USA Turkish Times - 'Genocide' issue tops Gül's talks with US Congressmen

'Genocide' issue tops Gül's talks with US Congressmen

In Washington for talks with senior US officials, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül met with John Murtha, the chairman of the defense sub-committee of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, and House majority leader Congressman Steny Hoyer.
During both meetings Gül said a resolution proposed to the US House of Representatives constitutes a threat to relations between the two countries.
Gül later had talks with Congressman Robert Wexler, co-chairman of the Turkish- American Friendship Group, Tom Lantos, the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Relations, and Congressman Roy Blunt. Lantos had supported Turkey's position on the "Armenian genocide" issue in the past, but after the Turkish Parliament's refusal on March 1, 2003 to allow the deployment of 62,000 US troops in Turkish territory to launch a northern front in the war with Iraq, Lantos said he would shift his position and back the resolution.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Levent Balman said Gül's meetings at the US Congress have been positive. US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, "We understand very clearly that this is a sensitive issue not only for the Turkish people but also for the Armenian people." McCormack also said that the State Department is working with the Congress to pass Turkey's concerns regarding the issue. However, he said, "I think Gül and the Turkish government understand how our government system work, and that the Congress is a separate body."
US President George Bush will have to persuade the new Democratic-controlled congress, which does not need presidential approval to pass such a resolution. Members behind the proposed bill have said they expect a push by the administration and lobbyists working for the Turkish government to keep the resolution from a full vote by the House. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will decide whether to offer the bill for a full vote if, as expected, it is approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has already expressed support.
Gül said they do not plan to meet with Pelosi because she is "too engaged" in the issue but he will meet with her close aides and friends to make sure Turkey's views are heard. Turkey rejects the "genocide" label and argues that only 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in mutual civil strife.

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