London Editorial: Turkey in “dark ages”

(The following editorial is from the London Daily News online journal.)

Turkey once again is retreating into “dark ages mode” with threats by Prime Erdogan following comments during a recent visit to London to expel 100,000 Armenians in Turkey “if necessary I will tell the 100,000: OK, time to go back to your country”.

The issue of the Armenian genocide and the failure by Turkey to recognize this ever happened, not only discredits any aspirations that Turkey has of joining the European Union, but also its supporters which include the current Conservative and Labour party’s in the UK.  Read more... (280 words)

Davutoglu Speaks Out Against Deporting Armenians Living in Turkey Without Status

To deport citizens of Armenia living illegally in Turkey means to give a “winning card” to those countries who come out against Turkey, said Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu during a closed-door meeting of the foreign affairs committee of Turkey’s Grand National Assembly, responding to opposition People’s Republican Party MP Canan Arıtman’s earlier statements which suggested deporting all Armenian citizens.

“Such a step would become a winning card in the hands of those countries who are against us. In addition, all of the world’s countries’ papers will publish articles about deported Armenians. A nationalist image would form, [and] Turkey will be in a more difficult situation,” said Davutoglu.  Read more... (217 words)

Turkey’s FM Davutoglu to raise Armenian Genocide Resolution in Turkish Parliament

Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu is due to deliver address on the developments that followed the endorsement of the Armenian Genocide Resolutions by the US House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Swedish Parliament at the Turkish Grand National Assembly today.

According to CnnTurk, the Foreign Affairs Committee of Turkey’s Parliament is due to convene a sitting March 15 to raise the Armenian Genocide Resolution passed by the US House Foreign Relations Committee and a number of foreign policy issues. Davutoglu is also expected to attend the sitting.  Read more... (187 words)

Davutoglu Reveals Ankara’s Steps if Obama Uses The Term Genocide

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had a meeting with Turkish Ambassador to the US Namik Tan, who was recalled to Ankara following the endorsement of the Armenian Genocide Resolution by the US House Foreign Relations Committee.

According to the Turkish Stargazete, Davutoglu-Tan discussed Ankara’s further steps providing US President Barack Obama uses “Genocide” in his April 24 speech.

Thus, providing Obama uses “Genocide”, Ankara will freeze $1,2 billion deal on F-35 fighter jet and 14 CH-47 Chinook helicopter, as well as Patriot Missile sale talks. Ankara will also limit the support to the US over Iran and Afghanistan.

Source: Panorama – Original article

Turkey Urges Obama To Block Armenian Genocide Bill

Just hours after recalling its ambassador to Washington, Turkey urged the U.S. government on Friday to thwart further progress of a draft congressional resolution that describes the mass killings and deportations of Armenians by Ottoman forces as genocide.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, indicated that the Obama administration will try to block the resolution’s passage by the full House. In that regard, she downplayed its endorsement by the House panel.  Read more... (612 words)

Turkey Recalls US Ambassador

WASHINGTON (Combined Sources)–Turkey recalled its ambassador to Washington Thursday evening after a congressional panel voted to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

In a statement issued after the vote, a Turkish government spokesman said: “We condemn this resolution which accuses the Turkish nation of a crime it has not committed. Following this development, our ambassador to Washington, Namik Tan, was recalled to Ankara for consultations.”

Armenia, however, described the vote as a boost for human rights. Edward Nalbandian, the Armenian Foreign Minister, told Reuters: “We highly appreciate the decision. This is further proof of the devotion of the American people to universal human values and is an important step towards the prevention of crimes against humanity.”  Read more... (311 words)

Erdogan Talks About Withdrawal of Turkish Troops From Cyprus

Turkey will be ready to withdraw its troops from Cyprus if stability is established in the island. According to CNN Turk, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told this in an interview with the Cypriot publications.

In 1974, following 11 years of intercommunal violence and an attempted coup d’état by Greek Cypriot nationalists, Turkey invaded and occupied the northern portion of the island. The Turkish invasion led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Cypriots and the establishment of a separate Turkish Cypriot political entity in the north.  Read more... (168 words)