THE TELEGRAPH: Turkey has recalled their ambassador to Washington after a US congress panel voted to label the World War One-era killing of Armenians as genocide.
Prime Minister Recep Erdogan said he was seriously concerned that the resolution would harm ties between the US and Turkey, and the ambassador was being recalled for consultations.
The House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee voted to label as "genocide" the massacre of Armenians by Turkish forces, despite pressure from the Obama administration and Turkey to drop the matter.
But it was unclear whether the measure will get a floor vote.
It calls on President Barack Obama to ensure US policy formally refers to the massacre as genocide, putting him in a tight spot.
On the one side is Nato ally Turkey, which rejects calling the events genocide.
On the other side is an important US Armenian-American constituency and their backers in Congress ahead of congressional elections in November.
Turkey had warned its ties with the United States would be damaged and Ankara's efforts to normalise relations with Armenia could be harmed if the resolution were approved.
"We highly appreciate the decision," Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said.
"This is further proof of the devotion of the American people to universal human values and is an important step towards the prevention of crimes against humanity." >>> | Thursday, March 04, 2010
