ANKARA: Bush To Write Letters Against ‘Genocide Resolution’

BUSH TO WRITE LETTERS AGAINST ‘GENOCIDE RESOLUTION’

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Feb 12 2007

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul stated over the weekend
that U.S. President George W. Bush will write to members of
Democratic-controlled Congress to urge them to oppose the so called
Armenian genocide resolution.

The congressional resolution, which was introduced for consideration
last month, is opposed by Bush administration, but has been supported
by the Democratic leadership.

A resolution that would recognize the World War I era killings of
Armenians as genocide would poison ties between strategic allies
Turkey and the United States, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Gul warned
late Saturday.

"Local politics must not be allowed to poison strategic ties," Gul
said on his return from a weeklong visit to the United States, where he
met with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other officials.

Gul said if passed; the resolution would cause permanent damage to
relations and it will cause a deadlock in our relations. Gul asked
the U.S. administration to take action."

"It won’t have a fleeting effect, its results will be deep and
lasting," Gul said. He did not further elaborate.

He added that "I called on the U.S. administration to take urgent
action. Secretary of State Rice will carry out an important work in
the coming days. She will visit the Congress."

The FM recalled that Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit and
some Turkish deputies will go to U.S. to lobby against the resolution.

Noting that Iraq was also discussed during the talks with the U.S.

officials, Gul stated that this issue is not only important for U.S
but also for Turkey.

"I shared my views about Iraq with the Washington administration and
the think-tanks. I had the opportunity to tell them what should be done
to preserve Iraq’s territory and prevent its partition," he stated.

Gul noted that he also warned U.S. authorities that no mistakes should
be done regarding Kirkuk’s future in order to preserve Iraq’s unity
and integrity.

Over the explosive terror issue, he stated that Turkey will never
accept a double standard in fight against the terrorist Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK), adding that Turkish people are losing their
patience.

Recalling his meeting with new United Nation Secretary General Ban
Ki-Moon, the foreign minister said that they discussed the Cyprus
issue, Lebanon and the Middle East peace process.

In related news, Gen. Buyukanit went to Washington to hold key talks
with U.S. officials yesterday.

Buyukanit, who is the official guest of U.S. Gen. Peter Pace, chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will also meet with Vice President Dick
Cheney on Wednesday.

During his talks at the Pentagon, the top Turkish general will meet
with Gen. Pace, U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy and former
U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Eric Edelman and Gen. Peter Schoomaker,
chief of staff of the U.S. Army. Buyukanit is scheduled to speak at
a think-tank organization on Friday. He will hold a press conference
at the end of his talks the same day.