WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, commanders in Iraq and Baghdad Ambassador warned that interests of the United States could be seriously damaged in case the bill concerning Armenian allegations on the incidents of 1915 is approved in the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee.
"I am calling on members of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee to oppose the bill. All of us feel sorry over the tragic sorrows of the Armenian people that started in 1915. This bill is not a response to historic mass killings. Its passage would do great harm to our relations with a key ally in NATO and in the global war on terror," Bush said.
On the other hand Rice said the call did not mean that the United States did not acknowledge the tragedy in 1915, noting that U.S. President Bush issued messages on the matter every April 24th. She said, "the bill would be very destabilizing to our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan because Turkey, as an important strategic ally, is very critical in supporting the efforts that we are making in these crucial areas."
"We have encouraged Turkish government to work with Armenian government to overcome the differences. We believe there is progress in Turkish-Armenian relations," Rice added.