Chairperson of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, said that "the threat posed by terrorist organization PKK was not just to Turkey but also to U.S. interests in the region".
Delivering remarks on the occasion of the Turkish Republic Day Celebration in Dallas, Ros-Lehtinen said that the United States was playing an indispensable role in the battle against the PKK.
Touching on the incidents of 1915, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen said that an issue of concern to her was the effort to label the violence that occurred during the fall of the Ottoman Empire as "genocide".
"This is a deeply emotional issue, and I do not believe that it is an appropriate subject for Congress to become involved in," said Ros-Lehtinen.
Touching on Turkey and the "Arab Spring", Ros-Lehtinen said that "the Turkish model of a modern, democratic and predominantly Muslim nation was particularly valuable now, in light of the revolutionary changes in the region collectively termed the 'Arab Spring'."
"As these countries establish new forms of government, Turkey's example, influence, and support can play a uniquely positive role," Ros-Lehtinen said.
"I am greatly concerned about the deterioration of the relationship between Turkey and Israel. I strongly encourage Turkish officials to take immediate steps to restore the military cooperation between the two countries, as well as the political and economic relations that have proven beneficial to the people of both Turkey and Israel," Ros-Lehtinen also said.
AA
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
