Turkish analysts say they believe the U.S. is pressing Turkey through an "Armenian genocide" bill because Washington is not happy with Ankara's stances towards Israel and Iran.
Bulent Aliriza, Director of the Turkey Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies told Press TV's U.S. Desk Tuesday that the House of Representatives plans to vote on the bill because of Turkey's "tensions with Israel".
Turkey lashed out at Tel Aviv after Israeli forces attacked a Gaza-bound flotilla back in May 2010, killing nine Turkish activists onboard. Turkey seeks an apology from Israel but Washington has taken the Israeli side in the dispute.
As a second reason behind the American pressure on Turkey, Aliriza said, "Turkey did not back the U.S.-sponsored sanctions [against Iran] at the Security Council back in June."
FACTS & FIGURES
Yerevan claims thousands of Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I. Turkey rejects the term "genocide", arguing instead that the deaths were a result of disease, famine and inter-ethnic strife.
The planned vote comes as attempts at rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia -- which have no diplomatic ties -- had already run aground. A protocol signed in Geneva last October promising to restore relations has yet to be ratified by the parliament of either country.
In March 2010, Turkey recalled its ambassador to Washington after the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution that described the incident as the "Armenian genocide." Turkey warned the United States that the resolution could hurt their ties.
On the diplomatic front, the U.S. needs the support of Turkey, which is a member of the U.N. Security Council and can help the U.S. on a host of issues in the Middle East and central Asia.
Turkey's angry response to Israel's attack on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in May 2010 has caused tension between Ankara and Washington. The attack left nine Turkish activists dead.
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