in turn do what it can not to further worsen
relationships with Ankara while American-Armenian organizations will
do their best to have the resolution passed," he said.

Asked to comment on Gul’s remarks that the resolution’s passage
would greatly harm the U.S.-Turkish relationship, State Department
spokesman Sean McCormack said, "That’s his assessment, we take him at
his word." But McCormack also said: "We understand the sensitivities
in Turkey. We also understand the sensitivities in other communities
in the United States and other places around the world."

"We are, however, in close contact with members of Congress on the
issue, and we have conveyed to them the sensitivities expressed to
us by the Turkish government concerning this particular resolution,"
he said.