Turkey hopes U.S. Congress not to adopt resolution on recognizing Genocide

PanARMENIAN.Net - US-Turkey ties again face test as the Armenian Genocide' resolution occurs in the Congress, Today's Zaman reports. The resolution puts Turkish-US relations to a new test after tension over Iraq throughout the past several years. Turkish officials have repeatedly warned that relations would suffer irreparable damage if the resolution is passed. "We hope the resolution will never be brought before the president. Even in this case, we hope the United States will not show weakness in the face of Armenian Diaspora efforts," said Faruk Çelik, a deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party. "Otherwise, Turkish-US ties will be seriously affected," he said. In his part, Inal Batu, a lawmaker from the opposition Republican People's Party, admitted that prospects were much stronger for passage of the resolution as compared to the past. "Armenians are closer than ever to success," he told Today's Zaman. "But I still believe that the United States will not alienate its strategic partner."