Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 28 2008
Ankara chides Clinton, Obama on `genocide’
The Turkish capital has expressed regret at recent statements by two
US Democratic presidential candidates, who have successively pledged
to officially recognize the controversial World War I-era killings of
Anatolian Armenians as genocide if they become president.
"Efforts to cast a shadow over our history in the name of an internal
struggle within the party are offending the Turkish nation and
increasing our sadness," the Foreign Ministry said in a written
statement released over the weekend.
In the last 10 days, first Barack Obama and then Hillary Clinton, two
rival candidates, sent written statements to an influential Armenian
diaspora organization, the Washington based-Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA), announcing their support of a resolution
pending at the US Congress for recognition of the allegations on the
controversial issue.
"Politicians who run for the US presidency should act in a more
responsible manner in regard to both history and the future; they
should take pains not to offend a friendly and ally country and its
people via groundless statements; and they should keep in mind the
sensitivities of the Turkish-American relations within this
framework," the ministry also said.