THE ARMENIAN 'GENOCIDE' BILL WILL KNOCK ON THE DOOR AGAIN

We are so much consumed in the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and northern Iraq-related issues that we almost forgot about other issues on the agenda.
   Remember, we had engaged in a fierce struggle in recent months and remained in the middle of storms due to the ''genocide'' bill pending at the U.S. House of Representatives regarding the so-called Armenian genocide allegations. Ankara run riot. Delegations paid visits to Washington one after the other. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an fiercely reacted to the bill. We diligently discussed potential measures Turkey might have taken in case the proposal was approved.
  During the discussions, experts who are familiar with the issue were saying, “This is it. This time no one stop the bill. It's over.” It was even said we need a miracle to repel the bill. Armenians on the other hand were so sure of themselves. They thought the bill was in the bag.
  Incidents were rather the reflection of the U.S. domestic policy, not of the efforts to be congenial toward Armenians or to merely punish Turkey. With this proposal Democrat majority was after beating the Republicans in the U.S. Congress.
  Turkish-American relations were being tested again but the Bush administration made an unexpected counter-attack. In fact a battle had begun to even surprise lobbyist in the U.S. capital. In a letter campaign former state and defense secretaries showed their reactions as the president of the United States George W. Bush personally made phone calls to key representatives. The U.S. administration clearly voiced how bilateral relations with Turkey are of importance for them.
  In the end “expect the unexpected” became a reality and the signatures collected to support the bill were withdrawn one by one. Nancy Pelosi, leader of the U.S. House Democrats, had to throw the towel. 
  Turkey won, so did Bush.
  In Washington I met officials of the Bush administration and lobbyist involved in the subject.
  Resubmission of the bill in 2008, as the election year, is less likely, they say.
  However, let's be careful because the Armenian bill will relapse in 2009.
  If we close the case and forget all about it, as we previously did, and continue with our lives as if nothing happened, the bill surely will knock the door again.
 
We bought time with Bush's move, but…
  The Bush administration created an incredible advantage for Turkey in the issue of Armenian genocide bill.
  Perhaps approval of the bill at the House had no “binding” effect but for Turkey this would have been a morale collapse about the so-called genocide allegations. No matter how fiercely we had reacted and how firmly claimed our case in international arena, we would have lost our power of persuasiveness. No matter how much we had tried hard, the thought of “Turks committed genocide against Armenians,” spread already, would have been riveted for good.
  If the U.S. House had taken the expected step this would have mean losing the fight that we were already having trouble.
  The Bush administration, with the stance against the bill, helped Turkey gain advantage over the case. However, you cannot even guess how valuable this gain is.
  We should do well in this process and create a more effective preemptive mechanism in the House, when needed.
  Let's not expect that miracles happen all the time.
  Moreover, we should consider that Democrats as potential winners of the U.S. elections may show sensitivity the way the Bush administration did and that “Let's finish it once and for all,” they may say.
  What should we do then?
  Here are a few concrete examples:
  - We should pull in, let's say, the Brits to initiate a “Joint Historian Committee,” as suggested by Turkey, because the project is weighed more if was launched by a third party.
  -  We should open the border gate to Yerevan to increase commercial activities.
  -  We should have more sports and cultural activities with Armenia and increase the number of messages to Armenia.
  This list may be lengthened.
  Officials in Ankara should begin to ponder and start works for serious planning.
  Otherwise we will lose this game; so let's not cry afterwards.