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This is an archive article published on October 22, 2007
A resolution too far
The congressional vote in Washington that could jeopardise Turkey8217;s path westwards
Written by Theindianexpress
October 22, 2007 12:00 AM IST
2 min read
2 min read
The Turks are a proud, prickly people, easily offended by criticism. That much is clear from the row over a resolution, passed by a committee of the United States House of Representatives on October 10th, calling the slaughter of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 genocide. The full House has yet to vote on the resolution. But Turkey has reacted angrily, recalling its ambassador. It is talking of cutting military ties and even denying the Americans use of the Incirlik airbase that is vital for the supply of their troops in Iraq.
As such threats demonstrate, Turkey is not just an angry ally. It is also a vital one, with a population of 75m and the world8217;s 19th-biggest economy. It is a strategically important hinge between Europe and Asia; it has the biggest army in NATO after America8217;s; it forms a crucial energy corridor to the West; and it borders on such awkward places as Iran and Syria as well as Iraq8230;
This year has seen a series of clashes between the army and secularists on one side and the mildly Islamist Justice and Development AK government led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the other, culminating in a big AK win in the election in July. Mr Erdogan is trying manfully to keep Turkey on the path towards membership of the EU8230; This is a bad moment for America to pick a fight over something that happened 90 years ago, before modern Turkey even existed.
That is not to deny it is a good idea for countries to face up to their past, especially when it was as violent as that of the Ottomans in the early 20th century. Germany has been admirably open about admitting the sins of the Nazi period; Japan has been less candid. It would be good for modern, democratic Turkey to come to terms with the terrible treatment of Armenians in the first world war8230;
But the adoption of a highly political resolution in America8217;s Congress is the worst possible way to encourage more steps in the right direction8230;
Excerpted from 8216;The Economist8217;, October 18
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