Voice of America
March 5 2010

US Genocide Vote Riles Turkey

A U.S. congressional committee approved a resolution condemning the
1915 slaughter of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide,
rejecting a last-minute Obama administration effort to derail it and
putting a chill on relations with Turkey.

Following the passing of the motion, Ankara’s reaction was swift. Its
ambassador was immediately recalled from Washington, for what is
described as consultations. The Turkish foreign minister Ahmet
Davutoglu was quick to condemn the vote.

"We will not be pressured by these decisions," he said. "It is not for
other parliaments to judge our history. Turkey is capable of dealing
with these issues alone. It is a matter of national honor."

Turkey strongly disputes the charge that it committed genocide against
its Armenian minority in 1915. It says the deaths occurred in a civil
war in which Turks died too. Along with it being a matter of honor,
observers say Ankara fears if the U.S. recognized the genocide it
would open the door to massive compensation claims from descendants of
survivors of the killings living in the United States.

The repercussions of Ankara’s anger over the U.S. vote could
ironically hit Armenia first. Last October the Turkish and Armenian
presidents signed a protocol to normalize relations. Davutoglu warned
those rapprochement efforts could be now in jeopardy.

"The intrusion of all the other parties will set an obstacle for this
normalization process," he said. "I am saying this to the House of
Representatives, whatever involvement you take will harm the big
historical peace of Armenians and Turkey."

Criticism from the Turkish government has also been growing over what
they say was a failure by the White House to lobby against the motion.
In the days running up to vote, Turkish diplomats voiced increasing
frustration over what it called for lack of effort by the White House
to oppose the motion.

The Turkish foreign minister warned that U.S.-Turkish relations have
been damaged. Ankara has repeated warned of consequences to the U.S.
over the passing of the motion.

But it remains unclear whether Ankara would carry out such a threat.
Observers say what may determine such a decision is whether President
Barrack Obama uses his political muscle like his predecessors have
done in the past and stop the motion progressing to a full vote by
the House of Representatives.

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