Turkey summons US ambassador over new resolution
Rahshan Saglam
Press TV, Istanbul
Turkey has summoned the US ambassador David Satterfield on Wednesday in response to the vote by the US House of representative to recognize mass killings of Armenians during the World War I as a genocide and called for sanctions against Ankara.
Turkish foreign ministry dismissed the vote as invalid saying it lacks historical and legal bases. In a statement, the ministry said American lawmakers had approved the resolution to "take vengeance" against Turkey over its incursion into Syria.
To enact the sanctions — which target senior Turkish officials and would restrict weapons sales to Turkey — the bill still needs to pass the Senate and be signed off by President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that historians rather than politicians should discuss such matters, adding Turkey has been calling on Armenians to open their archives for research. Erdogan criticized its NATO ally for such a decision.
Many consider such a resolution to further complicate the already tense relation between Turkey and the US.
Ankara rejects the term “genocide” and says 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians, and at least as many Turks perished between 1915 and 1917, in what the Turkish government sees as the “casualties” of World War I. Only a few countries officially recognize the events as genocide, including France and Russia.
“Turkey considers that the bill adopted by US house of representatives is nothing but part of larger smear campaigns to tarnish the image of the country amid the current situation.
Paris march in support of Palestine women
ICC issues arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister, ousted regime war minister
Struggles of Palestinian women amidst war, displacement
Nov. 23: ‘Axis of Resistance’ operations against Israeli occupation
Lindsey Graham threatens to sanction US allies backing ICC arrest warrants
VIDEO | Tens of thousands of Catalans protest to demand access to better housing
Israel launches air strikes on Syria-Lebanon border crossing
Russia: Comprehensive deal with Iran will include defense, security ties
VIDEO | Israeli embassy shooting in Jordan leaves gunman dead, 3 police injured
VIDEO | Paris march in support of Palestine women
VIDEO | ICC issues arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister, ousted regime war minister
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
