US envoys seek to calm Turkey row

BBC
2007/10/13

Two senior US officials have flown to Turkey hoping to stem a
deterioration in the two Nato allies’ relationship.

Eric Edelman, an ex-US ambassador to Ankara, and Assistant Secretary
of State Dan Fried are to hold talks with top Turkish foreign ministry
officials.

The US has criticised Turkish threats to stage cross-border raids on
Kurdish rebel positions in northern Iraq.

Ties have also been strained by a US congressional vote branding the
killing of Armenians in 1915-17 as genocide.

The non-binding vote, approved by a House committee on Wednesday,
prompted Turkey to recall its ambassador from Washington for
consultations.

US President George W Bush had argued against the resolution, saying
its passage would do "great harm" to relations with "a key ally".

Cancelled visit

Mr Edelman and Mr Fried had been accompanying US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice to Moscow.

Their diversion to Ankara was unscheduled, the AFP agency reported.

The dispute over the vote comes amid rising anger in Turkey about
attacks by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a Kurdish separatist
group.

Last Sunday 13 Turkish soldiers were killed in an ambush in Sirnak
province, close to the Iraqi border.

Turkey – which says thousands of PKK fighters are based in Kurdish-run
northern Iraq – has announced preparations for a cross-border attack.
It says it will seek parliamentary approval for a major operation next
week.

The US administration has warned Turkey against launching an incursion
into Iraq, and urged the two neighbours to discuss the problem.

Analysts say the resolution on the Armenian issue may make Turkey less
receptive to US calls for restraint.

Turkish Minister of State Kursad Tuzmen on Saturday cancelled a visit
to Washington.

Meanwhile, Armenian Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian is due to travel to
the US on Wednesday.

Correspondents say the timing of his visit could cause further
tensions with Turkey.

Ankara accepts there were mass killings of Armenians during World War
I but denies genocide.

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

Published: 2007/10/13 13:53:36 GMT

(c) BBC MMVII

Source: 70.stm