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1. Armenia Hails Vote On Genocide Bill

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Armenia on Wednesday welcomed the decision by a committee of the US Congress to endorse a bill that effectively recognizes as genocide the 1915 mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.

 

The International Relations Committee of the House of Representatives voted on Tuesday overwhelmingly in favor of the bill, ignoring vigorous protests from the Turkish government and objections of the Clinton administration.

 

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian argued that international recognition of the 1915 genocide would help Armenians and Turks overcome mutual antagonism and contribute to stability in the region. He said that the advance of the pro-Armenian bill in the US Congress must not damage Turkish-Armenians ties which he said are already at an "almost zero level." "We do not think that recognition of the genocide may obstruct the future normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations," Oskanian told a news conference. "In the light of the latest events I again urge Turkey to accept our proposal to embark on a dialogue on all issues of mutual interest."

 

The two neighboring states have no diplomatic relations, with Turkey pegging their establishment to Armenian recognition of Azeri sovereignty over the disputed Nagorno-Artsax enclave. Turkey has threatened to tighten the economic blockade of Armenia, accusing its leadership of encouraging anti-Turkish lobbying efforts in Washington. One of the options is the closure of Turkish airspace for civilian aircraft flying from and into Armenia. Oskanian said he hopes that Ankara will refrain from taking such steps.

 

Former and present Turkish officials have made it clear that Yerevan should not hope to normalize relations with Ankara as long as its insists on the genocide recognition. But Oskanian claimed that the likelihood of a normalization in the event of the bill's passage by the House of Representatives will diminish only "in the short run" because "emotions will eventually fade away" in Turkey. "I am convinced that in the long run this would have a positive impact on Turkish-Armenian relations," he said.

 

Armenia's membership of the Council of Europe should not depend on the conduct of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, Oskanian said on Wednesday. He urged member governments of the Council, which favor the simultaneous accession of the two conflicting states to the unofficial club of European democracies, not to delay Armenia's membership in the event that the Azeri elections fall short of democratic standards.

 

"We believe that this linkage must have a certain time limit and suggest that this time limit be set for November 5, the date of the Azeri elections," he told reporters. "Our diplomatic efforts are now aimed at having that linkage removed after November 5."

 

Senior officials from the Council of Europe have recently voiced concern at the Azeri authorities' refusal to allow several leading opposition parties to contest parliament seats under the system of proportional representation and the perceived harassment of the pro-opposition media. The freedom and fairness of the polls is one of the main conditions for Azerbaijan's membership set by the Council's Parliamentary Assembly.

 

The PACE voted last June to recommend the member governments to admit the two countries into the organization which promotes human rights and democracy. The Committee of Ministers is expected to make a final decision on the matter after the Azeri vote.

 

Yerevan fears that the Council's main executive body could be reluctant to accept Armenia ahead of Azerbaijan if Baku fails to handle the elections in a way acceptable to the Europeans. The United States argued against such option last June. But Oskanian said European powers seem to agree with his country's position and that he hopes they will formally approve the Armenian membership bid next month regardless of the situation in Azerbaijan.

 

 

 

2. Turkey Strikes Back at US after Vote

ANKARA (Agence France Presse)--Turkey, in its first retaliatory move, on Wednesday postponed a planned US visit by its army chief after a key US congressional committee adopted a resolution recognizing the killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide.

 

The issue has sparked warnings by Turkey -- a successor state to the Ottoman Empire -- that the move could severely damage Washington's strategic ties with a key NATO ally.

 

A military spokeswoman said Wednesday that Turkish chief of general staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu had put off a visit to Washington in mid-October at the official invitation of the US Joint Chief of Staff, General Henry Shelton.

 

Asked whether the postponement was linked to the Armenian bill, the spokeswoman said: "That is correct," but refused to give any details.

 

An official from the US embassy in Ankara told AFP that they had been informed of the visit's postponement, but refused to elaborate on the reason.

