US lawmakers slam Turkey's Iran ties

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=130809&sectionid=3510203

US lawmakers have threatened Turkey with "consequences" for its Iran ties, accusing Ankara of drifting away from the West and Israel in the wake of the deadly Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

US Republican Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana said in a press conference on Wednesday that he has warned Turkey's envoy to Washington about his country's ties with Iran and reminded him that “with regard to Congress of the United States, there will be a cost if Turkey stays on its current path of growing close to Iran and more antagonistic to Israel.”

Speaking alongside Pence, New York's Republican Congressman Peter King also told reporters in Washington that Turkey was not just to blame for its support of the Gaza aid flotilla and its strong criticism of Israel, but for its positive view of the Islamic Republic, The Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.

“This is a clear effort, I believe, by Turkey to distance itself from the West, and there have to be consequences for that," King said.

The US House members have also threatened Turkey with "recognition of the Armenian genocide" during the Ottoman empire as a punishment against Ankara.

Democratic California Congressman Adam Schiff raised the issue and emphasized that Turkey's opposition to sanctions against Iran has led him to circulate a letter in Congress on Tuesday, calling for the adoption of the Armenian "genocide" resolution.

“Now is the time to recognize the Armenian genocide," he said, adding, "As Turkey sides with Iran, why defend its campaign of genocide denial?”

The American legislators also blamed Turkey for the recent Israeli commando attack on the Gaza-bound aid convoy in which 20 people, including at least nine Turkish citizens, were killed, 50 were injured and over 700 arrested.

“Turkey is responsible for the deaths aboard that ship. It is not Israel that's responsible,” said Nevada Republican House member Shelley Berkley.

Berkley went on to slam Turkey for "having the nerve to lecture" the Israeli regime when "they refuse to recognize the Armenian genocide."

Despite close US ties with Turkey, the American Congress has made it an annual ritual to pass a resolution to accuse Turkey of genocide against Armenians nearly a century ago. Turkey has rigorously and repeatedly rejected the move as a fabrication of history and a ploy to exert political pressure on Ankara.

US observers emphasize that contrary to the wide belief that Armenian lobby groups were behind the measures, it has become clear that in fact the powerful pro-Israel and Jewish lobbies have had a big role in such tactics.
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