Turkey Recalls Ambassador to US

Move follows House panel's declaration of genocide in Armenia
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Mar 4, 2010 5:27 PM CST
Turkey Recalls Ambassador to US
Namik Tan, Turkey's ambassador to the US.   (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici, File)

Turkey is recalling its ambassador to the US following a resolution declaring the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I to be genocide. The move came minutes after the House Foreign Affairs Committee endorsed the nonbinding resolution with a 23-22 vote, even though the Obama administration had urged lawmakers not to offend Turkey by approving it.

The measure now goes to the House, where its prospects are uncertain. "The Turks say passing this resolution could have terrible consequences for our bilateral relationship, and indeed perhaps there will be some consequences," said Democratic Rep. Howard Berman. "But I believe that Turkey values its relations with the United States at least as much as we value our relations with Turkey." (More Turkey stories.)

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