BUSH TO CONGRESS: DROP GENOCIDE TAG

InTheNews.co.uk, UK
Oct 10 2007

George Bush fears Turkey will be offended if the resolution passes

United States senators must not jeopardise American relations with
Turkey over the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Armenians during
the second world war, president George Bush has said.

The Senate foreign affairs committee is to vote on a resolution which
would describe the deaths as "genocide" – a highly controversial term
which Turkish leaders have repeatedly rebutted for nearly a century.

Although non-binding, experts say the resolution could harm relations
between Washington and Ankara because of the strong feelings the
accusations still create.

Adding the comment to the end of a brief speech on foreign intelligence
surveillance legislation, Mr Bush said: "We all deeply regret the
tragic suffering of the Armenian people that began in 1915."

He concluded: "This resolution is not the right response to these
historic mass killings, and its passage would do great harm to our
relations with a key ally in Nato and in the global war on terror."

Commentators say Turkey is an important strategic ally for the US in
the Middle East. Its proximity to Iraq and geographical significance
as a hub for energy roots makes it a vital bridge to the region.

At least 500,000 Armenians are acknowledged to have died during the
first world war and, although some research indicates the deaths were
systematically carried out by the Turkish army, those who make such
accusations still face reprisals.

In January this year the editor of Turkey’s only Armenian newspaper,
53-year-old Hrant Dink, was killed in Istanbul over the issue. His
death was met with mass protests on the city’s streets.