Anadolu Agency, Turkey
March 4 2010

Turkey recalls ambassador after US vote on Armenian genocide

Turkey has temporarily recalled its ambassador to United States
minutes after a US congressional panel approved a resolution labelling
the incidents of 1915 as "genocide".

The measure passed the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign
Affairs in a voting of 23-22 on Thursday [4 March].

Shortly after the measure passed the committee voting, Turkish
government said in a statement that Ambassador Namik Tan has been
recalled to Ankara for consultations.

"We condemn this resolution which charges Turkish nation with a crime
that it did not commit," the statement said.

Turkish government also expressed concern that the non-binding
resolution could damage Turkish-US relations and efforts to normalize
relations between Turkey and Armenia.

Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols last October to normalize
relations, however, parliaments of the two countries has not passed
them yet.

Turkey strongly rejects genocide allegations and regards the events as
civil strife in wartime which claimed lives of many Turks and
Armenians.

"Under the influence of political motives, supporters of this
resolution have taken a wrong and unjust stance ignoring historical
facts and difference of opinion among experts," the statement said.

"The resolution includes tangible errors related to the incidents of
1915, and it has completely been prepared with a one-sided approach,"
it said.

Turkey insists that World War I-era incidents should be examined by
historians using scientific tools and archives.

In 2007, a similar resolution was adopted with 27 seven votes against
21 in 2007 but as a result of former President George W. Bush’s
intervention, the resolution was not brought to a House floor vote.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress