STATEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF TURKEY

October, 11, 2007

In its meeting on October 10, 2007, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the US House of Representatives has adopted draft House Resolution 106, with 27 votes for and 21 against, which characterizes the relocation decision taken by the Ottoman Government in 1915 with regard to a portion of its Armenian subjects who were in collaboration with invading forces as „genocide“.

 The nature of the events of 1915 is still being debated. Contrary to Armenian claims, many internationally-renowned historians consider the relocation decision in this period as a war-time security measure that was taken under the conditions of the First World War.

It is blatantly obvious that the House Committee on Foreign Affairs does not have a task or function to re-write history by distorting a matter which specifically concerns the common history of Turks and Armenians. The responsibility of parliaments is to further improve relations between peoples and look to the future, not to the past. Turkey has been advocating for years that disputed periods in history should be evaluated by historians, not legislative bodies. Turkey’s call to Armenia in 2005, to examine our common history through the study of uncontested archival documents by historians from Turkey, Armenia, and as necessary from third countries, is a clear manifestation of this approach. While our proposal aimed at reconciling the opposing narratives between Turkey and Armenia with regard to the events of 1915 through a sincere and open dialogue is still on the table and has not, as yet, been responded to favorably by Armenia, the passing of such a resolution by the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives of the US, our ally, has been most unfortunate.  

Instead of accepting our sincere proposal, the ill-conceived agenda pursued by Armenia to promote the adoption of this resolution both behind the scenes and recently out in the open has also been noted.

Our Government resents and condemns this decision. It is not possible to accept such an accusation of a crime which was never committed by the Turkish nation.

Throughout the debate leading to the consideration of H.Res.106 in Committee, the US Administration at the highest level and numerous eminent, experienced and responsible personalities in the US have decisively spoken out against this resolution and actively opposed it. The fact that this resolution was voted on and adopted in Committee despite this means that those who have voted for it and those who have encouraged them have become responsible before history.

It is an irresponsible act for a Committee of the House of Representatives to pass, in this manner and at an extremely critical time, a draft that will not only endanger the relations with a friendly and allied nation but also jeopardize a strategic partnership that has been cultivated for generations.

We still hope that common sense will prevail and that the House of Representatives will not move this resolution any further. At this point, the responsibility that falls on the Speaker of the House of Representatives as well as all its members is obvious.

We will exert every effort to prevent the passage of this resolution from the House of Representatives. "