Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the country’s ambassador to the United States, Namik Tan, will not return to Washington for as long as Ankara doesn't have a complete picture concerning the possible passing of a resolution in Congress on recognition of the Armenian "genocide," Trend news agency reports.
"While we do not see the situation concerning the Armenian resolution clearly, the Turkish ambassador will not be sent to Washington" Turkish television quoted Erdogan as saying during a visit to Saudi Arabia.
Ankara had repeatedly warned that the adoption of the resolution would harm Turkish-American relations and the efforts to normalize Turkish-Armenian relations following the signing of a protocol on establishing diplomatic relations and the development of bilateral ties in Switzerland by foreign ministers of Turkey and Armenia.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives approved the resolution on recognition of the "genocide" of Armenians on March 4, with 23 representative voting for the resolution and 22 against.
