Today, Azerbaijan
March 6 2010
Experts: U.S. not to allow recognition of "Armenian genocide", as this
will cause damage to its relations with Turkey
06 March 2010 [13:55] – Today.Az
The process of recognition of the so-called "Armenian genocide" will
not go on in the U.S. Congress after its recognition by the Foreign
Affairs Committee, as in this case, the United States and Turkey would
suffer irreparable damage, experts say.
"If this resolution will be recognized in the U.S. Senate that would
have an extremely negative effect on the U.S-Turkish relations, which
in turn could destabilize the important region in such a potentially
promising moment," European expert on the Caucasus Ziba Norman told
Trend News. "The adoption of such resolution is not of U.S.
interests."
U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday adopted 23 votes
to 22 a resolution recognizing the so-called "Armenian genocide".
Armenia claims that the Ottoman Empire committed genocide against
Armenians living in Anatolia in 1915. Making greater efforts to
promote the issue internationally, Armenians have achieved its
recognition by parliaments of some countries.
The Turkish government has expressed dissatisfaction with the decision
of the U.S. Congress committee and said that it was a blow to
Turkish-American relations.
The intervention of a third party, in this case the U.S., in relations
between Armenia and Turkey, complicates the process of reconciliation
between the countries, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said.
The minister considers erroneous view that the adoption of the
resolution could put pressure on Ankara to ratify the Armenian-Turkish
protocols.
According to experts, adoption of a resolution recognizing the
so-called "Armenian genocide" will not go on further the Foreign
Affairs Committee.
The House of Representatives and U.S. Senate are not likely to support
the resolution on the so-called "Armenian genocid" recognized by the
International Relations Committee, U.S. expert on South Caucasus and
Turkey Mark N. Katz believes.
"But will the resolution then be passed by the House of
Representatives as a whole? But will the Senate also pass the
resolution? In my view, this is highly unlikely–if only because it
is very difficult for the Senate to pass anything that is
controversial," Politics Professor at the Public and International
Affairs Department at George Mason University Mark Katz wrote Trend
News in an e-mail.
Prior to discussions, the U.S. President Barack Obama advised Congress
not to adopt resolution on genocide, CNN Turk reported.
The observers believe even the fact of adoption of the resolution in
the U.S Congress Committee have a negative impact on the U.S-Turkey
relations.
In case of adoption of resolution on the so-called "Armenian genocide"
by the U.S. Congress, Ankara should develop a strategy for further
action, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Adviser on
Eurasia Geybulla Ramazanoglu believes.
"Turkey will use all its capabilities to prevent adoption of a
resolution on the so-called "Armenian genocide" by the U.S. Congress.
Even if the U.S Congress will make a decision on the recognition of
the genocide, this will not affect Turkey so mush, but Ankara must now
develop a strategy for further action" he told Trend News over the
telephone from Ankara.
How this affects US-Turkish relations depends on how Turkey reacts,
Katz said. "If both the House and the Senate pass the resolution,
US-Turkish relations are highly likely to be negatively affected. But
this, I believe, is highly unlikely," he added.
However, Turkey may react negatively to approval of the resolution by
just the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he said. "I would hope not,
but if it does, this will actually increase the chances that the full
House and perhaps even the Senate will also approve the measure," Katz
added.
The Azerbaijani Presidential Administration categorically condemned
the adoption of the resolution recognizing the so-called "Armenian
genocide" by the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs
Committee.
Such step by the U.S congressmen is mistaken and unfair, Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration Socio-Political Department Head Ali
Hasanov said in his interview with the media outlets.
"We believe this decision also does not correlate strongly with the
interests of the United States and the American people, and seriously
damages the international image of this country," he said.
Hasanov also expressed confidence that receiving the required
assessment from the U.S Congress House of Representatives, the Foreign
Affairs Committee’s decision will be withdrawn, and the U.S.
government will be released from this unfair responsibility.
According to observers, events taking place in the U.S. Congress could
also nullify the efforts of the United States to normalize the
Armenian-Turkish relations.
The U.S-Turkish relations have reached a higher level, and the U.S.
should not risk the progress made in resolving the Armenian-Turkish
relations, considering the matter, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu said March 4.
"The work done thus far towards normalization of relations with
Armenia would be undone. Of course, this will mostly affect the
Armenian people," Director of the British Transatlantic Institute
Norman added.
According to Norman, Turkey’s role is changing and it sees itself as
shaper of the region.
"The Armenian lobby, who have a one dimensional approach, largely
ignoring the realities of the geopolitical situation, and the hard
facts of life in Armenia, have been given some space to manoeuvre as
the protocols to normalization relations have not been ratified as
yet, by either Turkey or Armenia. The whole affair shows just how
tricky Davutoglu’s laudable policies will be to implement," the expert
said.
/Trend News/
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