ANKARA PLAYS AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ CARDS
Fulya Ozerkan

Hurriyet
/n.php?n=turkey-regrets-genocide-resolution-2010-0 3-01
March 1 2010
Turkey

Ankara has threatened that U.S. expectations from Turkey regarding
Afghanistan and Iraq may not be fulfilled if the U.S. Congress passes
the controversial Armenian "genocide" resolution, which will be voted
on this week.

Rep. Howard L. Berman, who chairs the U.S. Foreign Affairs Committee
and is backing the resolution, plans to bring the resolution
categorizing the killings of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman
Empire as "genocide" before the panel Thursday. If the bill passes
the committee, then it could go to a full vote in the House.

While Ankara has conveyed its concerns over the resolution to
Washington at various levels, it also plans to play the Afghanistan
and Iraq cards, warning that the passage of the genocide resolution
would harm the Turkish-U.S. partnership and cause Ankara to not
fulfill U.S. requests on the two challenging issues.

Washington is satisfied with Turkish diplomacy and soft power in
Afghanistan, with U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan
Richard Holbrooke praising Turkey for knowing "how to speak with
Afghans like Afghans." Washington also wants the country to be more
engaged in the war-torn country, it has been learned. Washington also
needs Turkish support for withdrawal from Iraq.

Turkey regrets the vote

The Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed regret Monday about the U.S.

Foreign Affairs Committee readying to put the resolution to vote this
week, calling on the members to act responsibly.

"We expect the [U.S.] House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs
Committee to reject the draft resolution that would harm the
relationship between Turkey and the United States and put a dent
in the normalization of Turkish-Armenian ties," Foreign Ministry
spokesman Burak Ozugergin said in written response to a question.

Turkey’s concerns over such a resolution have been conveyed to U.S.

officials at various levels, the spokesman said.

"We want to believe the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee are
aware of the harm that will be caused by the adoption of the draft
resolution to Turkish-U.S. relations, as well as the efforts for
peace and stability in the South Caucasus, and that they will act
with a feeling of responsibility," he said.

Two groups of Turkish deputies are visiting the United States to
prevent the adoption of the controversial resolution.

The first group is led by Turkish Parliament Foreign Affairs
Commission head Murat Mercan and includes opposition and ruling party
deputies. The second group, meanwhile, includes Turkish Parliament
U.S. Caucus head Suat Kınıklıoglu of the ruling Justice and
Development Party.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned a wrong step
would harm efforts to normalize Turkish-Armenian relations.

"If a wrong step is taken there [in the U.S.], that will deal a blow
to the process," he said, referring to the government efforts to
engage with Armenia. "We are in contact. A group of Turkish deputies
is currently in the U.S. A wrong step on March 4 and on April 24 will
sabotage the process. I hope the members of the Congress will observe
this sensitivity."