BLUNT: RESOLUTION CONDEMNING OTTOMAN EMPIRE SETS IN MOTION DANGEROUS CHAIN OF EVENTS
Earthtimes, UK
Oct 17 2007
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In response to the
Turkish Parliament’s vote to authorize their troops’ incursion into
Iraq, House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) today strongly urged
Speaker Nancy Pelosi to reconsider bringing a resolution to the floor
condemning as genocide the actions taken by Ottoman Turks against
Armenians 90 years ago. Blunt issued the following statement: "Today,
as expected, Turkey’s parliament passed a measure authorizing their
troops to enter Iraq – making an already tense situation along Iraq’s
northern border even worse. At a time when we are trying to bring
stability and security to the region, this resolution would needlessly
imperil American diplomatic credibility. And though it is important
that the Turkish Prime Minister and his Government exercise due caution
and restraint, this resolution would provide cover to those in Turkey
who seek to destabilize the region by invading Iraqi Kurdistan.
"Earlier this year, the speaker said that Democrats would are new
longstanding alliances that have advanced our national security
objectives.’ Moving this disastrous bill to the House floor would
absolutely contradict that promise and demonstrate a wholesale lack of
judgment on matters related to foreign policy and national security. I
urge the speaker to do the right thing and reconsider bringing it to
the House floor."
NOTE: Turkey’s parliament today approved a potential cross-border
military offensive against Kurdish rebels in Iraq who have conducted
terrorist activities inside Turkey. The government of Turkey must
still order the operation before it can begin.
Speaker Pelosi promised in her "A New Direction for America," to
"…renew longstanding alliances that have advanced our national
security objectives."
Congressman Blunt signed a letter to Speaker Pelosi today along with
44 bipartisan Members, urging her not to bring the resolution to the
House floor.
House Republican Whip Roy Blunt