In a briefing on April 2, the prime minister said he would order the
return of Turkey's ambassador to Washington, Namik Tan, Middle East Newsline reported. On March 4, Tan was
recalled from the United States hours after the House Foreign Affairs
Committee adopted the Armenian genocide resolution.
"I will send the ambassador to the United States next week," Erdogan
said.
The prime minister said he would travel to Washington to attend a
nuclear security summit on April 12. The prime minister had earlier said he
had canceled the visit to the United States.
"I received an invitation five, six months ago to attend an
international event that other countries will also be attending and that
serves a good cause — to prevent the use and spreading of nuclear weapons,”
Erdogan said. "I will be going to the United States."
Officials said Erdogan held several telephone conversations with Obama
and senior administration officials. They said the president as well as
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged to press the Democratic
leadership to stop the Armenian genocide resolution from reaching the House
floor.
"Everyone smiled at him when he [Erdogan] vowed not to go [to
Washington]," Turkish parliamentary opposition leader Deniz Baykal recalled.
"Within only 25 days, he rotated 180 degrees."
