THE GUARDIAN: Turkey and the US were heading for a diplomatic showdown today over a Congressional vote on whether it should recognise as genocide the 1915 killings of Christian Armenians by Muslim Turks
Turkish politicians have warned of grave consequences if the House of Representatives endorses the bill, which is opposed by the Bush administration.
Yesterday the Turkish president, Abdullah Gul, warned of "serious troubles in the two countries' relations" if the measure is approved.
The threats come as the Turkish government seeks parliamentary approval for a cross-border military operation to pursue separatist Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq. The move, which is opposed by the US, could open a new front in the most stable part of Iraq.
Turkish MPs in Washington yesterday put their case to members of the House of Representatives' foreign affairs committee.
"I have been trying to warn the lawmakers not to make a historic mistake," said Egemen Bagis, a Turkish MP and close foreign policy adviser to the prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"Let us not forget that 75% of all supplies to your troops in Iraq go through Turkey."
Many in the US fear for the crucial supply routes through Turkey to Iraq and Afghanistan, and the closure of Incirlik, a strategic air base in Turkey used by the US air force.
A measure of the potential fallout from the vote came in a warning to American citizens in Ankara issued by the US embassy in Ankara.
The statement said: "If, despite the administration's concerted efforts against this resolution, it passes committee and makes its way to the floor of the House for debate and a possible vote, there could be a reaction in the form of demonstrations and other manifestations of anti-Americanism throughout Turkey." Turkey and US head for showdown over vote on Armenian ‘genocide’ (more)
Mark Alexander
