INDIRECT THREAT BY THE US AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Feb 17 2010

Before voting the on so-called Armenian genocide bill, US Ambassador
James Jeffrey visited the TGNA in order to hear Turkey’s opinion and
give information. However, contrary to expectations, the speech took
a wrong turn.

The President of the TGNA Foreign Affairs Commission, Murat Mercan,
denoted clearly that if the US House of Representatives ratifes the
so-called Armenian genocide bill, which is going to be discussed on
March 4, US-Turkish relations will be damaged.

Jeffrey made an official statement saying the probability of the
bill passing is 50%. Throughout the speech he referred to Obama,
who is in favor of building good relations with Armenia. After
saying this, Jeffrey indicated the only way for Turkey would have
a chance to prevent the bill’s passage would be the ratifications
of the protocols with Armenia. Hereupon, a deputy of the NMP, Deniz
BölukbaÅ~_ı properly lashed out to the Ambassador, saying ‘What
do you mean exactly? What you are saying is an indirect threat! What
you are doing is unlawful.

We also want from the Turkish government to put the draft resolution
related to unfriendly Turkish-US relations into force. The government
should either withdraw the protocols with Armenia, saying they are
invalid, or vote and reject them as a group.’

Also, Jeffrey could not give a proper answer to Sukru Elekdag who
asked ‘Are you still wanting us to ratify this?’ since it is not an
easy task to reply to a deputy who has already analyzed the decisions
of the Armenian Constitutional Court.

Speechless, Jeffrey just said ‘I am going to submit your concerns
to Washington.’

By Diyar Guldogan (JTW) Wednesday, 17 February 2010 Journal of
Turkish Weekly