Turkish business leader asking Obama not to recognize Armenian Genocide

PanARMENIAN.Net - The chairwoman of Turkey's leading business association, Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), sent a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama urging him to consider the possible implications of recognizing Armenian Genocide, Hurriyet Daily News reports.



Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag in the letter sent on March 24 staits, that "the US and Turkey are determined to move forward for a more intensified cooperation on several key issues under the vision of the new American leadership. In an era when a strong US-Turkey alliance is needed more than ever to address the challenges of the world's most troubled regions such as the Middle East and the Caucasus, straining bilateral relations through such initiatives will have negative consequences beyond Turkey-US relations."



The leader of TUSAID hopes, that Barack Obama will find it useful in promoting a more reasonable and less politicized way of debating Armenian Genocide in the US.





Obama, both as a Senator and a presidential candidate, was an outspoken advocate for proper U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide. He repeatedly called on former president George W. Bush to recognize the genocide and expressed reservations over the firing of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans for his remarks recognizing that crime. In January 2008, Obama issued a campaign statement, noting that "America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President."



Last week, Representatives Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), George Radanovich (R-Calif.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) were joined by 70 of their House Colleagues in the introduction of Armenian Genocide legislation (H.Res.252) calling on the president to recognize the Armenian Genocide. That resolution is identical to the one introduced in the previous Congress, which was adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee by a vote of 27 to 21, and had over 200 co-sponsors.