ANKARA - "Turkey follows with regret the efforts of the Armenian lobbies (seeking to win votes) to exploit political developments in the United States," Turkish Foreign Affairs spokesman Namik Tan told a weekly news conference in Ankara on Wednesday.
Asked to comment on a bill on so-called Armenian genocide, claimed to be discussed at U.S. Congress and on the recent statements of the Armenian executives, Tan said, "we have observed that there were expectations of the Armenian circles about adoption of so-called Armenian genocide after the elections held in the United States in November."
Tan said relations between Turkey and the United States were "multi dimensional" and "strategic", and indicated that the relations included comprehensive topics.
"The United States has been pursuing a commonsensical approach so far. We believe that U.S. administration will maintain the relations with the same understanding. Relations between Turkey and the United States have importance beyond this small expectations," he added.
-STATEMENTS OF ARMENIAN EXECUTIVES-
Commenting on the statements of Armenian executives on establishment of diplomatic relations (without any precondition) with Turkey, Tan recalled that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier asked Armenian President Robert Kocharian to establish a joint committee of Turkish and Armenian historians to investigate 1915 incidents.
Tan said a tangible progress could not be made so far because of the negative approach of Armenia towards the proposal in question.
"We think that the joint committee would be a mechanism that eliminates difference of interpretations as regards to 1915 incidents and assumes the function of confidence building measures between Turkish and Armenian peoples," Tan stated.
"Turkey believes that the committee will contribute to the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. Turkey is decisive in restoration of peace, stability and tranquility in line with its traditional foreign policy principles," Tan said.
Tan also said yielding a result from the efforts depended on a more flexible approach from Armenia (to overcome bilateral and regional problems) and Armenia`s acting in line with international laws.