SENSOY : ARMENIAN RESOLUTION MAY AFFECT CERTAIN RELATIONS
The New Anatolian
Aug 31 2007
Turkey
Turkish Ambassador in Washington Nabi Sensoy warned that
Turkish-American relations will be adversely affected if the U.S.
House of Representatives passes a bill recognizing claims that Ottoman
Turks committed an act of genocide in 1915 against the Armenians.
"I cannot dismiss the fact the passage of the bill will impact certain
relations between Turkey and the United States" if the resolution
regarding the Armenian allegations on the 1915 incidents in Ottoman
Turkey, is adopted at the U.S. Congress.
Sensoy speaking to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) implied that
Turkey’s ties with Israel will also be affected if the bill passes.
In a statement it released last week, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
alleged that the 1915 incidents "were indeed tantamount to genocide",
adding, however, that it would continue to stand against the Armenian
resolutions in the U.S. Congress.
"We are expecting the American Jewish organizations to be neutral on
this issue," Sensoy said.
Stressing that he was quite disturbed about the remarks claiming
that the Jewish community in Turkey might be harmed by the approval
of Armenian resolution, Sensoy said, "They seem to be forgetting the
history of Turks and Jews, which goes back at least 500 years. We’ve
always had the best of relations between Turks and Jews and the
Turkish Jewish community is part and parcel, and an integral part,
of the Turkish community."