PRESIDENT OBAMA’S SPEECH WAS PRUDENT, CONVINCING AND IMPRESSIVE IN SENSE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AS WELL
By Hakob Chaqrian

AZG DAILY
08-04-2009

International

Even without pronouncing the word ‘Genocide’ at the Turkish Parliament

Thanks to the US President Barack Obama’s historical visit to Turkey,
the Armenian Genocide issue, stimulated by the Turkish press in the
recent months, again appeared on the agenda of the official Ankara.

Therefore, the question becomes pivotal and the other details of the
US President’s visit remain under the shade.

All of these are directly conditioned by the joint press conference
of the US and Turkish Presidents, as well as the US President’s speech
at the Turkish Parliament (Mejlis).

Obama-Gul meeting lasted 80 minutes instead of the preliminary
planned 35 minutes. And at the joint press conference besides the
Armenian Genocide issue only the PKK issue was raised that the Turkish
newspapers didn’t even consider it necessary to touch upon.

What about President Obama’s speech at Mejlis, it lasted 26 minutes
when he, according to Milliet’s author Hasan Jamal, tried to pull in
either one or the other direction.

In his speech Barack Obama considered Turkey as an important ally of
the United States and US-Turkish relations as a model for the other
countries. He touched upon the Middle East peaceful settlement process
leading to establishment of Palestinian independent statehood. He also
spoke of the Iranian nuclear program mentioning that the USA had never
been and will not be at war with Islam. He identified the PKK with Al
Ghaida and raised the issue of necessary cooperation of Turkey with the
Kurdish authorities of Kurdistan, Northern Iraq. He touched upon the
Kurdish issue as well as the freedom of press and ethnic minorities
issues in Turkey. Obama underlined settlement of Cyprus issue and
necessity of reopening of the Greek theological academy in Istanbul.

And finally, within the framework of the Armenian Genocide he
highlighted regulation of Armenian-Turkish relations and opening of
the Armenian border of Turkey.

Before we touch upon the part of President Obama’s speech related to
the Armenian Genocide we want to recall what he had said at the joint
conference with President Gul, as it is an addition to his speech. At
April 6 joint conference Chicago Tribune correspondent asked President
Obama, "As a Senator You were on the Armenian-Americans’ side,
You took sides in adoption of the Armenian Genocide resolution and
announced that in case of being the US President You would recognize
the Armenian Genocide. Have You changed Your position?" President
Obama answered unequivocally, "My position on the issue is stated. I
haven’t changed my position on it".

In his speech at Turkish Mejlis Obama, in fornt of the Turkish
MPs, said, "History is always full of tragedies. But if people do
not overcome it, it becomes a heavy burden. In that sense, the two
countries should conciliate and take a course to a better future. I
am aware of the firm viewpoints available in this parliament connected
with the terrible incidents of 1915. But in case of delivering a speech
at Mejlis, I should touch upon the ominous incidents of 1915. It is
an issue that should be solved not by me but the Armenians and Turks
together. In this sense, it is necessary the Turkish and Armenian
people do honest, transparent and constructive work. We are the
witnesses of the historical steps made by the Armenian and Turkish
leaders. Opening of the border will return the well-off and peaceful
living to the Armenian and Turkish peoples. I want you to know that
the United States unequivocally support complete regulation of the
Armenian-Turkish relations".

Though at the joint press conference and in his speech at Mejlis Barack
Obama didn’t use the word ‘Genocide’, with the help of Chicago Tribune
correspondent, at Chanqaya hall, the phrase "Armenian Genocide" was
first pronounced officially, and Obama, re-affirming his position on
it, condemned to failure the Turkish steps to hamper the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide in the USA.

The US President, without pronouncing the word "Genocide", touched
upon the Genocide issue in front of the Turkish President Gul and
Turkish MPs, depriving them of any counteraction, moreover, they give
him a big round of applause. It means that Barack Obama’s speech was
prudent, convincing and impressive in sense of stimulation of the
Armenian Genocide issue.