14 02 2007 - General Buyukanit to meet with US Congressman Tom Lantos re Armenian bill

Hurryet Ana sayfa- Tuesday, February 13, 2007 23:34
(From A. Melikian ):
The top commander of the Turkish Armed Forces, General Yasar Buyukanit, arrived two days ago in the US for an official visit, and will be going today from New York to Washington for the start of his meetings.

It is expected that General Buyukanit will be meeting with, among others, US Congress Committed on Foreign Relations head Tom Lantos; the focus of this meeting will be the so-called "Armenian Genocide" bill. It is anticipated that Buyukanit will stress to Lantos that the possible acceptance by the US Congress of this bill could have a serious impact on relations between Turkey and the US, including logistical support which has been extended thus far by Turkey to US forces fighting in Iraq. Last week in Washington, DC, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul also engaged in meetings in which he expressed Ankara's strong opposition to the passage of the bill.

Meanwhile, a letter written by two Congress members known to support the Armenian lobby's push for the genocide bill, Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, wrote to Lantos that Turkey's warnings to the US on this front were "an unabashed threat."

The controversial bill is scheduled to appear before the Foreign Relations Committee at the end of this month or in March. The new Speaker of the House, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, has already vocalized her strong support for the bill.

Ana sayfa
Tuesday, February 13, 2007 23:34

V.V