Once again, as has been the case every spring for years, the debate over whether the ethnic clashes against the Armenians in the break up of the Ottoman Empire amounted to genocide has made it into the US political arena for Congress to weigh in, writes Alon Ben-Meir, referring to the recent resolution by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to officially recognize actions against the Armenians in 1915 as genocide committed by the Ottoman Turks.

Not only will this vote undermine the reconciliation process between Turkey and Armenia, but it threatens the US-Turkish relationship at a time when Turkey is playing a critical role aiding the US and the Middle East peace process… If genocide was in fact committed, it should be left to an international investigative tribunal, not politicians who need to be reelected every two years.

It is more important that the Turkish government, who acted out fervently against the US government following the resolution, come to grips with the separation of power in the United States.

Both President Obama and Secretary Clinton have come out strongly against the resolution — albeit last minute — yet they cannot control the votes or the agenda of Congress.

Under no circumstance should Prime Minister Erdogan cancel his upcoming visit to the US, as he should use this opportunity to present his case and prove that Turkey is capable of handling the disputes with Armenia without US congressional intervention