ITN, UK
March 5 2010

Turkey to push peace with Armenia despite US vote

Fri Mar 5 2010 12:40:26

Turkey said on Friday it would push on with efforts to normalise ties
with Armenia despite a US congressional panel vote labelling as
genocide the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915.

Turkish leaders reacted with fury over the approval on Thursday of the
non-binding resolution by the US House of Representatives Foreign
Affairs Committee, although it was unclear whether the bill would be
considered by the full House.

President Abdullah Gul, whose visit to Armenia in 2008 led to the
peace initiative, said the US vote would hurt efforts to bring peace
and stability to the South Caucasus, a volatile region with pipelines
taking oil and gas to the West.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the US action had jeopardised
chances of Turkey’s parliament ratifying peace accords with Armenia,
but that the government would push on with efforts to resolve disputes
with its old foe.

"We are determined to press ahead with normalisation of relations with
Armenia," Davutoglu told a news conference hours after Turkey recalled
its ambassador from Washington.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan warned of possible damage to relations
with the United States, which could undermine President Barack Obama’s
goal of building a "strategic partnership" with Turkey, a Muslim, yet
secular country.

281ef3af7ce.html