The resolution on the Armenian Genocide adopted by the Foreign Relations Committee of the US Congress originated great activeness not only among the Armenian outlets but also western media agencies. However, unlike the overt excitement of the Armenian TV channels the European and the US media outlets review the issue from a different angle as to what extent the resolution will affect the Armenian-Turkish relations.
By adverting to the resolution and the negative attitude of Obama the US newspapers recall that during his pre-election campaign Barack Obama has promised the Armenians to recognize the Genocide however avoided pronouncing the word in his further speeches. The Obama administration contradicts itself even now. For instance the representatives of the administration and Hillary Clinton herself don’t hide their overt role and efforts in the signing process of the Armenian-Turkish protocols. This means that the US claims that it is going to do its best to conduce to the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations. On the other hand, according to the Financial Times in regard of the adoption of the resolution Hillary Clinton said, “I don’t think that any third country should decide how the two conflicting sides should resolve their issues. I think that the actions of the Congress are not expedient and think the representatives will vote against the resolution.” “The ties between the two countries are at the heart of much of the Obama administration’s strategy and have occupied much of the time of the US’s top diplomats, from Hillary Clinton, US secretary of state. The US has hailed Turkish political system as a model for much of the Muslim world, particularly as the country’s current government led by the AKP has Islamist roots but the country’s constitution is secularist Let us mention that many people are skeptical about the adoption of the resolution by the House of Representatives. Many several of the foreign media agencies do not exclude this. For example, the British Guardian writes, “Turkey withdrew its ambassador to Washington for urgent "consultations" immediately after the vote, which was screened live on nationwide television. The White House and state department began work today to try to prevent the controversial issue making its way to the floor of the house for a full vote.” The Guardian author continues, “Turkey has threatened to downgrade its strategic relationship with the US amid nationalist anger over a vote in the US Congress that defined the mass killings of Armenians during the first world war as genocide. Barack Obama’s administration, which regards Turkey as an important ally, was today desperately seeking to defuse the row. On the diplomatic front, the US needs the support of Turkey, which has a seat on the UN Security Council, in the push for sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. Turkey is also helpful to the US on a host of other diplomatic issues in the Middle East and central Asia. There would be major disruption to the relationship between Turkey and the US. His comments reflected deep-seated anger throughout Turkish society, as well as an official determination to press the Obama administration into making sure the resolution progresses no further.” The White House and state department began work today to try to prevent the controversial issue making its way to the floor of the house for a full vote. In Turkey, the influential deputy chairman for external affairs in the ruling Justice and Development party warned of "major consequences" if the resolution was accepted by the full House of Representatives. The Financial Times recalls, “US policy acknowledges as a starting point that Ankara has growing influence throughout the Middle East, maintains NATO’s second biggest army, hosts important US military bases and is increasing in self-confidence in global affairs. It is an important market for the US aviation industry.” The Business Week quoted the words of the director of the Turkish project of the Washington Strategic and International Research Center Bulent Alirisa. “This is very serious,” said the expert meaning the potential diplomatic harm, which may cause the adoption of the resolution. The Los Angeles Times recalls, “At the time of this posting, it was still unknown if the resolution would make it to a vote. After publicly failing to pass a similar resolution in 2007, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would only bring it to the floor for a vote with the necessary votes to pass it guaranteed. "Turkey and the U.S. share positions on Iraq, Afghanistan, the Arab-Israeli peace process, so Turkey will do nothing to hurt that, they don’t have leverage on those issues, but Turkey will hold the Obama administration responsible for harming normalization between Armenia and Turkey. Turkey and Armenia signed two agreements last year to normalize relations by establishing diplomatic ties and opening their border, but the implementation of those agreements has suffered a number of setbacks since. The congressional panel’s decision has opened old, painful wounds for the Armenians and the Turks and created tension between Turkey, the U.S. and the Armenian Diaspora, much of which is settled in America.” The newspaper also writes that State Secretary Hillary Clinton warned that the adoption of the resolution may harm the US-Turkish relations but this didn’t deter the chair of the committee Howard Berman. “Berman said that the US as a leader state of defender of human rights has a moral obligation to adopt the resolution,” writes the LAT by citing the words of Berman, “I am sure that Turkey values its relations with the US just like we value ties with Turkey.” The Wall Street Journal has publicized a small article on its website with a deriding title, “But who needs allies?” In the opinion of the newspaper the Congress “poisons” the Turkish-American relations. The Wall Street Journal recalls that Turkey is among the few NATO-member states, which proliferate its presence in Afghanistan and has taken on responsibility for the security in Kabul. Besides that Turkey has a big impact on the Iraqi processes. According to the newspaper, this kind of trick with a key importance country may be dangerous for the ties of the two countries. But Howard Berman doesn’t consider this a big issue. For a moment it may seem that Berman is sacrificing the US interests for the sake of the Armenians. At any rate, judging from the interpretations of the foreign and Armenian media agencies not only Berman but also the 23 delegates that voted for the resolution, love Armenia more than their own country. But this is not quite so. The same Wall Street Journal writes, “Berman, who is often quite emotional advises Turkey not to deteriorate its relations with the US because of non-binding resolution.” This is really interesting as there are advising the Turks not to get discouraged of a non-binding resolution but nobody tells us not to get too encouraged of the same resolution. As the Guardian wrote the voting was merely a triumph of emotions, the victorious instance of the ethnical lobby. In a word, everybody understands that the parties are playing their roles and only we take those roles so seriously and express our thankfulness.