Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

Resolution Recognizing So-called Genocide to be Discussed in Full
by Turkish Daily News
Posted: Friday, September 29, 2000 11:19 am CST

Diplomatic observers say that the resolution has a strong chance of being accepted by the full committee, and reactions from Turkish officials are continuing. Chief of General Gen. Staff Kivrikoglu and Foreign Minister Cem reiterate that the government and relevant institutions are considering, and will do, what is necessary

ANKARA - TURKISH Daily News

Amid tough reactions from Turkish officials and strong opposition from the U.S. administration, a non-binding resolution recognizing the so-called Armenian genocide is due to be discussed today (Thursday) at the full U.S. House of Representatives International Relations Committee.

Some diplomatic observers say that the resolution has a strong chance of being accepted by the full committee. Meanwhile, Turkish officials continue to react to the ongoing story.

The non-binding resolution, which was approved last week by a U.S. House International Relations Committee specialized subcommittee, calls on President Bill Clinton to label the deaths of a number of Armenians early in the 20th century a genocide. The Clinton administration has expressed strong opposition to the resolution, arguing that it would damage its vital ties with Turkey.

In addition to civilian reactions, Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu said on Wednesday that the United States should have studied its own past before U.S. lawmakers tentatively moved to recognize accusations of a so-called genocide against Armenians.

"This decision is mistaken, I want to underline that," Kivrikoglu said. The comments marked rare public criticism by the military here of the United States, Ankara's chief diplomatic and military partner.

"Countries have to examine what happened in their own past before making such decisions about other countries," the Anatolia news agency quoted Gen. Kivrikoglu as saying in the Aegean city of Izmir.

"If there are worse things in their past they should attend to them and clean them up," he added, without elaborating.

Kivrikoglu said the government was examining options on how to respond to the committee decision, which has yet to be ratified by the full committee or the full House.

"The government and relevant institutions are considering, and will do, what is necessary. Of course, we have contacts through military channels," Kivrikoglu said.

Turkish Ambassador in Washington Baki Ilkin sent a letter to members of the full committee asking them not to approve the resolution.

In his letter, Ilkin once again reiterated that Turco-American relations would be damaged were the resolution passed.

Stressing that if the resolution passes, the Armenian lobby would politicize the issue even more and that Turco-Armenian relation would be affected negatively, Ilkin said that acceptance of the resolution would terminate a possible Turco-Armenian rapprochement.

Cem says Turkey will not remain silent

"This is a move that hurts our relations," Foreign Minister Ismail Cem told private television station NTV on Tuesday night. "Of course, we will not remain silent in the face of this."

"But we will also not be pulled into the game of those Americans or Armenians who organized this provocation," he said.

Cem did not say what kind of measures Turkey would take if the resolution passed Congress, but he added Turkey would keep in mind that the Clinton administration had opposed the resolution.

Moreover, some 200 Turks laid a black wreath outside the U.S. Embassy in Ankara on Tuesday to protest the resolution.

"Down with American imperialism," and "America, don't try our patience," chanted the crowd of sympathizers to the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), a governing coalition partner.

Meanwhile, Republican Party Congressmen James Rogan, who supports the resolution, said that a passage of the bill by the full House would surprise him.

Speaking to Roll Call, a newspaper which covers U.S. congressional news, Rogan said: "It would be a victory for us to pass the resolution in the full committee and then bring it to the full House floor. But I think that it would difficult to get the resolution passed by the full House. If it passes, it would surprise me."

Armenia welcomes subcommittee decision

Armenia welcomed last week's tentative step by U.S. lawmakers towards recognizing accusations that Ottoman Turks carried out genocide against Armenians 85 years ago.

"We welcome the decision of the congressional subcommittee," Armenian Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Ara Papyan said. "This is a serious step towards determining the truth."

The U.S. vote sparked a furious backlash in Turkey.

In the wake of similar measures in the United States and France, it has been learned that another bill recognizing the so-called Armenian genocide could be brought onto the agenda of the Italian Parliament in coming days. The bill was prepared by Northern League Party Group Chairman Giancarlo Pagliarini and signed by 145 members of the Italian Parliament.

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