Resolution on "importance of friendship with Turkey" introduced in U.S. Senate

PanARMENIAN.Net - In a move widely seen as intended to calm Turkish anger over growing strains in its ties with the United States, Senators Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) have introduced legislation which ignores key points of tension in this relationship and offers unconditional praise to Turkey and its leaders, reported the Armenian National Committee of America

(ANCA).



"The resolution introduced by Senators Smith and Byrd neither serves U.S. interests nor advances American values by sugar-coating Turkey's record or by ignoring serious tensions in the U.S.-Turkey bilateral relationship," said American Hellenic Institute Executive (AHI) Director Nick Laragakis and ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, in a joint statement issued today. "Any legislation that the Foreign Relations Committee considers on this issue should clearly and prominently address Turkey's threats to invade and destabilize northern Iraq, its immoral and heavy-handed threats against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, military occupation of Cyprus, continued airspace violations of Greek- sovereign airspace over the Aegean, blockade of Armenia, mistreatment of the Kurds, and restrictions on the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarch and other Christian leaders."



The ANCA and AHI shared their concerns regarding this legislation today with Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In making the case regarding Turkey's increasing unreliability, the ANCA also circulated a recent Los Angeles Times opinion piece by Graham Fuller, a former Vice-Chairman of the CIA's National Intelligence Council, who argued that: "Turkish-American relations have been deteriorating for years, and the root explanation is simple and harsh: Washington's policies are broadly and fundamentally incompatible with Turkish foreign policy interests in multiple arenas".



Introduced on October 29, S.Res.358 begins by asserting that the "United States and Turkey share common ideals and a clear vision for the 21st Century, in which freedom and democracy are the foundation of peace, prosperity and security." It concludes by thanking Prime Minister Erdogan for "continued discussions with officials in the U.S. and Iraq regarding constructive stabilization efforts in northern Iraq." The resolution makes no mention of Turkey's controversial relations with Hamas, its growing ties with Iran, or its refusal in 2003 to allow U.S. troops to open a northern front in Iraq.