ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE IRKS TURKEY, BUSH

United Press International
Oct 11 2007

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 (UPI) — The Turkish government and U.S. President
George Bush are unhappy with a congressional committee’s declaration
of Armenian genocide in 1915.

Despite lobbying against it by Bush, U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, eight former
secretaries of state and three former defense secretaries, the U.S.

House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee passed the
non-binding resolution Wednesday on a bipartisan 27-21 vote, The
Washington Post reported.

The resolution condemns the mass killings of Armenians in Turkey
in 1915.

Turkish officials have warned if the resolution goes on to a full vote
in the House and is approved, Turkey would reassess its assistance
to the U.S. war effort in Iraq, The New York Times reported.

Nabi Sensoy, Turkey’s ambassador to the United States, told the Post
it wasn’t the U.S. Congress’ place to be ruling on history.

"Why is Armenia not taking this to an international court? They are
trying to win this on political grounds, and they will never let go,"
he said. "It’s very disappointing. I’m hoping (House members) will
assume responsibility for the consequences."