TURKISH BUSINESS LEADER URGES US SPEAKER TO OPPOSE BILL ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Sept 14 2007

Washington D.C., 14 September: Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, Chairperson
of Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD),
sent a letter to Speaker of the US House of Representatives and
wanted her to oppose to a draft resolution in the US Congress about
Armenian allegations.

In the letter Yalcindag said, "I am writing you to share with
you my serious concern to see renewed efforts in the US House of
Representatives to debate H. Res. 106, ‘Affirmation of the United
States Record on the Armenian Genocide Resolution.’ Turkey is a
key ally of the United States both bilaterally and also within
the framework of NATO. Their alliance is based on a long-standing
partnership that took years to develop and nurture. Attempts by the
US Congress to introduce resolutions like H. Res. 106 will hinder
development of good relations between Turkey and the United States at
a time when it is of utmost importance. Positive public opinion plays
a very significant role in defining these relations in all aspects."

"Moreover, such efforts by the House of Representatives come as the
debate in Turkey on Armenian issue is considerably more vocal and
open-minded. The public is beginning to call for better relations with
the Republic of Armenia as well as for a fresh look at the tragedy
that took place at the time of the Ottoman Empire during World War
I. In April 2005, Turkey asked Armenia to set up a joint commission
to study the genocide allegations and appealed for international
support for the proposal. To this end, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter to Armenian President Kocharian, formally
proposing the joint commission and requesting that not only Turkey
but Armenia and other countries could open holdings in their achieves
on the Armenian issue. The Turkish Parliament, in a statement, backed
jointly by the government and the opposition, repeated this call for
setting up a commission of Turkish, Armenian and other independent
historians. Although President Kocharian rejected this offer, I
sincerely hope that he and his government will take the opportunity
to reciprocate this move by PM Erdogan," she said.

"On behalf of the Turkish business community, I urge your opposition to
this resolution. I believe that floor deliberation of such resolutions
would not be conducive to the improvement of relations between Turkey
and the United States nor for the formation of relations between
Turkey and Armenia," she remarked.