A possible endorsement of Armenian claims of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, which has recently strained relations between Turkey and the US following tension over a vote last month in a US congressional committee, would be more than “just a resolution” in its repercussions, Düden Yeğenoğlu, the chairwoman of a Turkish consulting firm in the US, told on Monday.
Her comments came just days before US President Barack Obama’s traditional remarks on April 24, the day Armenians commemorate the so-called genocide. It remains to be seen whether Obama will use the “g-word.”
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting organized in İstanbul by the Turkish-American Business Association (TABA/AmCham) and the Young Executives and Businessmen’s Association (GYİAD), Yeğenoğlu, the head of Idelire Consulting, said any possible recognition of the claims in the US could turn the tide in Turkey-US relations. “Then it will be even harder than before to mend the broken ties,” she said, adding that they did not want such a thing to happen.
Recalling recent judgments in US courts in favor of the genocide allegations, she said: “Such things can happen even before the recognition of the genocide allegations. Imagine what will happen should the claims be approved,” she explained.
Yeğenoğlu underlined that Armenian nationals living in the US continue to support their claims by organizing fundraising events for politicians to make their voices heard. She said both the Turkish government and civil society organizations along with business circles should exert more effort than they currently do to counter such efforts in the US. “We are saying this issue must be left to historians, not politicians, if we want an objective resolution. ... It should no longer be used as a tool of politics,” she added. Yeğenoğlu emphasized that the issue will cease to be the main topic of conversation the more economic relations between Turkey and the US improve.
Sharing his views on the issue, TABA/AmCham President Uğur Terzioğlu said he has faith that the Obama administration will not approve the Armenian genocide claims. “If we say, ‘Just let the US Congress approve the claims no matter what happens,’ this will mean that Turkey officially accepts the allegations. However, this is not and will never be the case,” he noted.
Also speaking at the meeting, GYİAD Chairwoman Pınar Eczacıbaşı said the Turkish business world is sorry to see that some politicians in the US are using the Armenian claims as a tool to attract American-Armenian votes at the polls. “It will take longer than anticipated to repair relations with Turkey if the US approves the claims,” she noted.
Today's Zaman
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting organized in İstanbul by the Turkish-American Business Association (TABA/AmCham) and the Young Executives and Businessmen’s Association (GYİAD), Yeğenoğlu, the head of Idelire Consulting, said any possible recognition of the claims in the US could turn the tide in Turkey-US relations. “Then it will be even harder than before to mend the broken ties,” she said, adding that they did not want such a thing to happen.
Recalling recent judgments in US courts in favor of the genocide allegations, she said: “Such things can happen even before the recognition of the genocide allegations. Imagine what will happen should the claims be approved,” she explained.
Yeğenoğlu underlined that Armenian nationals living in the US continue to support their claims by organizing fundraising events for politicians to make their voices heard. She said both the Turkish government and civil society organizations along with business circles should exert more effort than they currently do to counter such efforts in the US. “We are saying this issue must be left to historians, not politicians, if we want an objective resolution. ... It should no longer be used as a tool of politics,” she added. Yeğenoğlu emphasized that the issue will cease to be the main topic of conversation the more economic relations between Turkey and the US improve.
Sharing his views on the issue, TABA/AmCham President Uğur Terzioğlu said he has faith that the Obama administration will not approve the Armenian genocide claims. “If we say, ‘Just let the US Congress approve the claims no matter what happens,’ this will mean that Turkey officially accepts the allegations. However, this is not and will never be the case,” he noted.
Also speaking at the meeting, GYİAD Chairwoman Pınar Eczacıbaşı said the Turkish business world is sorry to see that some politicians in the US are using the Armenian claims as a tool to attract American-Armenian votes at the polls. “It will take longer than anticipated to repair relations with Turkey if the US approves the claims,” she noted.
Today's Zaman
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