Agence France Presse, France
March 8 2009
Turkey warn Obama against ‘genocide’ recognition
ANKARA (AFP) ‘ Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Sunday there
was a "risk" that US President Barack Obama would recognise the
massacre of Armenians a century ago as genocide.
But Babacan said in an interview with the NTV television channel that
such a move would only impede efforts to reconcile Turkey and Armenia.
Obama, who is expected to visit Turkey in April, said several times
during his election campaign that he would recognise the 1915-1917
massacres under the Ottoman Empire as genocide.
The United States has previously condemned the killings while not
calling them genocide to avoid tensions with Turkey, a NATO member and
key Middle East ally.
"I still see a risk," Babacan said. "Mr Obama made the promise five
times in a row."
He added however that "The new American administration understands
Turkey’s sensibilities better today" and called on the United States
not to interfere in the dispute between the neighbours.
"It would not be rational for a third country to take a position on
this topic. A bad step by the United States would only worsen the
process" of reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey.
The two countries offer starkly different accounts of the events, and
the dispute has been a major obstacle in relations between Ankara and
Yerevan.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million people died between 1915 and 1917 in
orchestrated killings as the Ottoman Empire fell apart. More than 20
countries have recognised the killings as genocide.
Turkey rejects the genocide label and argues that between 300,000 and
500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when
Armenians took up arms for independence in eastern Anatolia and sided
with invading Russian troops.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced during a visit to
Ankara on Saturday that Obama would visit Turkey "within the next
month or so". The visit is expected in April.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
