USA: Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdul Gul says if U.S. Congress condemns as genocide killings of Armenians in 1915-1919, it would harm Turkey-US relations

Turkey's foreign minister was in Washington, D.C. expressing his country's opposition to a proposed U.S. Congressional resolution condemning as genocide the early 20th century killing of Armenians and warning that a resolution would harm Turkey-US relations. Abdullah Gul met with his American counterpart, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to discuss this and other issues, including the war in Iraq where Turkey plays a key role in U.S. operations. Turkey's foreign minister, Abdullah Gul, met with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday (February 6, 2007). The meeting comes at a tense time for U.S.-Turkey relations following proposed U.S. Congressional legislation which would condemn killings of Armenians which took place from 1915-1919 as genocide. The two ministers shook hands at the State Department and recognized a relationship based on shared values. "And I can just say welcome to my colleague, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. We've met a number of times and Turkey is a strategic ally, a global partner, shares our values. And we have a great deal to talk about today, so I look forward to working with you and talking to you, but thanks for being here," said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. after the meeting with the U.S. Foreign Secretary, Gul said that his government is opening its archives and conducting a study of the killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians in Anatolia and his country will face up to the conclusions of this study, but that the issue should not factor into U.S. relations. He stated his opposition against a U.S. Congressional resolution that would condemn as genocide this historical event. "Sometimes local politics hijacks countries. I believe that Turkish-American relations should not be taken hostage by this issue. We are very open. . .we are very much ready to talk and to go together with this issue. It should not be a political issue. Therefore I see this as a real threat to our relationship - while we are having a relationship in these difficult fields, while we are fighting shoulder to shoulder, while we are supporting each other and facing these challenges - this resolution if it is accepted - I believe that if it happen(s), it will be a real shock," Gul said. Gul mentioned the many important issues for which Turkey shares common goals with the United States, including Afghanistan, the Mideast peace process, and Iraq, where Turkey is crucial for U.S. operations. Gul stressed his country's commitment to ending the war in Iraq and fighting terrorism in the region. "At any rate, Iraq cannot be left to become a blind spot in the global war against terrorism. All Iraqi actors and all interested parties must be as determined as Turkey is in fighting terrorist organizations. This should include the one now based in northern Iraq, the PKK terrorist organization," said Gul. "Turkey is a vital ally and huge asset for Iraq and the U.S. effort."

ITN Source | February 7, 2007

Tags:. .century. .terrorist. .terrorism. .process. .prime