ENVOY VOICES CONCERN ABOUT BEING RECALLED TO ANKARA

Today’s Zaman
Feb 23 2009
Turkey

Ambassador Nabi Å~^ensoy was recalled to Turkey in 2007 amidst tension
over attempts in the US House of Representatives to pass a resolution
recognizing allegations that Armenians were subjected to genocide in
eastern Anatolia during the First World War years.

Turkey’s ambassador to the United States, who had previously been
recalled to Turkey briefly over prospects of the US Congress passing
a resolution to recognize Armenian genocide claims, has said he is
concerned that such an incident could happen again, warning that a
new crisis of this scope would cause significant damage.

"This was a first in our history. It somehow meant a protest against
US policy," Ambassador Nabi Å~^ensoy said in a speech in New York late
on Friday, referring to Ankara’s 2007 decision to recall him amidst
tension over attempts in the US House of Representatives to pass a
resolution recognizing allegations that Armenians were subjected to
genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in eastern Anatolia. He
had stayed in Ankara for nine days for "consultations" before being
sent back to Washington. "Then everyone understood the seriousness
of the matter and a wrong step was avoided. Now we are facing the
same danger."

President Barack Obama made firm promises during his election campaign
to recognize the genocide claims. US presidents traditionally
issue commemorative messages on every April 24, when Armenians
claim the genocide campaign started, but none has ever used the word
"genocide," dismaying Armenian Americans. Many say Obama could break
the tradition and use the word this time. Separately, the Armenian
lobby is also working to pass a resolution in Congress designating the
World War I-era events as genocide. Observers say prospects for its
passage are greater this time, because, contrary to 2007, when the US
administration worked against the resolution, the new administration
also favors such a move. In addition to Obama, Vice President Joe
Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both pledged to support
the Armenians’ cause during their election campaigns.

"The Turkish nation is ready to struggle altogether against such a
move. I hope that the officials in the new US administration will
understand the importance of Turkey, the meaning of this issue to
the Turkish people and the harm it will bring to Turkish-American
relations," Å~^ensoy said in New York.

He also stressed that there were serious chances for progress in
efforts to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia. "I am happy
to tell you that we are close to that," Å~^ensoy said, referring to
prospects for normalization in Turkey’s ties with Armenia. He added
that Turks and Armenians would have a good opportunity to discuss
their problems unless the US Congress passes a "genocide" resolution.

Turkey severed its diplomatic relations and closed its border with
Armenia in protest of Armenia’s occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh in a
territorial dispute with Turkey’s ally Azerbaijan. Normalization of
ties, Ankara says, is contingent upon Armenian withdrawal from Azeri
territory, as well as a reversal in Yerevan’s policy of supporting
diaspora efforts to win international recognition for genocide claims.

The Turkish ambassador also said Turkish leaders have recently invited
Obama to visit Turkey to attend a meeting of the UN-backed Alliance
of Civilizations (UNAOC) in Ä°stanbul, slated for April. Turkish
officials say Obama would send the world a message in support of
East-West dialogue by paying an early visit to Turkey, which sees
itself as a bridge between the East and the West.

Å~^ensoy said Obama was invited to the UNAOC meeting, which will be
held in Turkey in April.

US congressman: ‘Genocide’ resolution not in US interests

Meanwhile, Robert Wexler, the co-chairman of the US-Turkey Caucus
in the US Congress, also warned that US moves to grant recognition
to Armenian genocide claims would not serve the interests of the
United States. He also warned that any US step in the direction
of endorsing the genocide charges would hurt attempts to normalize
relations between Turkey and Armenia.

Wexler, who had talks with Turkish leaders in Ankara during a visit
last week, said at a meeting with a group of journalists before
wrapping up his trip that the US Congress should focus on ways to help
bring about a Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. The process of dialogue
picked up momentum when President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan last
September to watch a game between the national soccer teams of the
two countries. Since then diplomats have been holding talks behind
closed doors on normalizing relations.

Wexler also appeared to dismiss arguments that Turkey is moving away
from the West because it is pursuing a policy that calls for closer
dialogue with Middle East actors. He said Turkey decided that it
belongs with the West a long time ago. According to Wexler, the US and
Turkey may have different tactics in the Middle East, particularly
concerning the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and dialogue with the
radical Palestinian group Hamas, but they share the same objectives.

The US congressman also praised the progress made by Turkey’s
democracy, recalling how the state establishment and the people were
alienated from each other when he first visited Turkey in 1991.