RICE APPEALS FOR RESTRAINT FROM TURKEY OVER GENOCIDE RESOLUTION BACKLASH
Jay Olle – AHN News Writer
AHN – All Headline News
Oct 17 2007
Moscow, Russia (AHN) – U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has
asked Turkey officials for restraint over counterattacks to Kurdish
rebels across Iraqi border and possible retaliation measures in
reaction to the passage of genocide bill in congress committee.
Rice expressed, in a news conference in Moscow Saturday, she has
spoken with Turkey’s president, prime minister and foreign minister
regarding the house bill officially labeling the killings of Armenians
by Turkish forces during World War I a "genocide."
"They were dismayed," Rice stated. However, the secretary also thought
the Turks are trying to react responsibly. "They recognize how hard
we worked to prevent that vote from taking place," she added.
Rice also acknowledged "it’s a difficult time for the relationship"
between the two allies.
In a move to sustain diplomatic ties with Turkey dented by the
congressional resolution, Washington sent U.S. Assistant Secretary
of State Dan Fried and U.S. Undersecretary of Defense Eric Edelman,
a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey, to Ankara to discuss and prevent
possible Turkish counterattack to the guerilla in northern Iraq.
In an interview with Turkish media, Edelman said they came to Turkey
to express that the Bush administration is opposed to the resolution.
They also assured the Turks the Bush administration will exert
much effort to block the passage of the bill in the House of
Representatives.
The U.S. government is apprehensive Ankara will backlash the passage
of the bill through closure of major airbase and transport systems
in Turkey and possible review of military contracts.
The Pentagon uses Turkey as a staging area and transport route for
much of the supplies that are sent to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Furthermore, Turkey is a major client of American weapons. Ankara
currently spends almost $200 billion on American-made aircraft,
torpedoes and other military equipment.
U.S. is also concerned Turkish military will pursue unilateral action
against Kurdish rebels in Iraq following announcement from Turkish
president Abdullah Gul that "in the case that Armenian allegations
are accepted, there will be serious problems in the relations between
the two countries."
On Wednesday, Turkey recalled its ambassador to the U.S. for
discussions in Ankara.
Turkey Trade Minister Kursad Tuzmen’s visit to the U.S. and a summit
sponsored by Turkish-U.S. Business Council in the United States were
also canceled.
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