Turkey hopes Congress will not approve Armenian Genocide billFebruary 19, 2007 - 15:25 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - "The Armenian Genocide bill will shadow the strategic partnership of Turkey and America, if approved," stated Turkish Prime Minister Rejep Tayyip Erdogan. In his words, Ankara does not expect such a decision from the House of Representatives. "However, I have worries that such a surprise would shadow our strategic partnership with the U.S. We have never lived with a stain throughout our history and we shall not live with such stain," stated Turkish premier at the meeting with American businessmen. Erdogan did not clarify what particularly Turkey is going to do. As Sabah newspaper reports, Rejep Erdogan blamed the Armenian Diaspora for using the Genocide issue to harm Turkey. The PM stressed, that "it is a historian's job to decide whether there was a genocide or not and no one has the right to defame Turkey via political lobbies." 106th resolution on recognizing the Armenian Genocide was introduced in the U.S. Congress at the end of January. During past years such resolutions were rejected thanks to the efforts of U.S. administration. But this year the possibility of its adoption is rather high. The democratic majority of Congress, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, has pro-Armenian stance. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | 17 bridges collapse as a result of floods in Armenia As a result of floods in Armenia’s northern Lori and Tavush provinces, 17 bridges, including five large ones, have collapsed. Ex-mayor of Karabakh capital arrested in Yerevan Ex-mayor of the Nagorno-Karabakh city of Stepanakert David Sargsyan has been arrested for 20 days. 269 people evacuated amid severe floods in Armenia’s north According to the Interior Ministry, 269 people have been evacuated from their homes in Lori and Tavush provinces. Armenian delegation participating in NATO PA session The delegation is headed by Andranik Kocharyan, the chairman of the standing committee on defense and security matters. |