TURKISH MINISTER TELLS DELEGATION NOT TO VISIT USA OVER ARMENIAN BILL
Sabah, Turkey
Feb 7 2007
by Zubeyde Yalcin, Hulya Karabagli, Ceyda Karaaslan: "Lobbying
Delegation Shocked With ‘Do Not Come’ Message"
A Turkish National Assembly delegation was planning to visit the United
States in an effort to prevent the adoption of the Armenian bill
[bill on alleged genocide of Armenians by Turks]. First, there was
a crisis over the formation of the delegation. Then, the delegation
received a shocking message by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul saying,
"Do not come."
Gul sent the message, which indicated that things were not going well,
to Justice and Development Party [AKP] Duzce Deputy Yasar Yakis,
who is expected to head the delegation. It was planned that the
delegation would be made up of AKP deputies Mehmet Dulger, Murat
Mercan, Erol Cebeci, and Egemen Bagis.
The delegation would tell the members of the House of Representatives
and other officials about Talat Pasha, who was killed in the street
just like Hrant Dink. Republican People’s Party Deputy Chairman Onur
Oymen said, "We were not invited."