[05/March/2010]

Ankara, March 05 (Saba) - Turkey has temporarily recalled its ambassador to United States minutes after a U.S. congressional panel approved a resolution labeling the incidents of 1915 as "genocide," according to Qatar News Agency (QNA).

The measure passed the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs in a voting of 23-22 on Thursday. Shortly after the measure passed the committee voting, Turkish government said in a statement that Ambassador Namik Tan has been recalled to Ankara for consultations, Turkish Anadolu Ajansi (A.A.) reported.
"We condemn this resolution which charges Turkish nation with a crime that it did not commit," the statement said.

Turkish government also expressed concern that the non-binding resolution could damage Turkish-U.S. relations and efforts to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia. Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols last October to normalize relations, however, parliaments of the two countries has not passed them yet.
Turkey strongly rejects genocide allegations and regards the events as civil strife in wartime which claimed lives of many Turks and Armenians.

"Under the influence of political motives, supporters of this resolution have taken a wrong and unjust stance ignoring historical facts and difference of opinion among experts," the statement said.

"The resolution includes tangible errors related to the incidents of 1915, and it has completely been prepared with a one-sided approach," it said.
Turkey insists that World War I-era incidents should be examined by historians using scientific tools and archives.

In 2007, a similar resolution was adopted with 27 seven votes against 21 in 2007 but as a result of former President George W. Bush's intervention, the resolution was not brought to a House floor vote.

Earlier on Thursday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the resolution of U.S. lawmakers labeling 1915 events in Ottoman-era as "genocide."
In a statement, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that "We condemn this resolution which charges Turkish nation with a crime that it did not commit," the statement said. He also said he was seriously concerned that the non-binding resolution would harm Turkish-U.S. ties and efforts by Muslim Turkey and Christian Armenia to bury a century of hostility.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Abdullah Gul expressed his regret after the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs approved the resolution on Armenian allegations.

Gul said, "this decision is not reasonable. I strongly condemn it. It does not mean anything for Turkish people. Turkey will not be responsible for negative outcomes of this voting."

Saba