CLINTON AVOIDS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REFERENCE, PLAYS UP ARMENIA-TURKEY, KARABAKH TALKS
Emil Sanamyan
The Armenian Reporter
nton-avoids-armenian-genocide-reference-plays-up-a rmenia-turkey-karabakh-talks
Wednesday April 22, 2009
Washington, – Despite strong indications that talks between Armenia
and Turkey have ground to a halt, and few signs of movement in the
Karabakh peace process, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on April
22 expressed optimism about both issues today.
Speaking just 48 hours before Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day in a
hearing held by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mrs. Clinton did
not refer to and was not asked about the Genocide. Like her predecessor
Condoleezza Rice before her, Mrs. Clinton only alluded to the Genocide
as a "shared tragic history" that needs to be addressed by Armenians
and Turks.
The subject was brought up by Turkey Caucus co-chair Rep. Robert Wexler
(D.-Fla.), who asked about "possible extraordinary breakthroughs"
between Armenia and Turkey. Turkish officials and their Washington
lobbyists have been playing up such a "breakthrough" for weeks, while
simultaneously warning U.S. leaders not to refer to the Genocide,
as that might prevent the would-be "breakthroughs."
Mrs. Clinton responded that she has "been very encouraged by the bold
steps that have recently been taken by Turkish and Armenian leaders
to reconcile their countries with each other and with their shared
and painful past." She did not specify the "bold steps," adding that
the United States has been asked to and was supporting Armenia-Turkey
"reconciliation" efforts.
[Also on April 22, the foreign ministries of Armenia and Turkey issued
a joint statement announcing agreement on a "road-map" for an "on-going
process" of normalizing relations. But the Turkish prime minister just
three days earlier effectively ruled out the normalization of relations
with Armenia in the foreseeable future, saying "Turkey will not open
its border gate" before the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.]
Mr. Wexler also asked about the Karabakh conflict. In response,
Mrs. Clinton said the United States has "assured the government of
Azerbaijan that we will intensify our efforts to resolve the conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh and other outstanding issues between Azerbaijan
and Armenia."
She promised that the United States would continue to be "deeply
engaged" through the OSCE Minsk Group, adding that she hoped that
"there will be some resolution in the next month."
Asked about that latter comment, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Matt Bryza declined to comment on the secretary’s stated timeframe,
but said that he, along with the French and Russian envoys for
Karabakh talks "welcome continuing progress in efforts with Armenia
and Azerbaijan to resolve the final differences in the Basic Principles
for a Nagorno Karabakh settlement."
In a comment to the Armenian Reporter, Mr. Bryza added, "The presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan are demonstrating mutual respect for each
other, as they engage in give-and-take discussions that are gaining
momentum."
Also at the hearing, committee member Rep. Brad Sherman
(D.-Calif.) suggested that the United States should increase aid to
Armenia and either "eliminate or at least maintain parity" in military
aid to Azerbaijan; the secretary of state was expected to respond to
that issue in writing.