ARMENIAN RESOLUTION BEFORE US CONGRESS COULD HARM TIES: TURKISH FM
NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Feb 7 2007
Gul queried whether Turkey’s losses of three million dead in the
First World War should be considered as genocide.
Guncelleme: 11:24 TSÝ 07 Þubat 2007 CarþambaWASHINGTON – If the US
Congress approved a resolution recognising the so-called Armenian
genocide, relations between Turkey and the US would be seriously
harmed, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said late Tuesday.
Gul said that the alleged massacre was not a political issue and as
such should not be allowed to undermine bilateral ties.
"I believe that the Turkey-the United States relations should not
be affected by such an issue," he said during an address to the US
National Press Club.
"This is not a political matter. I consider it a real threat to our
relations. If such a resolution will be approved, then why we support
each other?"
A resolution has been tabled with the US House of Representatives
calling for formal recognition of the so-called genocide committed
by the Ottoman Empire against its Armenian citizens during the First
World War. Turkey has always strenuously denied that any such genocide
took place.
"The events of 1915 constitute a tragic phase in the history of
Turks and Armenians who have co-existed peacefully for centuries,"
Gul said. "Earlier, Turkey proposed to Armenia to establish a joint
committee of historians to deal with the issue. We have already
opened our archives to researchers. We expect the same thing from
Armenia. However, Armenia has not given a response to our proposal yet.
–Boundary_(ID_T4/9utmvhORkQmtHKbhUMQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
