.gu�!�="justify">Our agenda next week will be dominated by the Armenian genocide bill in the U.S. Congress. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül has concluded his meetings. Now Chief of General Staff Gen. Ya?ar Büyükan?t is in Washington. The foreign minister has warned the Bush administration with a combination of persuasion and threat. Büyükan?t, on the other hand, will activate the military authorities. Furthermore, as per their demand, he will be meeting with Vice-President Dick Cheney and one of the most prominent figures of the House of Representatives, Tom Lantos.

  Turkey is playing the security card against the Armenian genocide bill.

  Turkey is contributing to the NATO force in Afghanistan by sending soldiers…

  It also reinforces the NATO force in Kosovo …

  Along with the United States, it plays a substantial role in the Caucasus (especially in the Armenian-Georgian-Azerbaijani triangle)…

  It acts in conjunction with the United States on Israel's security issues and the dialogue with Palestinians…

  In the Iranian dispute, it actively participates in the communication between Iran and the United States and the European Union and acts as an unofficial moderator…

  It acts as an intermediary station on the petroleum route to satisfy Western Europe's need…

  It gives considerable support to the United States in Iraq.

  Both Gül and Büyükan?t put this list in front of the U.S. administrators and asked:

  …What good will it do to risk such a vital collaboration, such a profound relationship just to satisfy a couple of thousand Armenians?�

  It is really a hard choice.

  It has been engraved in the American public's conscience that Armenians have endured genocide, that even though the Ottomans are responsible, Turkey, if only as heir to the Ottomans, should at least apologize. The bill is seen both as a duty towards this conscience and as a potential benefit for votes in the political arena.

  On the other hand, there is the concern over damaging relations with Turkey.

  The Bush administration plans to prevent this bill, which it regards as against its security interests, with its security staff's presentation in the Congress. The statement I will get the generals by my side and go to Congress by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the request for a meeting by Vice-President Cheney to Büyükan?t are seen as considerable steps in that direction.

  Other important developments of the past week were reports full of warnings by both the CIA and the Pentagon sent to Congress. This is interpreted as meaning the button has been pushed.

  Büyükan?t's meetings in Washington this week are seen as essential in this respect.

  Should the bill pass, Ankara's response and how this will affect the military relations are among the most speculated questions.

  Will all this campaigning suffice to prevent the bill?

 

The Jewish lobby should use its influence:

  Another segment that Ankara has been monitoring closely is the powerful Jewish lobby in Washington.

  Drawing attention to Turkey's direct and indirect support to Israel's security, Turkish authorities say We cannot accept our Jewish friends' watching the developments from afar. They need to use their influence. Saying, If the Jewish lobby does not oppose the Armenian genocide bill, they should not expect the same support from us, a high-level government official who closely observes the process in Washington indicated that Büyükan?t will repeat this message during his Washington meetings.

  This subject will be the backbone of Büyükan?t's meeting with the Jewish-American member of the House of Representatives Tom Lantos. Lantos usually supports Turkey. On the other hand, he showed great reaction against the invitation of Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal to Ankara and his doubts about the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government have increased due to this. The questions Lantos will be asking Büyükan?t and the answers he will be getting will be watched closely.

 

What will we do if the bill passes?:

  The number of questions has increased lately. The question I encounter the most is this: What will happen if the U.S. Congress accepts the Armenian genocide bill? What will we lose? Will they convince us to pay compensation or will they force us to give land?

  According to the bill, the U.S. government will identify the events of 1915 as genocide. However, even in this case Turkey will not be asked to give remuneration or give up territory. The reason for this is that all claims of land owed by or due to the Ottoman Empire were either concluded with the Lausanne Treaty or mutually dropped.

  Then why do we make such a fuss about it?

  Leave the U.S. Congress do whatever they want.

  Not so fast…

  This bill, even if it passes the House of Representatives and remains out of date or if it passes at the Senate to be made into law, will mean that Turkey is disgraced and that this is made a fact by the world's only super power. We must prevent our grandchildren from suffering such a shame. But we must also know well what awaits us at the end of the road.

  Let us not forget that the passing of the bill will not mean the end of the world and that the Turkish-U.S. relations will survive under all conditions.