 

Kivrikoglu's decision came a day after the International Relations Committee of the US House of Representatives adopted the contentious resolution, opening the way for its discussion on the House floor.

 

The committee's decision came as no surprise to Ankara, but nonetheless unleashed yet another furious reaction from the Turkish foreign ministry, which called on the House to reject the bill.

 

"It seems that the committee members have not yet fully understood our warnings that the bill's adoption will have repercussions on Turkish-US relations as well as hinder efforts to normalize Turkish-Armenian ties and establish peace in the Caucasus," the ministry statement said.

 

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer also reiterated his concern over the bill on Wednesday, saying that he hoped the House members would bear a "stance that would not harm Turkish-US relations" when they debate the bill.

 

The US State Department expressed regret over the resolution and appealed to the full House to kill it so as not to damage strategic ties with Turkey.

 

The Clinton administration and the US intelligence community which sees Turkey as a vital zone of influence, at the intersection of the Middle East, Europe and central Asia had already tried to urge the committee to drop the resolution.

 

Turkey has said that it is drawing up counter-moves against its key ally Washington and Armenia to be implemented if the bill is approved by the House of Representatives.

 

Turkish officials have refused to specify the measures, but said they would be on a basis "that will not harm Turkey's national interests, will not play into the hands of Armenia and Armenian circles, and will take into account the special relationship between Ankara and Washington."

 

But an aide to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit told AFP Wednesday that the measures would primarily target Armenia, which Ankara sees as the main actor behind efforts to recognize the Armenian genocide claims.

 

Ecevit will also ask his Russian counterpart Mikhail Kasyanov to use Russia's influence on Armenia to give up efforts for the adoption of the bill when Kasyanov visits Ankara later this month, the official said.

 

Last week, Turkey's military-dominated National Security Council said that Ankara was "gradually" taking measures against Armenian genocide moves.

 

"It is natural for more effective measures to be put into practice according to developments" said the body, which includes high-ranking civil officials but is dominated by the military's top brass.

 

Turkey also said on Wednesday it would allow medical aid flights to Iraq and may appoint an ambassador to Baghdad in moves sure to upset NATO ally, the United States.

 

The Turkish Foreign Ministry denied its plan to appoint an ambassador to southern neighbor Iraq was an act of retaliation.

 

``This subject has no connection with the bill in the hands of the US House of Representatives,'' the ministry said in a statement faxed to Reuters.

 

Ankara had earlier warned the approval of the non-binding but politically explosive resolution would seriously damage ties between Turkey and the United States and would not help Turkey's relations with Armenia.

 

``Appointing an ambassador to Iraq is an issue that has long been on our agenda,'' the statement said.

 

``The foreign ministry is authorized on the timing for the implementation of the decision in principle which was taken earlier on this subject,'' it said.

 

The ministry also said it would allow flights of medical aid to Iraq, a gesture that would allow Turkish planes to join an increasing number of humanitarian flights to Baghdad that challenge decade-old sanctions.

 

In a separate statement, the ministry said Turkey had stopped giving visas to Armenian citizens on entrance to the country and from now on they should apply to Turkish consulates abroad to visit the country.

 

Local media have reported a series of other possible steps, including withdrawing from planned talks with US company Bell Textron to buy attack helicopters in a lucrative tender and shutting off an air corridor to eastern neighbor Armenia.

 

Meanwhile in Washington, Turkish sources reported that House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) has allegedly refused to meet with a delegation of Turkish members of parliament in town to lobby against the Genocide resolution.

 

The same sources said that Hastert reportedly said he saw no benefit in meeting with the delegation.

 

 

 

3. French Senate Refuses to Address Genocide Bill

PARIS--French Senate president Christian Poncelet, once again, has refused to place the discussion of a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide on the legislature's agenda.

 

Poncelet has reportedly said that the French government's position and sentiments regarding this matter must be assessed, before placing the bill on the agenda.

 

Turkish sources reported that pro-Armenian senators have accepted Poncelet's proposal and are awaiting word from the government.

