Turkish MPs to raise ‘genocide’ in U.S. ahead of Congress debate
A group of Turkish lawmakers are due to visit the United States to
voice Ankara’s concern over the bill on the alleged genocide of
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923. The
five-people-strong delegation, to be headed by Murad Mercan,
chairman of the Grand National Assembly’s foreign affairs
commission, will state their country’s stance ahead of March 4
debate on the issue in the US Congress. Turkey’s Sabah newspaper
reported.
The MPs are scheduled to hold meetings in Congress, Senate and the State Department at the weekend.
Namik Tan, Turkey’s newly-appointed Ambassador to the U.S., was expected to convey Ankara’s position on the matter to President Barack Obama while submitting his credentials on Wednesday. Also, the diplomat intends to meet with influential Jewish lobbyists to rally support for countering the discussion of the "genocide" bill in the US legislature.
Armenians claim Ottoman Turks killed 1.5 million people in the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century. Armenians residing in the Anatolia region started riots in 1890, which intensified during the war, and fought against the Ottoman army in support of Russia. In an effort to end stand-off, the Ottoman government decided in 1915 to resettle the Armenians to other parts of the country. Armenians claim their forefathers were subjected to "genocide" in the process, while Ankara dismisses the claims and has offered to research the events through a joint commission of historians.*
The MPs are scheduled to hold meetings in Congress, Senate and the State Department at the weekend.
Namik Tan, Turkey’s newly-appointed Ambassador to the U.S., was expected to convey Ankara’s position on the matter to President Barack Obama while submitting his credentials on Wednesday. Also, the diplomat intends to meet with influential Jewish lobbyists to rally support for countering the discussion of the "genocide" bill in the US legislature.
Armenians claim Ottoman Turks killed 1.5 million people in the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century. Armenians residing in the Anatolia region started riots in 1890, which intensified during the war, and fought against the Ottoman army in support of Russia. In an effort to end stand-off, the Ottoman government decided in 1915 to resettle the Armenians to other parts of the country. Armenians claim their forefathers were subjected to "genocide" in the process, while Ankara dismisses the claims and has offered to research the events through a joint commission of historians.*
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