"This was a first in our history. It somehow meant a protest against US policy," Ambassador Nabi Sensoy said in a speech in New York late on Friday, referring to Ankara's 2007 decision to recall him amidst tension over attempts in the US House of Representatives to pass a resolution recognizing allegations that Armenians were subjected to genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in eastern Anatolia. He had stayed in Ankara for nine days for "consultations" before being sent back to Washington. "Then everyone understood the seriousness of the matter and a wrong step was avoided. Now we are facing the same danger."
President Barack Obama made firm promises during his election campaign to recognize the genocide claims. US presidents traditionally issue commemorative messages on every April 24, when Armenians claim the genocide campaign started, but none has ever used the word "genocide," dismaying Armenian Americans. Many say Obama could break the tradition and use the word this time. Separately, the Armenian lobby is also working to pass a resolution in Congress designating the World War I-era events as genocide. Observers say prospects for its passage are greater this time, because, contrary to 2007, when the US administration worked against the resolution, the new administration also favors such a move. In addition to Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both pledged to support the Armenians' cause during their election campaigns.
"The Turkish nation is ready to struggle altogether against such a move. I hope that the officials in the new US administration will understand the importance of Turkey, the meaning of this issue to the Turkish people and the harm it will bring to Turkish-American relations," Sensoy said in New York.
He also stressed that there were serious chances for progress in efforts to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia. "I am happy to tell you that we are close to that," Sensoy said, referring to prospects for normalization in Turkey's ties with Armenia. He added that Turks and Armenians would have a good opportunity to discuss their problems unless the US Congress passes a "genocide" resolution.
Turkey severed its diplomatic relations and closed its border with Armenia in protest of Armenia's occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh in a territorial dispute with Turkey's ally Azerbaijan. Normalization of ties, Ankara says, is contingent upon Armenian withdrawal from Azeri territory, as well as a reversal in Yerevan's policy of supporting diaspora efforts to win international recognition for genocide claims.
The Turkish ambassador also said Turkish leaders have recently invited Obama to visit Turkey to attend a meeting of the UN-backed Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in Istanbul, slated for April. Turkish officials say Obama would send the world a message in support of East-West dialogue by paying an early visit to Turkey, which sees itself as a bridge between the East and the West. Sensoy said Obama was invited to the UNAOC meeting, which will be held in Turkey in April.
US congressman: 'Genocide' resolution not in US interests
Meanwhile, Robert Wexler, the co-chairman of the US-Turkey Caucus in the US Congress, also warned that US moves to grant recognition to Armenian genocide claims would not serve the interests of the United States. He also warned that any US step in the direction of endorsing the genocide charges would hurt attempts to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia.
Wexler, who had talks with Turkish leaders in Ankara during a visit last week, said at a meeting with a group of journalists before wrapping up his trip that the US Congress should focus on ways to help bring about a Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. The process of dialogue picked up momentum when President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan last September to watch a game between the national soccer teams of the two countries. Since then diplomats have been holding talks behind closed doors on normalizing relations.
Wexler also appeared to dismiss arguments that Turkey is moving away from the West because it is pursuing a policy that calls for closer dialogue with Middle East actors. He said Turkey decided that it belongs with the West a long time ago. According to Wexler, the US and Turkey may have different tactics in the Middle East, particularly concerning the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and dialogue with the radical Palestinian group Hamas, but they share the same objectives.
The US congressman also praised the progress made by Turkey's democracy, recalling how the state establishment and the people were alienated from each other when he first visited Turkey in 1991.
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