U.S. House panel decision testifies problems between U.S. and Turkey

February 24, 2010 - 15:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net -
The decision of the U.S. House Committee of Foreign Affairs to hold a vote on the Armenian Genocide resolution, H.Res.252, doesn’t mean that the issue has acquired a new coloring in Washington but testifies problems between the United States and Turkey, according to Richard Giragosian, the director of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS).

“We don’t need to be told about things we know,” he said, adding that Turkey’s current policy can cause reanimate Armenian Genocide recognition campaign.

Commenting on normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations, he said, “Armenia can’t do more. It’s Turkey’s turn to take action now. Spitting at international pressure and dashing between the West and East, Turkey can harm itself.”

Mr. Giragosian also informed that he will take part in a conference on Armenia-Turkish relations in Chatham House, London, on March 3.

For his part, ACNIS analyst Manvel Sargsyan said Armenia and Turkey had better not play games. “Both countries made mistakes at the very beginning of the process,” he said.

The Armenian Genocide resolution

The resolution affirming the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide (H.Res.252) was formally introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Adam Schiff (D.-CA), George Radanovich (R.-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D.-NJ), and Mark Kirk (R.-Ill). On March 4, 2010 it was adopted with a 22-21 vote by the House Committee on Foreign Relations. A similar resolution was introduced in the Senate.

The Armenian-Turkish Protocols

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

Commenting on the CC ruling, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “it contains preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the Protocols.” ”The decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these Protocols as well as their fundamental objective. This approach cannot be accepted on our part. Turkey, in line with its accustomed allegiance to its international commitments, maintains its adherence to the primary provisions of these Protocols. We expect the same allegiance from the Armenian government,” the Ministry said.