Public Television of Armenia
March 5 2010

Armenian minister downplays Turkish reaction to USA’s vote on "genocide"

Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan has downplayed Turkey’s
reaction to the US Congress committee’s ruling on the alleged Armenian
Genocide.

In an interview with the state-owned Armenian Public TV’s 1700 gmt
news bulletin on 5 March, Nalbandyan likened the situation to that
after France’s recognition of the genocide.

"If we follow statements made in Turkey, publications made in Turkey
during the past days, those reminded me year 2001 in Paris [when
France officially recognized the Armenian genocide]. Same statements,
same publications, same warnings, same recalling of the ambassador
[Turkish ambassador to France]. The ambassador came back after some
time, and these relations [French-Turkish] relations continued to
develop in a regular fashion" he said.

Turkey has temporarily recalled its ambassador to the USA after
approval of the resolution on genocide’s recognition by the foreign
affairs committee of the House of Representatives. Turkey has said
this may harm the process of ratification of Armenian-Turkish
protocols.