BILGESAM: Turkey in a deadlock over the issue of Armenian Genocide

PanARMENIAN.Net

BILGESAM: Turkey is in a deadlock over the issue of Armenian Genocide
07.03.2009 23:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ BÄ°LGESAM’s report on Turkey’s current
situation and future challenges was made public by retired Ambassador
İlter Türkmen. The Wise Men Center for Strategic Studies
(BÄ°LGESAM), a think tank formed by retired soldiers,
ambassadors and academics, called for the preparation of a new
civilian constitution and enactment of judicial reforms to overcome
future challenges in a report made public.

BÄ°LGESAM said Turkey is in a deadlock over the issue of the
Armenian Genocide, with Armenians insistent on their claims that the
1915 killings of Anatolian Armenians by Ottoman Turks constituted
genocide.

`The parliaments of 17 countries have recognized Armenian genocide
resolutions. US President Barack Obama referred to the killings of
Armenians as genocide during the 2008 election campaign and promised
the Armenian lobby that he would recognize their claims. … As it is
not possible for Turkey to recognize the Armenian genocide claims, the
best thing that can be done at the moment is to create an environment
in which the problem can be pushed to the back burner over time,’ read
the report.

The report also stressed that President Abdullah Gül’s visit to
Yerevan last year contributed a great deal to the improvement of ties
between Turkey and Armenia. Gül visited Yerevan in September of
last year to watch the World Cup qualifying match between the national
teams of the two countries, which observers have said was a turning
point for the settlement of longstanding disputes between the two
neighbors, Today’s Zaman reports.