>Turkey Warns U.S. Over Armenian "Genocide" Issue > >ANKARA, Sep 30, 2000 -- (Reuters) Turkey's powerful >National Security Council warned on Friday of "active measures" >if the U.S. continues tentative steps to recognize accusations that >Turks committed the genocide of Armenians 85 years ago. > >The military-dominated council is constitutionally an advisory >body but wields enormous influence over governments and >Turkey's foreign policy. > >Turkish officials bristled last week when a U.S. Congressional >subcommittee approved a resolution calling on President Bill >Clinton to "characterize the systematic and deliberate >annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide." > >Turkey rejects the charges, saying the killings occurred during >partisan fighting as the Ottoman Empire collapsed and cost lives >on both sides. > >"The Turkish Republic is gradually taking necessary precautions >against those activities. As events proceed, more active measures >will be taken," the council said after a regular monthly meeting. >The United States is a close NATO and political ally of Turkey. > >The council did not elaborate on the measures but local media >reported the officials were mulling a series of steps including >closing an air corridor to eastern neighbor Armenia. > >"It is to everyone's benefit, especially the Armenian >administration and people, to know that neither of the parties >can profit from sowing the seeds of hatred and creating false >issues between the two peoples who have to live together in the >same geographical region," the council said. > >Turkey is a major U.S. arms purchaser and also hosts U.S. and >British planes that enforce a no-fly zone over northern Iraq. > >A House of Representatives committee on Thursday delayed a >vote on the politically explosive resolution until next week after >lobbying efforts by opponents. > >Turkish officials say the move was a cynical step to court >Armenian-American voters in November elections. > >-- >Press Agenccy Ozgurluk >In Support of the Revolutionary Peoples Liberation Struggle in Turkey >http://www.ozgurluk.org >DHKC: http://www.ozgurluk.org/dhkc > > _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for anti-imperialist news. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
