Dave Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 US Jewish lobby warns Turkish MFA: Even we might not be able to block the Armenian genocide bill if you don’t move Saturday, January 13, 2007 EYÜP CAN I am not trying to draw up a new crisis scenario for this year. However, I received news that might have a �profound impact� on Turkey-U.S. relations at a dinner for top officials last night. A very important member of the Jewish lobby in the United States said very openly, �If Turkey doesn't do something, the Armenian genocide bill will pass in the U.S. Congress despite our best efforts to block it.� Indeed, this information which was �very sharply� worded had a cold-shower effect on all of us seated around the table including retired ambassadors and reputable businessmen. Everybody there knew what Nancy Pelosi had promised the Armenian diaspora regarding a genocide bill and that she had pressed the button to start actual work on the topic, but nobody really expected a representative of the Jewish lobby to declare that �even we might not be able to block it if continues like this.� The Armenian genocide bill appears on the U.S. agenda every year on April 24 but it has always been blocked by the president (regardless of whether he is a Democrat or a Republican) on one side and the Jewish lobby on the other side openly supporting Turkey. However, according to what our guest was saying, neither the Jewish lobby nor President George W. Bush's last-minute efforts will stop the bill. The current political environment in the United States has turned against Turkey to an unprecedented degree. The degree is so large that the American Armenian National Congress expressed in a statement issued last week that their chances for passing the bill are now the highest they have been in the last decade. But why is that? For one thing, newly elected Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will be taking up the bill, which was last year abandoned by Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert after President Bush interfered. This is why the genocide bill which made its way to the House of Representatives last year is almost sure to be sent to the Senate after being voted on in the House. Secondly, the Democrats have a majority in the Senate, unlike last year. Thirdly, the Armenian diaspora, which collected signatures from 32 senators and 175 congressmen in 2005 in a letter calling for Bush to recognize the genocide, has already guaranteed 50 senators will support the bill this year. Lastly, President Bush, who was able to block the bill from being adopted at the last minute last year doesn't seem to have the power or the room to maneuver to block the bill this year. For all these reasons, the U.S. Jewish lobby which has always managed to block the Armenian genocide bill in the past has warned the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to �either do something or be ready to face the consequences.� The other day, I talked to a senior diplomat from the MFA to confirm what our guest said. He sufficed to say, �Unfortunately, all that you heard is true.� What can Turkey do to reverse the tide in the United States? There are three possible answers to this answer. A group of senior diplomats criticize Turkey's past policies regarding the allegation and assert that �there's nothing we can do after this hour.� Some in the Jewish Lobby believe that it is still not too late. If Turkey established diplomatic relations and opened the borders with Armenia, the tide could turn around. They have already suggested this as a way out to the Turkish MFA. A third group says, since an overwhelming majority of parliaments in the world have already recognized the genocide, the United States will inevitably have to join them in the end. Turkey should be producing pro-active policies rather than reactionary policies on this topic. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül in a recent interview with the Sabah daily expressed that they perceived the Armenian question as the second biggest threat for Turkey after the situation in Iraq. �The Armenian question will be taken up in the United States again," Gül said. "We are trying to block that. This topic will never be off the table for Turkey. We should always be alert and prepared. If this bill is passed, it might lead to very complicated consequences. We have no way out but to prevent this from happening.� Obviously, Gül demonstrates that he has taken the warnings he received very seriously. Another official from the MFA told me: �Although the atmosphere in the United States seems to be against Turks, we can still get some of the Democrats and Republicans on our side by staying on top of the issue. It is not too late.� The same official said he didn't even want to imagine what it would be like if Turkish-U.S. relations were further crippled by the Armenian bill after the row over Iraq. U.S. diplomats express similar concerns. Diplomats of both countries are concerned that U.S. acceptance of the genocide won't be anything like that of France of Slovakia. Turkish-U.S. relations from military tenders to trade relations would be dealt a very heavy blow. The image of the United States in the public opinion, which is currently panting on the floor (with only 20 percent of the population having positive feelings toward the Unites States) would crash altogether. The wounds still healing after the crisis over Turkey's rejection to deploy U.S. troops on its bases would be hit even worse than they were by the problems with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Iraq. This is why both Turkish and U.S. diplomats don't want to accept this as the end-scenario. However, the bill has already turned into a scare for the Jewish lobby in the United States. The only hope, for now, is Turkey's opening up its border with Armenia. Although the MFA seems to be favoring a more pro-active policy, this seems unlikely since 2007 is the year of general elections in Turkey. As you can see, the year 2007 is pregnant with a crisis that would leave even crises over the presidential elections and the general elections in the shadow, with the Jewish lobby already warning the Turkish MFA about the yet unborn child. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamavor Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 I have to admit I love reading bull crap from turkish state sponsored journalists. There is something very primitive, very simple, very raw and in the same way brutal, not elegant, not sophisticated. A cold calculation with a merit of reverberant and hollow farting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arpa Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 (edited) US Jewish lobby warns Turkish MFA: Even we might not be able to block the Armenian genocide bill if you don’t move Saturday, January 13, 2007 EYÜP CAN I am not trying to draw up a new crisis scenario for this year. However, I received news that might have a �profound impact� on Turkey-U.S. relations at a dinner for top officials last night. A very important member of the Jewish lobby in the United States said very openly, �If Turkey doesn't do something, the Armenian genocide bill will pass in the U.S. Congress despite our best efforts to block it.