Congressmen Solomon Ortiz and Bill Shuster adopted an appeal to the Committee on Armed Forces of the US Congress.
Congressmen Solomon Ortiz and Bill Shuster adopted an appeal to the Committee on Armed Forces of the US Congress, which expressed strong concern in connection with the resolution on so called “genocide” of Armenians.
According to the USAN statement, the discussions of the resolution in the House of Representatives is a destabilizing factor for American interests. This is a blow to the stability and American interests, especially in a period when the coalition troops would be redeployed from Iraq to Afghanistan.
"Like in the case with previous resolutions of this kind, the Turkish government has declared its opposition to such discussions in the US Congress. As before, we remain deeply concerned that the Congress damages the relations and creates unnecessary complications for our interests in the Middle East and Asia by way of attempts to recognize the resolution on ’genocide’. Turkey is still a valuable NATO ally and an important strategic partner.
According to US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Turkey currently has a group of 1700 troops in Afghanistan, two provincial reconstruction teams, and several operational mentoring and advisory groups in Afghanistan. In addition, Turkey has been leading a coalition group of forces since November 2009 and implements regional command to ensure international security. “Our presence in the Turkish Incirlik airbase has additional significance for the US-led coalition forces and increases the pressure on the insurgents in Afghanistan,” the message says.
“The relocation of tens of thousands of American troops is also prepared in Iraq, where Turkey plays a key role in both air and ground operations, transportation and logistical support to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Turkey plays such an important role in our efforts in the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia, that we do not see any benefit in such a deliberate alienation of our close ally. Considering the importance of our bilateral relations, and the fact that Turkey and Armenia have been involved in the process of normalization of bilateral relations, we ask that no other unwanted actions are taken on the level of the committees of the US Congress. We can not afford to take risks to American national security by the discussion of such resolutions,” the US congressmen note.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
