TURKEY SEES LOOMING ARMENIAN RESOLUTION IN U.S. AS A RISK FACTOR
Hurriyet
March 3 2009
Turkey
Turkey warned that a legislation that would recognize the Armenian
claims regarding the 1915 incidents could harm Turkey-U.S. relations
as well as the normalization process between Ankara and Yerevan.
"Such a development would effect Turkey-U.S. relations. It may harm the
ongoing process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It hits Turkey-Armenia
relations as well," Babacan told Aksam daily late on Sunday en route to
Egypt, where he attended an international donors’ conference on Gaza.
Armenian lobby organizations have increased theirs efforts to
have their claims regarding the 1915 incidents recognized in the
U.S. Congress. During the election campaign, President Barack Obama
had pledged to recognize the Armenian claims.
"I am not mentioning a threatening rhetoric. I do not like this at
all. We are talking to them (Americans) honestly," Babacan was quoted
as saying by Aksam on Tuesday.
He said Turkey and Armenia, which target full normalization, have
never been this close to resolving the problems between them since
1915, adding that the countries should not miss this chance.
Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic relations and their border
has been closed for more than a decade, as Armenia presses the
international community with the backing of the diaspora to admit
the so-called "genocide" claims instead of accepting Turkey’s call
to investigate the allegations, and over Armenia’s invasion of 20
percent territory of Azerbaijan.
A warmer period began in relations when Turkish President Abdullah
Gul paid a landmark visit to Yerevan in September to watch a World
Cup qualifying football match between the two countries. Both have
been holding contacts at the ministerial level since.
Babacan said a Turkish delegation has been holding talks with the
U.S. officials in Washington and will continue their meetings in
the coming weeks, adding the issue would also be discussed when
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits Turkey on March 7.