Erdogan warns Bush against Armenian Genocide Resolution

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told U.S. President George W. Bush that ties between the two countries will be hurt if the U.S. Congress passes the Armenian Genocide Resolution.



Erdogan, who issued a similar warning earlier this year, made the comment in a telephone call to Bush, CNN Turk reported.



"The Bush administration opposes the resolution on the events in 1915 as the Ottoman Empire broke apart, but the U.S. Congress is now dominated by the Democratic Party and has become more influenced by the Armenian Diaspora," Turkish Daily News reports quoting Reuters.



The daily reminded that Turkey is a key NATO ally of Washington and a moderate Muslim country whose support it needs in the region as it fights Iraqi insurgents and confronts Iran over its nuclear program.



A senior Turkish lawmaker has also warned previously that Ankara could consider restricting the U.S. military's use of Incirlik air base, a logistics hub for the Middle East, if the bill is passed. Turkey has already sent delegations to the United States in a bid to halt the resolution.



The U.S. House Foreign Relations Committee will hold a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution October 10. The House version of the Resolution, H.Res.106, was introduced January 30 by lead author Rep. Adam Schiff. It has 227 co-sponsors.