TURKISH FM COMMENTS ON US VOTE ON ARMENIAN BILL, RELATIONS WITH MAURITANIA

Anadolu Agency
March 8 2010
Turkey

Ankara: Turkish foreign minister on Monday said his country would not
bow down to any pressure over the course of relations with Armenia
after a US House panel had adopted a resolution over the tragic events
of 1915 – shortly before the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

"We will maintain our peaceful perspective but we will not let
anyone put pressure on Turkey over issues on which we can give no
concessions. We hope our counterparts on this issue had received the
message," Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters at a joint press conference
with his Mauritanian counterpart Naha Mint Mouknass in capital Ankara.

US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee last Thursday
adopted the resolution with 23 votes against 22, raising concerns
that the approval might hurt rapprochement between Ankara and Yerevan,
which have recently signed protocols to open their border and resume
diplomatic relations.

Turkey has recalled its ambassador in Washington, Namik Tan, to Ankara
for consultations shortly after the House panel vote.

Davutoglu said he had met with Tan today, adding that their
consultations would continue for some time.

Davutoglu told reporters that Turkey and Mauritania are set to open
embassies in each other’s countries.

The Turkish foreign minister said the two countries had a deep rooted
history of cooperation, adding that Turkey considered Mauritania as
"a country of special importance."

Davutoglu said Turkey is set to introduce a special training programme
for young Mauritanian diplomats, adding that the two countries had
also agreed to cooperate in mining sector.

Davutoglu said the two countries also had been cooperating on military
issues in a bid to boost Mauritania’s stability.