US AIR FORCE MAJOR-GENERAL EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT NEGATIVE MILITARY REPERCUSSIONS IF US CONGRESS PASSES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Arminfo
2007-03-20 13:29:00

US Air Force Major-General Robertus Remkes, Director of Strategy,
Policy and Assessments at US European Command, has expressed
concern about negative military repercussions if the US House of
Representatives passes the Armenian Genocide Resolution. As the
Jurist reports, Turkey, which produces much of the equipment used by
US forces in Afghanistan, disputes the number of deaths and denies
they were due to war crimes or genocide. Remkes says that approval
of the resolution could sour relations between the US and Turkey and
cause Turkey to revoke permission to use its air space and US military
bases in the country.

Lawmakers in several countries have introduced resolutions identifying
the Armenian deaths as genocide, including France, which deferred
consideration of a measure following threats of sanctions from the
Turkish government. The US House could vote on its Resolution as
early as April.