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Bush warns against Armenia bill Bush warns against Armenia bill
(40 minutes later)
President George W Bush has urged US legislators not to pass a resolution declaring the massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire to be genocide. President George W Bush has urged US legislators not to pass a resolution declaring the killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire to be genocide.
"This resolution is not the right response to these historic mass killings," he said hours before a vote by the House Foreign Affairs Committee."This resolution is not the right response to these historic mass killings," he said hours before a vote by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Such a move, already taken by France's parliament, would do "great harm" to US relations with Turkey, Mr Bush added.Such a move, already taken by France's parliament, would do "great harm" to US relations with Turkey, Mr Bush added.
Turkey disputes the causes of the 1915-1917 massacre. Turkey disputes the causes of the 1915-1917 killings.
Armenia alleges that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed in an organised campaign to force them out of what is now eastern Turkey.Armenia alleges that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed in an organised campaign to force them out of what is now eastern Turkey.
That is strongly denied by Turkey which says that large numbers of Turks and Armenians were killed in the chaos surrounding World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire when Armenians rose up. That is strongly denied by Turkey, which says that large numbers of both Turks and Armenians were killed in the chaos surrounding World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire when Armenians rose up.
It is highly unusual for the White House to make such a dramatic last-minute intervention in Congressional business, the BBC's Justin Webb reports from Washington.
With the opposition Democrats now in charge in Congress, they could force a vote, dealing a potentially grave blow to the Bush administration's efforts to keep Turkey on side, our correspondent adds.
Turkish indignationTurkish indignation
Speaking before Mr Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the passing of the resolution would be "very problematic" for US policy in the Middle East.Speaking before Mr Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the passing of the resolution would be "very problematic" for US policy in the Middle East.
Turkey has seen angry rallies demanding action in IraqTurkey has seen angry rallies demanding action in Iraq
It could, she added, destabilise US efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan because Turkey is a main hub for US military operations in the region.It could, she added, destabilise US efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan because Turkey is a main hub for US military operations in the region.
Even if it passes and is then adopted by the House, the bill will not be binding. Mr Bush has made clear that he also opposes it. Even if it passes and is then adopted by the House, the bill will not be binding.
But the BBC's Sarah Rainsford, in Istanbul, says that this will have little impact on the reaction in Turkey.But the BBC's Sarah Rainsford, in Istanbul, says that this will have little impact on the reaction in Turkey.
Ankara has pulled out all the stops to prevent the genocide resolution reaching Congress for a vote, she adds.Ankara has pulled out all the stops to prevent the genocide resolution reaching Congress for a vote, she adds.
Politicians have travelled to Washington to lobby lawmakers, while the country's prime minister and president have both contacted Mr Bush.Politicians have travelled to Washington to lobby lawmakers, while the country's prime minister and president have both contacted Mr Bush.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul warned of "serious problems that will emerge in bilateral relations if the bill is adopted".Turkish President Abdullah Gul warned of "serious problems that will emerge in bilateral relations if the bill is adopted".
All this comes on top of mounting anger that the US is not doing enough to counter the Kurdish separatist PKK group, which mounts deadly attacks on Turkey from inside Iraq, our correspondent says.All this comes on top of mounting anger that the US is not doing enough to counter the Kurdish separatist PKK group, which mounts deadly attacks on Turkey from inside Iraq, our correspondent says.
Some Turkish analysts believe the passing of the resolution would make it harder for the Turkish government to resist public pressure to cross the border.Some Turkish analysts believe the passing of the resolution would make it harder for the Turkish government to resist public pressure to cross the border.
Armenian pressureArmenian pressure
It is still extremely difficult to establish a set of undisputed facts about what happened in eastern Anatolia almost a century ago, the BBC's regional analyst Pam O'Toole says.It is still extremely difficult to establish a set of undisputed facts about what happened in eastern Anatolia almost a century ago, the BBC's regional analyst Pam O'Toole says.
But the issue has been kept alive by the powerful Armenian diaspora.But the issue has been kept alive by the powerful Armenian diaspora.
Twice as large as the population of Armenia itself, over recent years it has stepped up efforts to get Western parliaments to recognise those events as genocide, and has even sought to link it to Turkey's efforts to join the European Union.
Last year, the lower house of the French parliament declared the killings a genocide.Last year, the lower house of the French parliament declared the killings a genocide.
Ankara argues that there were massacres by both sides at the time but completely rejects the allegation that there was a state policy to kill Armenians.Ankara argues that there were massacres by both sides at the time but completely rejects the allegation that there was a state policy to kill Armenians.
Some Turks fear if those events are recognised as genocide, that could open the door to claims for compensation or even territory, our analyst says.Some Turks fear if those events are recognised as genocide, that could open the door to claims for compensation or even territory, our analyst says.
Only two years ago it seemed that a long-standing taboo had been broken when academics were allowed to hold a conference in Turkey discussing the mass killings of Armenians at that time.
But since then rising nationalism inside Turkey itself has effectively halted further debate, our analyst adds.