BUSH BACKS TURKEY ON ARMENIANS

Canberra Times
October 7, 2007 Sunday

UNITED STATES President George W.Bush has opposed moves to legally
term the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Armenians during the
Ottoman Empire a genocide, backing Turkey’s stand on the issue.

"The President has described the events of 1915 as ‘One of the greatest
tragedies of the 20th century’, but believes the determination of
whether or not the events constitute a genocide should be a matter
for historical inquiry, not legislation," White House spokesman Gordon
Johndroe said.

The comments came after Mr Bush talked with Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and discussed legislation before the US
Congress, which describes the deaths of Armenians from 1915 to 1923
as genocide. Turkey is a key Muslim ally for the US and a member of
NATO.