By Brandon Kaufman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
ANKARA, Turkey– The Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution that described the mass murders of Armenians during World War I as the “Armenian Genocide.”
The 23-22 vote sends the measure to the full House of Representatives, where prospects for passage are uncertain.
The Prime Minister’s office in Turkey released a written statement which said “we condemn this resolution accusing Turkey of a crime that it had not committed. Our Ambassador to Washington Namik Tan was recalled tonight to Ankara for consultations after the development.”
The non-binding resolution calls on President Obama to ensure that U.S. foreign policy reflect an understanding of the genocide and to label the mass killings as such in his annual statement on the issue. The U.S. has time and again condemned the mass killings of Armenians which took place from 1915-1918, but they have always refrained from calling them a genocide.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey would assess what measures it would take, adding that the issue was a matter of “honor” for his country.
“The picture shows that the U.S. administration did not put enough weight behind the issue,” Davutoglu told reporters. “We are seriously disturbed by the result. We expect the U.S. administration to, as of now, display more effective efforts. Otherwise the picture ahead will not be a positive one,” he said. He complained of a lack of “strategic vision” in Washington.
The resolution comes at a time when Washington is expected to press Turkey to back sanctions sought against Iran by the U.N. Security Council. Turkey currently holds a seat on the council. Turkey’s cooperation is also important to U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The genocide issue is one of a number of obstacles preventing Turkey from acquiring membership in the European Union. Turkey has been trying to block similar genocide bills in parliaments across the globe.
For more information, please see:
The Associated Press- Turkey Warns U.S. Over Armenian Genocide Vote– 5 March 2010
Christian Science Monitor- Turkey Recalls Ambassador after U.S. Resolution on ‘Armenian Genocide’– 4 March 2010
Wall Street Journal- Genocide Vote Riles Turkey– 4 March 2010
