Center for Armenian Remembrance (CAR)
PO BOX 250322 . Glendale . CA 91225-0322
Phone: 818-281-9992
CENTERARNEWS.COM

POLL: ARMENIANS WORLDWIDE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OBAMA PROMISE

An ongoing Poll at Centerarnews.com of over 700 hundred on-line
responders from 55 countries shows that Armenians are overwhelmingly
optimistic that Pres. Obama will recognize the Armenian Genocide this
April.

The Poll reveals that 44% of responders believe that Obama will
absolutely recognize, while 32% think he probably will. On the other
hand, 17% believe he will probably not recognize, while 8% think he
will absolutely not recognize.

The poll at centerarnews.com will remain open till the week of April
24. Please be aware that the poll tracking software accepts only one
vote per computer. Members of a family with different votes should use
different computers. Those of you who want to track the poll, please
click on the red VOTE button on the Poll Panel on the left of the
site.

The possible passage of a Genocide Resolution and President Obama’s
possible use of the "G" word in April has already rattled the Turkish
establishment yet again.

Mr. Nebi Sensoy, Turkey’s Ambassador in Washington, told a meeting in
New York that, he believes Turkey’s relations will see much better
days with the Obama Administration, "unless, of course, wrong steps
are not taken on a couple of issues," he said. He then implied that
once again he will be recalled back to Ankara if President Obama
utters the "G" word.

Ironically, Rouben Safrastyan, director of the Institute of Oriental
Studies in the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, asserted that
since the war in Afghanistan had become important again, Obama would
not alienate Turkey in order to secure Turkey’s help in fighting the
war on America’s side.

The true face of the Turkish Government’s strategy, however, can be
seen in a statement made by Suat Kýnýklýoðlu, deputy chairman for
external affairs for the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AK
Party). He stated: "Also, I think it would be timely to underline an
important and for me astounding fact. The Armenian Diaspora appears to
be totally indifferent to the Armenian government’s desire to
normalize relations with Turkey. The Diaspora is projecting an
extremely negative influence on Yerevan. All they care about is one
word and that is it. If they manage to push this through I believe
this would be a historic example of how a small ethnic Diaspora
subverts US national interests and causes great harm to a delicate
region. I am confident that there are enough responsible people on all
three sides to prevent this from happening, especially when all the
stars are lined up to make a historic rapprochement between Turkey and
Armenia a reality."

"Of course, we are extremely upset about the necessity to spend our
energy on this issue every fall but we are not going to let the
Armenian Diaspora get its way."

And there you have it. According to this well-educated politician,
Armenian-Americans are undermining the United States by talking about
Genocide. Next thing you know, he will brand us all terrorists.

For these reasons we believe that this Poll is vitally important to
the nine-decade long bi-lateral relationship between
U.S. Administrations and politically active American citizens of
Armenian descent.

Will realpolitik trump principle once again? Or will Obama bring real
change and rectify a monumental historical injustice?

You can vote in the poll by visiting: Centerarnews.com.