[Guest]

How They Voted

 

For the Resolution

 

Ben Gilman, chairman of the Committee, the republican

Gary Akerman, democrat

Hovard Berman, democrat

Sherrod Brown, democrat

Tom Campbell, republican

Stiv Sheibot, republican

Joh Crawli, democrat

James Devis, democrat

William Delahent, democrat

Elton Gellegli, republican

Sam Haidenson, democrat

Joh Hoffl, democrat

Barbara Lii, democrat

John McHew, republican

Syndia McKini, democrat

Robert Manandets, democrat

George Radanovich, republican

Dana Rohbaher, republican

Ilena Ros-Lehtinen, republican

Stiven Rotman, democrat

Edvard Roys, republican

Bred Sherman, democrat

Cristopher Smith, republican

Tom Tankredo, republican

 

Eleven congressmen voted against the resolution, including:

 

Againts

 

Kess Bellenger, republican

Dog Berter, republican

Kevin Bredi, republican

Den Barton, republican

Richard Barr, republican

Pet Danner, democrat

Ani Faleomavega, democrat

Earl Hillard, democrat

Amo Hofton, democrat

Tom Salmon, republican

Tom Lantos

 

Two congressmen refrained and 11 congressmen were absent during the voting.

 

Armenia Hails US House Vote On Genocide Bill, Urges 'Dialogue' With Turkey

 

Armenia on Wednesday welcomed the decision by a committee of the US Congress to endorse a bill that effectively recognizes as genocide the 1915 mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. The International Relations Committee of the House of Representatives voted on Tuesday overwhelmingly in favor of the bill, ignoring vigorous protests from the Turkish government and objections of the Clinton administration.

 

Turkey denies that the deaths of some 1.5 million Armenians were the result of a genocidal policy pursued by the Ottoman authorities. Ankara has warned that its relations with the United States and Armenia will deteriorate if the legislation, pushed forward by Armenian-American lobbying groups, is adopted by Congress.

 

But Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian argued that international recognition of the 1915 genocide would help Armenians and Turks overcome mutual antagonism and contribute to stability in the region. He said that the advance of the pro-Armenian bill in the US Congress must not damage Turkish-Armenians ties which he said are already at an "almost zero level." "We do not think that recognition of the genocide may obstruct the future normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations," Oskanian told a news conference. "In the light of the latest events I again urge Turkey to accept our proposal to embark on a dialogue on all issues of mutual interest."

 

The two neighboring states have no diplomatic relations, with Turkey pegging their establishment to Armenian recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty over the disputed Nagorno-Artsax enclave. Turkey has threatened to tighten the economic blockade of Armenia, accusing its leadership of encouraging anti-Turkish lobbying efforts in Washington. One of the options is the closure of Turkish airspace for civilian aircraft flying from and into Armenia. Oskanian said he hopes that Ankara will refrain from taking such steps.

 

Former and present Turkish officials have made it clear that Yerevan should not hope to normalize relations with Ankara as long as its insists on the genocide recognition. But Oskanian claimed that the likelihood of a normalization in the event of the bill's passage by the House of Representatives will diminish only "in the short run" because "emotions will eventually fade away" in Turkey. "I am convinced that in the long run this would have a positive impact on Turkish-Armenian relations," he said.

 

The House International Relations Committee approved the bill after an almost three-hour debate. One of five Turkish parliament members who arrived in the US to try to block its passage addressed the committee before the vote, reiterating his country's position that the killings and mass deportations of Ottoman Armenians during the World War I did not constitute a genocide.

 

The resolution, approved by a vote of 24 to 11 has to be heard by the House Rules Committee before it can reach the House floor. It urges President Bill Clinton and his successors to among other things use the word "genocide" in their annual addresses to the Armenian-American community. Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer called Clinton on Monday to express concern about the resolution. White House National Security Council spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters in Washington that the Clinton administration remains firmly opposed to its passage.