Ankara responds harshly to awkward voting results

The Turkish public watched in anticipation as the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee voted on the ‘Armenian Genocide’ resolution on live broadcast. Yes: 23 No: 22

VOTING EXTENDED

Yesterday, the U.S. Congress witnessed the most bizarre session experienced in recent years: voting on the resolution which would qualify the 1915 incidents as ‘Genocide’ by the Foreign Affairs Committee was extended in order to allow for absent members to be brought in to vote.  

BERMAN’S FOOTWORK 

While votes against the resolution appeared to be upholding the majority, a little fancy footwork by Committee Chairman Berman worked to alter the course of the voting. Three affirmative votes by members who were brought in at the last minute, sealed the deal for Chairman Berman who announced that the resolution had passed, despite the fact that the results did not constitute an absolute majority.  

ANKARA’S ANGER 

After the results were announced, Turkey’s Washington Ambassador Namik Tan was called back to Ankara for ‘consultation’ purposes. Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman Mercan commented; “We have witnessed the realization of a comedy.”  The decision is being qualified as equivalent to putting the Turkey-Armenia peace process on the shelf.