TURKEY ANGRY OVER CONGRESS DECISION

Malaysia Sun, Malaysia
Oct 12 2007

Turkey has angrily decided to recall its ambassador to Washington
after a vote in Congress labelling the Turkish killing of Armenians
in 1915 as genocide.

The passing of the resolution has been denounced by Turkish President
Abdullah Gul who, while accepting there were mass killings in 1915-17,
denies genocide.

Armenia alleges that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed in an
organised campaign to force them out of what is now eastern Turkey.

Turkey’s foreign ministry said their ambassador would return to Turkey
for consultations but would probably return to Washington in ten days.

The Bush administration had warned Congress about passing the
resolution saying it would do great harm to relations with a key ally
in NATO.

Turkey is a regional operational hub for the US military, and some
suggest access to Incirlik airbase or other supply lines crucial to
U.S forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, could be affected by the row.

Last year, the lower house of the French parliament declared the
killings of Armenians a genocide and at least 20 countries at various
levels of legislation have passed resolutions on the issue.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress