U.S FORMER SECRETARIES OF STATE URGE CONGRESS TO PREVENT RESOLUTION FROM REACHING HOUSE FLOOR
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 27 2007
U.S former secretaries of state appealed to Speaker of the House of
Representatives Nancy Pelosi on not putting the so-called Armenian
genocide resolution to a vote, APA’s US bureau reports.
Madeleine K. Albright, James A. Baker III, Warren Christopher,
Lawrence S. Eagleburger, Alexander M. Haig, Henry A. Kissinger,
Colin L. Powell and George P. Shultz who are playing important role
in domestic and foreign policy of U.S. at present demanded it.
Formers stated that Res. 106 would harm their foreign policy objectives
to promote reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia, also strain
their relations with Turkey, and endanger US national security
interests in the region, including the safety of their troops in Iraq
and Afghanistan.
Influential political figures stated that they do not minimize or
deny the enormous significance of the horrible tragedy suffered by
ethnic Armenian from 1915 to 1923. It has been longstanding U.S.
policy to encourage reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia and
to urge the government of Turkey to acknowledge the tragedy. They
believe that a public statement by the U.S. Congress at this juncture
is likely to undermine what has been painstakingly achieved to date.
They also recognized important contributions Turkey is making to
U.S. national security, including security and stability in the Middle
East and Europe. The United States continues to rely on Turkey for its
geo-strategic importance. Turkey is also a transit hub for non-OPEC
oil and gas and remains key to our efforts to help the Euro-Atlantic
community bolster its energy security by providing alternative supply
sources and routes around Russia and Iran. Turkey is an indispensable
partner to their efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The popularly elected Turkish Grand National Assembly might react
strongly to a House resolution, as it did to a French National
Assembly resolution a year ago. The result could endanger their
national security interests in the region, including their troops in
Iraq and Afghanistan, and damage efforts to promote reconciliation
between Armenia and Turkey. The formers strongly urged Nancy Pelosi
to prevent the resolution from reaching the house floor.