LAST MOVE FROM TURKEY BEFORE VOTE IN CONGRESS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

MEMRI, DC
Oct 8 2007

A Turkish parliamentary delegation is on its way to the U.S. as a
last move to prevent the passing of the resolution on alleged Armenian
genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks during the World War I.

Columnist Fatih Cekirge of top selling Turkish daily Hurriyet wrote
that the mandate of the delegation of MPs from AKP, CHP and MHP
is stronger as it comes not only from the government but from the
parliament – that is from the Turkish people – and the AKP MP Egemen
Bagis, who heads the delegation, signaled that the warning they will
deliver to the U.S. will also be very strong.

Turkey has repeatedly said that if the Congress passes the Armenian
resolution U.S.-Turkey relations would suffer. It is now understood
that Turkey will tell the U.S. that it might cut or restrict the
logistical support that Turkey provides the U.S. military in Iraq
through Incirlik airbase – also affecting the future withdrawal of
U.S. from Iraq, via Turkey.

The other dimension is Turkish military’s disappointment with the
U.S for its inaction against the PKK and tolerating the terrorists
based in northern Iraq that launch attacks inside Turkey – a long
time ally of the U.S. and a partner in the war against terrorism.