TEXT-Turkish business leader sends a letter to Obama
Güncelleme Tarihi:
The chairwoman of Turkey's leading business association, Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), sent a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama urging him to consider the possible implications of recognizing the Armenian claims regarding the 1915 incidents.
Here is the full text of the letter sent by Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag on March 24.
"President Barack H. Obama
The White House
Dear President Obama,
A new resolution was introduced to the US House of Representatives (H. Res. 252) on March 17, 2009 calling the President of the United States to recognize the tragic events of the World War I era as genocide.
It is unfortunate to see a renewed campaign by those who are turning a blind eye to not only the objective historical facts but also to the significant progress made by Turkey and Armenia, the true parties to this issue, in resolving their differences on many fronts.
The high level talks taking place between the two countries are leading to a rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia as well as contributing to the long sought after stability in the Caspian region, which is a strategic priority for the United States.
Moreover, the US and Turkey are determined to move forward for a more intensified cooperation on several key issues under the vision of the new American leadership.
In an era when a strong US-Turkey alliance is needed more than ever to address the challenges of the world’s most troubled regions such as the Middle East and the Caucasus, straining bilateral relations through such initiatives will have negative consequences beyond Turkey-US relations.
The enclosed report provides an analysis of the factual and legal deficiencies of U.S. H. Res. 106, which was brought to the agenda of the House of Representatives in 2007, upon which the current resolution (H Res. 252) is entirely drafted.
We hope you will find it useful in promoting a more reasonable and less politicized way of debating the Armenian issue in the US.
Attached please find also a copy of the statement made by TUSIAD’s Board of Directors on this report as well as the broader Armenian issue.
At TUSIAD, we believe that such “narrow” agenda items should be left behind in order to move on with our more important common objectives aimed at bringing peace and prosperity to the peoples of this troubled region.
Sincerely yours,
Arzuhan D.Yalcindag
Chair
TUSIAD Board of Directors"