� "If Turkey doesn't do something...."? Like what? Blow Washingtn to the moon? After all they do own the moon. If those turkeys even had the brain of a chicken! Edited January 13, 2007 by Arpa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamavor Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 How about this: The only hope, for now, is Turkey's opening up its border with Armenia. Hello, who told you we want open border with you? Soon they will fell into the trap they created. With Bulgaria getting into EU, Greece is already there, so wherever they go they will need Euro VISA. Armenian border is closed. Oh, yeah they can go freely to Syria and Iraq or Gurdjistan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armenak Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 Isn't Eyup Can Elif Shafak's husband? Haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DominO123 Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 Isn't Eyup Can Elif Shafak's husband? Haha. Good constatation!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 Is this the tsunami season or what? The ugly bird is ready to lay its egg, but no nest in sight even its midwife is keeping her distance from it. What to do? What to do? How about coming clean and admitting the Genocide before the congress does. How about establishing diplomatic relations before you are forced into it. How about not getting involved in Artsakh. How about giving your minorities same rights as the rest. (But the rest is not free either) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DominO123 Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 For the first time I have some optimisim on the motion being passed. Power on one party but majority for the other where it matters. This scenario is the best thing that could have happened. The Democrats can 'pass' the law and the consequences, the Republicans will pay. So, the party that will make the differences will not be the one being on power. That IS GREAT! 2007 may well be the year. But lets not be too optimist. It is for the Armenian lobby to work on for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DominO123 Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 How about coming clean and admitting the Genocide before the congress does. How about not getting involved in Artsakh. You don't believe in Santa? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom22 Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 I am very optimistic. This did not happen by chance. I had my hand in this. It has been a long hard road to get to where we are today. It required shaking up the earlier Armenian belief system. For the first time I have some optimisim on the motion being passed. Power on one party but majority for the other where it matters. This scenario is the best thing that could have happened. The Democrats can 'pass' the law and the consequences, the Republicans will pay. So, the party that will make the differences will not be the one being on power. That IS GREAT! 2007 may well be the year. But lets not be too optimist. It is for the Armenian lobby to work on for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verginne Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 You have a URL for this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mihr Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=63914 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karakash Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 If the House votes on the Genocide resolution, it would muster at least 300 votes. On the Senate side, I'm not quite sure how many we would get. It would be much closer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom22 Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 Wow! Yes, he is Elif Safak's husband! Isn't Eyup Can Elif Shafak's husband? Haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 You don't believe in Santa? Of course I do specially with all the gifts I recieved. I'm sure Santa is involved in this somehow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 I had my hand in this. In what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eurocentric Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 In what? Well considering who it is, that question can be answered in a number of ways Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 (edited) It is obvious that Turkey shall have a difficult 2007 when we combine this with the presidential elections. Edited January 13, 2007 by Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zurderer Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 This will be interesting. At least, a new thing. Politics is much boring at Turkey now. (Headscarf, Iraq, EU,Military,AKP,ext. Always same problems.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 Politics is much boring at Turkey now. Just like your stupidy posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zurderer Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 well,I wish Turkish politics are as interesting as me. Just think, I will survive 50 years, and will continue to harass this forum. Than It would be like Turkish politics. Now, did you understand why I am here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 well,I wish Turkish politics are as interesting as me. Just think, I will survive 50 years, and will continue to harass this forum. Than It would be like Turkish politics. Now, did you understand why I am here? How is your Camel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zurderer Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 well, that topic died(like camel.) It was a fresh breath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 well, that topic died(like camel.) It was a fresh breath. Oh!!!!!! you are the camel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arpa Posted January 13, 2007 Report Share Posted January 13, 2007 (edited) well,I wish Turkish politics are as interesting as me. Just think, I will survive 50 years, and will continue to harass this forum. Than It would be like Turkish politics. Now, did you understand why I am here? Her ass? Is that your name? Who is she? Your mother? Gotuboyuk Fakma, I mean Fatma, as in Fart-Ma? Or is it ESHEK? As to the camel. The snake asked the camel why his neck was so crooked.The camel asnswered; "look at yourself". The snake asked again and the camel answered; "Crooked? Compared to what part of my body?" Now. Can you answer as to which part of you is less crooked? Is it the sanke/yilan, the camel/deve or the ESHEK? As to "yilan". Don't you get the message that we are sik and tired, "yilmish" of your eshek (zurd-er/sik-er/sik)zrrots? Edited January 13, 2007 by Arpa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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