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Last update - 08:27 11/04/2008
Turkey seeks to block Knesset debate on Armenian genocide
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Armenia, Israel, Turkey

The chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the Turkish parliament, Hasan Murat Mercan, has asked the Prime Minister's Bureau to cancel a scheduled discussion in the Knesset on the Armenian genocide.

Mercan was in Israel this week at the head of a Turkish parliamentary delegation for talks with their Israeli counterparts.

Talks included discussions on Iran, the Palestinians and Syria, but the main issue the Turkish delegation raised was an upcoming Knesset debate on the Armenian genocide.
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"The Armenian issue is very sensitive for Turkey," the visitors told Yoram Turbowicz and Shalom Turgeman, two of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's most senior aides, adding that, "We would prefer if this discussion would not take place at this time in the Israeli parliament because it may harm the relations between the two countries."

Turbowicz offered Israel's official response, that the issue needed to be resolved between Turkey and Armenia in a professional manner, through the involvement of historians.

"Israel certainly recognizes the strategic importance of its relations with Turkey, but there are subjects and parliamentary initiatives that are not related to the government," Turbowicz said. "As a government, we have no interest in undermining our ties with Turkey."

"I am convinced that Israel recognizes the negative implications this may have on ties between the two countries," Mercan said.

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      1.   turkey stop lecturing Israel and face your own crimessssss 04:08  |  Viken 11/04/08
      2.   Siding with Arabs against Israel now Turkey doesn`t like Israel 04:08  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/04/08
      3.   How hypocritical 04:09  |  Habakuk 11/04/08
      4.   Stick it to Turkey like it does to Israel! 04:19  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/04/08
      5.   Goodness Gracious 04:47  |  Ghassan 11/04/08
      6.   One cannot have too many enemies! 05:52  |  Natallie Durson 11/04/08
      7.   Armenian Genocide was the begining 06:25  |  American 11/04/08
      8.   turkey and their muslim brothers 06:35  |  American 11/04/08
      9.   Nuttie Dursion the Genocide Supporter when it is convenient 06:38  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/04/08
      10.   Natalie you need to be more sensitive to Armenia sufferingssssss 06:40  |  Viken 11/04/08
      11.   Turkey is also surrounded by enemies an needs Israel for weapons 06:43  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/04/08
      12.   Dont be one sided 07:07  |  erol 11/04/08
      13.   Please forgive me, I lost my head for a moment, oppressed people 07:08  |  Natalie Durson 11/04/08
      14.   cont. 07:14  |  erol 11/04/08
      15.   Genuine Tosefta 07:55  |  Natallie Durson 11/04/08
      16.   To Natalie Durson: 08:24  |  Abraham 11/04/08
      17.   To # 13 aka "Natalie Durson" Lol 08:28  |  Abraham 11/04/08
      18.   To # 13 aka "Natalie Durson" Lol 08:28  |  Abraham 11/04/08
      19.   Insult to Turkishness 08:43  |  Slibovitz 11/04/08
      20.   Abraham, you are quite mistaken, in a simpleminded way 09:19  |  Natallie Durson 11/04/08
      21.   We have a very good relationship with Turkey 10:53  |  Nicole 11/04/08
      22.   Important Subject. Bad Timing. 11:13  |  Proud Israeli 11/04/08
      23.   Natalie: You`re changing the subject 11:51  |  Abraham 11/04/08
      24.   ARMENIAN PEOPLE ARE GREAT PEOPLE BUT THE POLITICIANS 12:05  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 11/04/08
