DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Feb 9 2007

TURKEY THREATENS U.S.

Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI) expressed outrage at recent warnings by the
Turkish government that it would take actions threatening the
security of U.S. troops in Iraq should Congress even consider the
Armenian Genocide Resolution, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

In a letter to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos
(D-CA), Reps. Pallone and Knollenberg noted that, "it is our
understanding that senior Turkish government officials have warned
that, in response to Congress even considering this resolution, they
will close supply pipelines for our forces serving in Iraq. This
shameless threat to interfere in U.S. military operations is
absolutely unacceptable and deeply offensive." The Representatives
went on to express dismay at the response of several Administration
officials who, caving in to the Turkish government’s threats, have
urged Members of Congress to oppose even debate on this human rights
measure.

"Sadly, the Turkish government is able to maintain its denial –
against all evidence and the tide of international opinion – in large
part due to the State Department’s efforts to silence those who speak
with moral clarity about the Armenian Genocide," said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. "It is a testament to the hypocrisy of the
Administration’s position that, on the one hand, its senior officials
remained almost entirely silent on Article 301 prior to Hrant Dink’s
murder, while on the other hand loudly and repeatedly attacking even
the consideration by the U.S. Congress of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution."

The letter to Chairman Lantos comes on the heels of a three-day
Washington, DC visit by Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who
had announced that his government’s opposition to the Armenian
Genocide resolution was a top priority in discussions with senior
U.S. officials. "In this case, approval of this bill [Armenian
Genocide resolution – H.Res.106] against Turkey would ruin
everything. I told my counterpart that this step will have a great
influence on our relations," said Gul during a press conference
immediately following his meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.