Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

MGK says Turkey will take more effective precautions if 'Genocide' Developments Progress.
by TURKISH Daily News, 30 September 2000
Posted: Tuesday, October 03, 2000 06:43 am CST

Diplomatic sources say Turkey welcomed the postponement of the vote on the so-called Armenian genocide resolution and evaluated the decision as a 'surprise,' adding that Turkey is expecting the US to continue its efforts to prevent the resolution from going through

ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

Turkey's National Security Council (MGK) stated on Friday that Turkey would take more effective precautions depending on how developments regarding the resolution recognizing the so-called Armenian genocide unfolded.

In a statement released after the meeting it was said that the claims brought to the U.S. House of Representatives' agenda by fanatic Armenians regarding the so-called genocide were viewed by the MGK with great regret.

It was thought that these attempts, together with subjective judgements and false documents, would not provide any positive contribution to world or regional peace.

Turkey cautiously welcomes resolution's postponement After the House International Relations Committee on Thursday delayed a vote to approve the resolution recognizing so-called Armenian genocide for another week, Turkish diplomatic sources said that Turkey welcomed the decision.

Speaking to the Turkish Daily News, diplomatic sources cautiously said that the decision had come as a surprise, adding that Turkey expected the U.S. administration to continue its efforts in order to prevent the resolution from going forward.

One source thanked Pentagon and Department of State officials, particularly new U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson, who flew in from Ankara to attend the committee meeting. The same source said that U.S. government officials were aware of Turkey's importance.

The non-binding resolution, approved by a House subcommittee last week, calls for U.S. President Bill Clinton to label the deaths of a number of Armenians early in the 20th century a genocide and to provide education for U.S. executive branch employees on the so-called Armenian genocide.

It is no secret that the resolution has political overtones. One of the main sponsors, Rep. Jim Rogan, is locked in a tight re-election bid in California. His Pasadena-area district is home to a large concentration of Armenians and passage of the resolution could give his re-election bid a boost.

Clinton administration officials warned that its passage would damage U.S.-Turkish relations, and he urged the House to drop it.

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told the International Relations Committee on Wednesday that passage would affect not only relations with Turkey but also those between Turkey and Armenia and could complicate Greek-Turkish peace negotiations over Cyprus.

"It's very important that this resolution not go forward," she said. "This something that is of great concern to us because this resolution is not helpful."

Ambassador Pearson, also speaking before the committee, noted that U.S. warplanes were using an air base in Turkey to police the no-fly zones in northern Iraq and that Turkey was a major U.S. trade partner, particularly in arms, agriculture and other commodities.

"People in Turkey regard this resolution as directed against them. They view it as something directed against the current state of Turkey," he warned. "If this resolution passes, there will be a strong Turkish reaction."

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer once again reiterated Turkey's concerns about the resolution and called on the U.S. administration to continue its efforts to prevent the resolution from advancing any further in the legislative pipeline.

Presidential spokesman Metin Yalman and Presidential Advisor on Foreign Issues Tacan Ildem held a joint press conference on Friday in which they presented Sezer's thoughts regarding the resolution.

"President Sezer, in his New York meeting with President Clinton, expressed Turkey's views on this resolution. Once again he reiterated that its passage would damage Turkish-U.S. relations. President Sezer wants the U.S. administration to continue its efforts to prevent the resolution and expects it to show its dominance over Congress," Ildem said.

After nearly four hours of deliberations, a House of Representatives committee on Thursday delayed a vote to approve the politically explosive resolution.

The influential International Relations Committee was ready to vote on the measure on Thursday, but opponents tried to remove the resolution's sting by scrapping all references to the term "genocide" and then successfully using a series of maneuvers to postpone the vote until next week.

"This legislation at this point in time in U.S.-Turkish relations is singularly counterproductive to our national interest," said Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), who played an important role in the postponement.

He said the resolution would "humiliate and insult" Turkey, a major NATO ally, and that the "unintended results would be devastating."

"This is an issue that historians should address, not members of the Congress," Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) said.

"There is genocide denial in Turkey. That is what this is all about," said Rep. Edward Royce, also a California Republican.

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