TURKEY NOT TO COMPROMISE OVER ‘GENOCIDE’ ISSUE

Trend
March 9 2010
Azerbaijan

Turkey will continue consultations concerning the resolution on
Armenian genocide approved by the committee of the U.S. Congress,
by excluding any compromise on this issue, Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu said at a press conference in Ankara, Anadolu agency
reported.

On Thursday the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the U.S. House of
Representatives approved a resolution to recognize the so-called
"Armenian genocide". About 23 congressmen voted for adoption of the
resolution but 22 against it.

Davutoglu said that Ankara continues to consult with ambassador to
Washington Namik Tan, recalled immediately after the adoption of the
resolution. After all the details of the vote in the committee of the
Congress days are collected one of these days, Turkey will announce
about its next steps. Turkish Minister said that in any case, his
country will not compromise on the issue.

"We hope that our colleagues have received all necessary information
on this issue," Davutoglu said.

Armenia and the Armenian lobby state that the predecessor of Turkey
– the Ottoman empire committed "genocide" against Armenians living
in Anatolia in 1915. Armenians willing to recognize this fact in
the world by strengthening propaganda of the so-called "genocide"
in the world countries, achieved its recognition by the parliaments
of some countries.

The Turkish government, describing the adoption of the resolution as a
blow to Turkish-U.S relations, called on Armenia to open all archives
and negotiate face to face, rather than by pressure through the U.S.

Congress.