AMBASSADOR SENSOY’S ‘EXIT INTERVIEW’
by John Gizzi
Human Events, DC
Oct 12 2007
In what was apparently his last interview before heading back to
Ankara for consultations with his government, the Turkish ambassador
to the United States spoke to HUMAN EVENTS about the vote in the
House Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday in favor of a controversial
resolution condemning Turkish killings of Armenians in 1915.
Less than twenty-four hours after the 27-to-21 vote in favor of the
symbolic-but-politically incendiary resolution, Ambassador Nabi Sensoy
was recalled to Turkey for consultation with his government.
The recall of an ambassador, which is almost always to protest an
action by the country in which he is an envoy, is rare and, in the
case of Turkey and the United States, dramatic and unprecedented.
"I don’t really remember that this occurred in a long time in our
relationship," Sensoy told HUMAN EVENTS’ Editor Jed Babbin and me,
"It’s an extraordinary indication that Turkey is very much disappointed
in the way things happened yesterday." Turkey — a major U.S. ally
in the war on terror and in NATO — had voiced strong opposition to
the proposed resolution, as did President Bush in an appearance on
the South Lawn of the White House prior to the vote by the House panel.
As to what response Turkey might take — possibly closing down a
U.S. Air Force base or cutting back on its role in the war on terror
— Sensoy told us: "You can appreciate that I’m not in a position to
prejudge what the government might decide to do or what the parliament
might decide to do. So it will be quite impossible for me to speculate
on that.
"But the fact I’m being recalled for consultation is the first
indication of that." He emphasized the significance of his recall,
pointing out that "this is a message, of course, we use in diplomatic
life."
"It is very unusual," he said, underscoring the unprecedented nature
of his recall.
Turkey’s man in Washington told us that he would make it clear to his
government "that the Bush Administration and President Bush himself
were opposed to it, that he made this clear on various occasions."
He contrasted the attitude of the President with that of Speaker Nancy
Pelosi and the Democratic leadership in the House, with whom he spoke
two days ago. In his words, "She made it very clear that if it does
pass the stage of the committee, she is going to bring it to the
[House] floor."
As to why Pelosi is placing so much emphasis on a resolution about
something that occurred more than ninety years ago, Sensoy said "She
said, I think, to the press, about the timing…this was in the cards
for a long time."
Sensoy said "there was no relation" between the issue and Turkey’s
support of the U.S. action in Iraq, that "she has strong opinions
about this," and "when she came to the position of speaker, it seems
she promised to pass this resolution. She simply seemed to be living
up to her promise."
The ambassador warmly recalled Turkey’s long-standing relationship
with the U.S. and "we can’t take each other for granted. . .We have to
show utmost care for the continuation of that wonderful relationship
we have."
However, he quickly added, "anything that will disrupt that, or
constitute a setback, is somethingwe have to think about. And this
is surely one of those things that will constitute a setback."
John Gizzi is Political Editor of HUMAN EVENTS.
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