Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

Bush sees "obstacles" in U.S. ties with Turkey
by Reuters, February 2, 2001
Posted: Tuesday, February 06, 2001 00:57 am CST

ANKARA, Feb 2 (Reuters) - New U.S. President George W. Bush said in a letter to Turkey's prime minister on Friday that he saw "obstacles" in his country's future ties with Ankara, but predicted they would be overcome.

Bush, replying to Bulent Ecevit's congratulatory message on the U.S. president's inauguration last month, said the future also promised "great opportunities" of U.S. cooperation with NATO ally Turkey.

"No doubt, we will encounter some obstacles in the coming years," Bush said in the letter.

He did not specify what the problems might be but relations between the two countries were recently strained by accusations in the U.S. congress late last year that Ottoman Turks committed genocide against Armenians 85 years ago.

Congress eventually decided not to vote on a resolution embracing the accusations after then-President Bill Clinton warned it would damage ties with Turkey and compromise U.S. security interests in the Caucasus and Middle East.

Turkey angrily rejects charges of genocide against Armenians in 1915, saying both sides suffered losses during partisan fighting as the Ottoman empire crumbled.

Turkey and the United States have a close and growing cooperation in a range of fields such as energy, defence and foreign policy.

But differences remain, particularly over Iraq where Turkey wants to see an end to a trade embargo with its neighbour.

"I am sure that we can overcome these obstacles through mutual respect, cooperation and a spirit of open dialogue," Bush said in his letter, a copy of which was faxed to Reuters.

"The future promises great opportunities as well."

The Bush administration last month assured Washington's support would continue for a $3 billion planned pipeline to ship Caspian oil through Turkey to western markets.

Turkey hosts a U.S.-led airforce that patrols the skies of breakaway northern Iraq to protect Kurds there against any attack by Baghdad. The Kurdish-run enclave has been outside the Iraqi administration's control since the 1991 Gulf War.

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