CLINTON USES DIPLOMATIC LANGUAGE TO OPPOSE ARMENIAN RESOLUTION

Hurriyet
http://www.hurriyetdailynews. com/n.php?n=clinton-uses-diplomatic-language-to-op pose-armenian-resolution-2010-02-26
Feb 26 2010
Turkey

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used diplomatic language
in opposing an Armenian "genocide" resolution on which a House of
Representatives panel will vote next week.

"We are working very hard to assist Armenia and Turkey in their
[reconciliation] efforts and we would like to continue to support that
effort and not be diverted in any way at all," Clinton said Thursday
at a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

In referring to "diversions," Clinton was apparently alluding
to Turkey’s position that any U.S. congressional approval of the
"genocide" bill would effectively kill its normalization process
with Armenia.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee is scheduled to vote on the
resolution March 4. If the bill passes the committee, it will then
be prepared for a full legislative vote.

"The normalization process, which carries important benefits for both
sides, should take place without preconditions and within an obvious,
reasonable timeframe," Clinton said.

She also recalled President Barack Obama’s Armenian Remembrance Day
statement, saying, "[The United States’] interest remains a full,
frank and just acknowledgement of the facts related to the historical
events. But the best way to do that, with all respect, is for the
Armenian and Turkish people themselves to address the facts of their
past as part of their efforts to move forward."

Nagorno-Karabakh dispute

Clinton also said the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, Turkey’s staunch ally, is not a precondition for the
normalization process between Turkey and Armenia.

At the same time, however, she said the issue was central to long-term
regional stability in the Caucasus.

While responding to a question on the Cyprus issue, Clinton said
Washington is working hard to support the U.N.-backed mediation to
solve the long-standing dispute. "Some progress has been made. There
have been intensive negotiations over the last six weeks, but a lot
more needs to be done."

Also on Thursday, Clinton appeared before the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations and related programs,
where Armenian Caucus co-Chairman Representative Mark Kirk (R-Ill.)
thanked Clinton for voting for the Armenian "genocide" resolution
in the past as a senator, adding that he hopes Clinton would let the
resolution pass this time as well.

Clinton, however, emphasized the importance of the dialogue between
Turkey and Armenia, claiming the administration believes it is
appropriate for the U.S. to continue helping the ratification of
the protocols.

Clinton also told a panel of legislators reviewing the foreign affairs
budget for the 2011 fiscal year that the record U.S. budget deficit
and debt are a growing national security concern.

"It is heartbreaking to me to know that 10 years ago, we had a balanced
budget, and we were on the way to paying down the debt of the United
States of America," Clinton said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress