BUSH WARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DECISION

ABC News, USA
Oct 8 2007

The US President George W Bush has spoken out against a move by
Congress to define the mass killing of Armenians during World War I
as genocide.

Mr Bush says the resolution has the potential to damage the US’s
relationship with Turkey.

The Turkish Government disputes Armenian claims that 1.5 million
Armenians died under Turkish rule in the last days of the Ottoman
Empire.

Mr Bush has urged members of the House of Representatives Foreign
Affairs Committee to vote against the resolution.

"We all deeply regret the tragic suffering of the Armenian people
that began in 1915," he said.

"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."

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has echoed Mr Bush’s saying
Turkey is a major hub for US military operations in the Middle East.

"The passage of this resolution would be very destabilising to our
efforts in the Middle East, very destabilising to our efforts in Iraq
and Afghanistan," she said.

"Turkey, as an important strategic ally is very critical in supporting
the efforts we’re making in these crucial areas.