RESOLUTION CITING TURKEY FOR ARMENIAN MASSACRE MAY STILL PASS CONGRESS
World Tribune
March 18 2010
WASHINGTON — Officials said the administration of President Barack
Obama has failed to win a commitment by the Democratic-controlled
Congress to stop a resolution that blamed Turkey for the killing of
1.5 million Armenians during World War I. ShareThis
Ankara has threatened to downgrade relations with Washington, including
defense and military, should the non-binding resolution win approval.
"Congress is an independent body, and they are going to do what they
decide to do," Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon said.
In remarks at the Brookings Institution, Gordon said the administration
has not obtained guarantees from Democratic leaders to block the
Armenian resolution before it reaches the House floor.
Earlier, the State Department assured Turkey of such a commitment.
"The United States and Turkey have made a choice to establish a
partnership, and with that partnership comes important responsibilities
on both sides," Gordon said on March 17. "As two large countries with
broad and diverse interests, we will not always see eye-to-eye on every
issue, but we must never forget the larger outlook that we share."
On March 4, the Armenian resolution passed the House Foreign Affairs
Committee by a 23-22 vote. Hours after the vote, Turkey withdrew its
ambassador from the United States for consultations and warned of a
backlash. U.S. aerospace and defense companies have expressed fears
that they would be denied lucrative Turkish military projects.
"We believe that an engaged, active, and cooperative relationship with
Turkey is an important interest of the United States," Gordon said.
Despite the vote, Gordon said Turkey has not reduced cooperation
with the United States. He did not elaborate, but officials said this
included U.S. military activities in Turkey’s Incirlik air force base.
"I think whatever the differences with Congress on this issue, it
is important that we engage and that we talk about these areas,"
Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said.
In a March 15 address to the Atlantic Council, Steinberg said
Turkey remained a major partner in NATO’s stabilization campaign in
Afghanistan. Washington has urged the government of Prime Minister
Recep Erdogan to expand the Turkish contingent in Afghanistan.
"It’s an important partner in NATO," Steinberg said. "It’s an important
partner in working with us in Iraq, where Turkey continues to play a
very constructive and positive force in helping to move that political
process forward. We think we have a strong and constructive engagement
with Turkey and I hope that the Turkish leadership understands the
strong importance we place on this and continues to work with us to
achieve our common objectives."
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