Clinton "assures" Turkey on Armenia bill

The ministry issued the statement after a telephone call between Clinton and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Sunday.

The United States is keen to smooth over relations with Turkey, NATO's only Muslim member.

Turkey recalled its ambassador in Washington after a U.S. House of Representatives committee approved a non-binding resolution on March 4.

The full House of Representatives is due to consider the resolution, although it was unclear whether it would go to a vote or had enough support to pass.

"Secretary Clinton emphasised that the U.S. administration opposes both the decision accepted by the committee and the decision reaching the general assembly," the statement said.

Turkey wants to be sure that Obama will not use that term in an address scheduled for April 24, and has halted high profile visits by officials.

Davutoglu told Clinton the congressional committee's resolution had negatively affected efforts to improved stability in the South Caucasus.

Turkey is trying to normalise relations and open their shared border with Armenia.

Clinton said U.S. officials hoped Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan would attend a summit in Washington next month on nuclear disarmament, the foreign ministry statement said.

Davutoglu said Erdogan would decide in the next few days whether to attend the meeting on April 13 and 14. More than 40 world leaders are expected at the summit.


/World Bulletin/