G-Resolution and Tension in Turkey-US Relations are Unrelated: Philip Gordon

The Resolution on Armenian Genocide and the controversy between Ankara and Washington over imposing sanctions upon Iran are separate issues, US Undersecretary of State Philip Gordon told BBC, reports local Turkish daily Zaman.

Saying that US is disappointed with Turkey over its no vote on sanctions against Iran Gordon underlined that Ankara will not turn from a "strategic partner" into a "strategic rival."

Asked whether US would punish Turkey by adopting the Armenian Genocide Resolution at the full Congress or whether it would review its military relations with Ankara, Gordon said: "I think issues that have unrelated must not be related to each other. We want to preserve the positive perceptions about Turkey in US."

Further he said he did not agree to the recent widespread view that Turkey moving away from the West and is tending towards East. He also said that Turkey is pursuing an active policy in the East and in the region.

"I do not think that Turkey does that not in spite of the West. We do not feel that Turkey's desire to strengthen relations with US and EU has weakened."