ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION: TURKEY DOESN’T THREATEN BUT WARNS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
03.03.2009 15:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Estranged neighbors Turkey and Armenia are getting
closer to normalize their ties, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan
said.

Meanwhile, he warned adoption of Armenian Genocide resolution by
U.S. Congress will "harm the process."

"We are not using a threatening rhetoric. We are not saying ‘if you
pass this resolution, we will do this and that.’ Honestly, we are
telling them [the Americans] about the current situation in the South
Caucasus," Babacan said en route to Egypt.

"A resolution between Turkey and Armenia has never been that
close. Where we stand now is the closest point ever to a settlement
with Armenia since 1915. I’m not saying we’ve reached a solution,
but we are getting close to it." Asked what he meant by a "solution,"
he explained: "Full normalization."

"The U.S. should not interfere with the process that is underway
in Armenia," said Babacan, reiterating that Turkey’s strategic ties
with the United States will be harmed if Washington recognizes the
Armenian Genocide.

"We have a historic opportunity now. The current work being done in
the South Caucasus is not something that you can find every day,"
he said, Today’s Zaman reports.