      25.   Armenian genocide 12:14  |  Leon Blaustein 11/04/08
      26.   Turkey sticking its nose into Israeli affairs........ 12:30  |  Swiss (Dino) 11/04/08
      27.   Abraham - Since you asked 12:50  |  Natallie Durson 11/04/08
      28.   #6 Natallie Durson 14:12  |  Moshe 11/04/08
      29.   Morality or Realpolitik. Which Is it? 14:27  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/04/08
      30.   Armenia and Israel 14:46  |  JJ burke 11/04/08
      31.   Another holocaust denied 14:47  |  Walter 11/04/08
      32.   Debate it or not, it was Genocide 15:57  |  CM 11/04/08
      33.   Armenians 16:15  |  Naim S. Mahlab 11/04/08
      34.   Turkey and their Guilty Conscience 16:20  |  Brod 11/04/08
      35.   The Israelis and the Armenian Genocide 16:20  |  Harry Istepanian 11/04/08
      36.   With Light Humor and Sarcasm 16:34  |  Zareh 11/04/08
      37.   About History Lesson 16:43  |  Ali 11/04/08
      38.   Funny that Swiss Miss Dino doesn`t like criticism on Snow White 17:29  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/04/08
      39.   Brothers Zareh and CM we Jews are supporting your just cause 17:36  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/04/08
      40.   One can sense from Nuttie Dursion the Genocide Supporter`s 17:48  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/04/08
      41.   Nuttie Dursion the Genocide Enthusiast is feeling the heat 17:51  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/04/08
      42.   Armenian Genocide has already been studied. 18:01  |  thetruth 11/04/08
      43.   Nattalie Durson - In Darfur 18:40  |  David Israel 11/04/08
      44.   #37 ali a genocide by any other name... 18:52  |  Walter 11/04/08
      45.   Justice 18:58  |  David Isarel 11/04/08
      46.   Odd issue for the Knesset 19:00  |  Tosefta 11/04/08
      47.   EU PROCESS IS ISLAMIZING TURKEY, NOT REFORMING IT! 20:07  |  Secular Turk 11/04/08
      48.   The Armenian issue 20:18  |  Yitzek 11/04/08
      49.   #43 David Israel 20:31  |  Yitzek 11/04/08
      50.   # 38 "Genuine" Tosefta 20:36  |  Swiss (Dino) 11/04/08
      51.   If not now, when IS a good time......... 20:38  |  R 11/04/08
      52.   The odd female and Ghastly Impostor finds an ODD ISSUE 21:00  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/04/08
      53.   Turkey seeks to block Knesset debate on Armenian genocide 21:01  |  Galvin Templar 11/04/08
      54.   Never Again is Meaningless 21:13  |  Phantom 11/04/08
      55.   Why now?! 21:21  |  ManInTheMiddle 11/04/08
      56.   Phanton in Istanbul, sadly you are correct 21:29  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/04/08
      57.   14EROL 22:18  |  concerned armenian 11/04/08
      58.   Turkey is an important ally of Israel 22:23  |  Haldrik 11/04/08
      59.   Never Again does not apply 22:43  |  Slibovitz 11/04/08
      60.   Justice 22:46  |  David Israel 11/04/08
      61.   ALL Peoples murdered by Ottomans-please raise your hands. 23:05  |  DK 11/04/08
      62.   Erdogan focussed since on his Islamic agenda is 23:12  |  Karl 11/04/08
      63.   Miss Durson: I aim to enlighten you 23:16  |  Abraham 11/04/08
      64.   Don`t you think Abraham that Nuttie is kind of apologetic 23:38  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/04/08
      65.   #21 Nicole what about the Swiss? 23:41  |  candida 11/04/08
      66.   .. 01:20  |  Ali 12/04/08
      67.   Turks Try to Block Recognition of the Armenian Genocide (Again) 01:27  |  CHGODMK 12/04/08
      68.   armenian genocide 02:07  |  barlev 12/04/08
      69.   Turkey 04:09  |  spyperson 12/04/08
      70.   Beware of posters 04:17  |  SPYGIRL 12/04/08
      71.   SPY-IT 06:12  |  Moishe 12/04/08
      72.   Turks Trying to Block again 07:55  |  Haeem 12/04/08
      73.