Turkey Slams US Congress Over Armenian Genocide Resolution

ANKARA — The Turkish Foreign Ministry has condemned an Armenian Genocide resolution, which passed at the U.S. Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee on April 10 by bipartisan vote.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the committee had acted beyond its position, competence and responsibility by adopting a “hastily and ineptly prepared” draft resolution. The ministry warned the U.S. Congress not to “harm bilateral ties” between the two countries through further carrying the resolution to the legislative agenda, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

“It’s important that the U.S. Congress does not carry this resolution or similar ones in the legislative agenda, but rather make efforts to reinforce our historical alliance and partnership that have importance more than ever in the current conjuncture, instead of harming bilateral relations with non-constructive initiatives,” the ministry said in a written statement on April 11.

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday passed a senate resolution commemorating the Armenian Genocide, clearing the way for the resolution to be voted for in the Senate.

“We condemn the pioneers of this initiative, which is biased and lacking in legal basis,” the ministry said, adding it refutes this “effort of political misuse that warps history and law.”

The U.S. Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee “exceeded its authority and responsibility” by passing an “unserious resolution prepared hastily and unskillfully,” read the statement.

The ministry cited Turkey’s proposal to establish a joint history committee in order to research the 1915 incidents.