Lobbyists said Turkey could suspend procurement of U.S. civilian and
military aircraft in the wake of the passage of a resolution in Congress on the
Armenian genocide during World War I. Turkey, which has denied involvement
in the killing of one million Armenians, has threatened retaliation for the
House Foreign Relations Committee vote on March 4, Middle East Newsline reported.
"Turkey and the United States have important and long-standing strategic
and economic ties," Blakey said. "Turkey is a strong democracy, a fellow
member of NATO and a critical partner in the war against terrorists."
Blakey did not cite Turkish procurement projects. But industry sources
said Turkey had planned to submit its first order of the Joint Strike
Fighter as well as select the winner of a multi-billion-dollar utility
helicopter tender in 2010.
In his March 5 statement, Blakey urged President Barack Obama and
Congress to stop the Armenian genocide resolution. He stressed that Turkey
played a key role in the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan.
"We're urging President Obama and the Speaker of the House to ensure
that the resolution doesn't go to the House floor for a vote," Blakey said.
"There is simply too much at stake."
