SARKISIAN MEETS WITH OBAMA, ERDOGAN; SAYS GENOCIDE CANNOT BE QUESTIONED

Asbarez
Apr 12th, 2010

WASHINGTON (Combined Sources)-President Serzh Sarkisian on Monday
met with President Barack Obama and held talks with Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of an international
nuclear summit.

Sarkisian also attended an event at the tomb of President Woodrow
Wilson, where after laying a wreath, he made remarks at the National
Cathedral addressed to community members and Armenian Genocide
survivors who had gathered for the event.

"Turkey cannot speak to Armenia and the Armenian people in a language
of preconditions," President Serzh Sarkisian remarked at a gathering
at the Woodrow Wilson Monument, moments after his meeting with Erdogan.

He also emphasized that Armenia was not willing to make the fact
of the Armenian Genocide a matter of discussion, nor did he believe
that Turkey would have a positive role in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process.

Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau member Dr. Viken Hovsepian,
who attended the National Cathedral event called on Sarkisian to
rescind his signature from the Armenia-Turkey protocols.

"We heard President Sarkisian’s speech, which primarily honored
President Wilson’s memory and his friendship with the Armenian
people," he said during interview with our sister publication, the
Armenian Weekly.

"The symbolism of President Wilson goes far beyond the friendship
aspect. Wilson is the architect of what became known as ‘Wilsonian
Armenia’-an independent Armenia which included Armenian provinces
of the Ottoman Empire. We are mindful of the symbolism of President
Sarkisian’s visit to Wilson’s tomb and his speech today," explained
Hovsepian.

"The real expression, however, of this symbolism-and its logical
continuation-would be President Sarkisian’s rescinding his signature
from the Turkey-Armenia protocols," said Hovsepian.

"President Sarkisian’s remarks – both in timing and in substance – are
greatly encouraging," ARF Central Committee Chairman Antranig Kasbarian
told the Armenian Weekly. "The symbolism of honoring Woodrow Wilson –
a champion of Genocide survivors and guarantor of Western Armenia –
was not lost on those assembled. Nor was the President’s assessment
of current political relations, in which he clearly rejected any
preconditons by Turkey toward normalizing bilateral ties," Kasbarian
added.

"But the true test will come behind closed doors, when Mr. Sargsyan
encounters the inevitable pressure from Washington and Ankara to
come to terms," added Kasbarian. "If he follows the path set out
today, then we can reasonably hope that Armenia will retreat from
the Protocols and the dangerous course they represent. If not, then
we may see Armenia’s predicament go from bad to worse."

Obama discussed with Sarkisian, prospects for the normalization of
Turkish-Armenian relations and the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict during their first-ever talks held in Washington on Monday,
reported Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

A "read out" issued by the White House statedt: "The President
commended President Sarkisian for his courageous efforts to achieve
normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey and encouraged
him to fulfill the promise of normalization for the benefit of the
Armenian people. President Obama also urged that both Armenia and
Turkey make every effort to advance the normalization process and
achieve legislative ratification of the protocols of normalization.

President Obama also expressed his support for Armenian democracy."

Sarkisian’s office said only that the two leaders spoke about "the
course of normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey" and
"exchanged thoughts" on the current status of the Karabakh peace
process. They also discussed "prospects for the development of
bilateral Armenian-American relations," it said.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has been personally involved in
the Turkish-Armenian diplomacy, and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
were also present at the talks. The Tert.am news service reported
from Washington that Clinton is due to hold a separate meeting with
Sarkisian during his visit.

According to RFE/RL, a White House source, who asked not be identified
said prior to the meeting that President Obama has expressed hope
that through the reconciliation process that began in 2009, Armenia
and Turkey would be able to improve relations and address long-time
"disagreements."

Sarkisian and Erdogan met Monday morning. Turkish sources indicated
that the brunt of the discussion focused on a letter, which was
delivered last week by Erdogan’s envoy.

The NTV news agency, quoting Turkish delegation members, reported that
the two leaders agreed that Armenian and Turkish foreign ministers
will focus on the ratification process of the protocols.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Deputy Chief of Staff
to the President of Armenia Vigen Sarkisian were joined by Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary
Feridun Sinirlioglu, at the meeting, diplomats said.

No officials announcements were made at the conclusion of the meeting.

During opening remarks at the George Mason University’s new Center
for Global Islamic Studies on Monday, Erdogan voiced his anger at
the approval, last month, of an Armenian Genocide resolution by the
House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"History does not get written in parliaments and it cannot become a
subject of condemnation by a parliament," said Erdogan.

"We opened our archives and suggested the formation of a historical
commission, however we didn’t receive a response. Decisions adopted
by parliaments will not benefit Armenia," said Erdogan.