Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb 23 2007

Lawmakers readying for US trip to lobby

Parliamentarians from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK
Party) and the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) are to
travel soon to the United States to convince US congressmen not to
pass a draft resolution recognizing Armenian claims of genocide at
the hands of the late Ottoman Empire.
Three separate delegations will visit Washington in late February and
in March to seek support against the resolution, expected to be
debated at the House of Representatives in April.
The Democratic-controlled Congress is widely expected to back the
draft, even though the White House is opposed to it, wary over the
impact on relations with Turkey, a key Muslim ally and a NATO member.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül said after a visit to Washington this
month that passing the draft would "poison" ties and "spoil
everything" between the two countries.
In October 2000, a similar draft was pulled from the House floor
following intervention by then president Bill Clinton.