TURKEY’S BEGINNING TO HARM ITSELF: FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY

22.03.10
Tert.am

American-Turkish Council (ATC) president, former US Ambassador
to Turkey James H. Holmes, criticizing Turkey’s decision not
to participate in an annual conference organized by ATC and the
Turkish-American Business Council (TAÄ°K) in Washington, said that
the situation created by Ankara is beginning to harm Turkey itself.

"That conference aims to develop relations between the two countries
[US and Turkey]; however, one of the parties has decided not to
participate. In this situation, Turkey is beginning to harm itself.

Ambassador Namik Tan should return to Washington," said Holmes in an
interview with Turkish daily Hurriyet.

Turkey’s decision not to participate in the conference comes in
the aftermath of a US congressional panel decision to recognize the
Armenian Genocide.

According to Turkish news source Today’s Zaman, ATC and TAÄ°K have
announced that the 29th Annual Conference on US-Turkish Relations,
scheduled for April 11-14 in Washington, D.C., will not be held
as scheduled.