In remarks at the Brookings Institution, Gordon said the administration
has not obtained guarantees from Democratic leaders to block the Armenian
resolution before it reaches the House floor. Earlier, the State Department
assured Turkey of such a commitment.
"The United States and Turkey have made a choice to establish a
partnership, and with that partnership comes important responsibilities on
both sides," Gordon said on March 17. "As two large countries with broad and
diverse interests, we will not always see eye-to-eye on every issue, but we
must never forget the larger outlook that we share."
On March 4, the Armenian resolution passed the House Foreign Affairs
Committee by a 23-22 vote. Hours after the vote, Turkey withdrew its
ambassador from the United States for consultations and warned of a
backlash. U.S. aerospace and defense companies have expressed fears that
they would be denied lucrative Turkish military projects.
"We believe that an engaged, active, and cooperative relationship with
Turkey is an important interest of the United States," Gordon said.
Despite the vote, Gordon said Turkey has not reduced cooperation with
the United States. He did not elaborate, but officials said this included
U.S. military activities in Turkey's Incirlik air force base.
"I think whatever the differences with Congress on this issue, it is
important that we engage and that we talk about these areas," Deputy
Secretary of State James Steinberg said.
In a March 15 address to the Atlantic Council, Steinberg said Turkey
remained a major partner in NATO's stabilization campaign in Afghanistan.
Washington has urged the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan to
expand the Turkish contingent in Afghanistan.
"It's an important partner in NATO," Steinberg said. "It's an important
partner in working with us in Iraq, where Turkey continues to play a very
constructive and positive force in helping to move that political process
forward. We think we have a strong and constructive engagement with Turkey
and I hope that the Turkish leadership understands the strong importance we
place on this and continues to work with us to achieve our common
objectives."