Armenia says the visit encouraging
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 08, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - United StatesPresident Barack Obama’s comments on the Armenian genocide claims of the 1915 events were as closely scrutinized in Armenia as they were in Turkey, with most in Armenia finding the remarks encouraging
Armenia warmly welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama’s encouragement of the steps Turkey and Armenian have taken to tackle bilateral problems and his stand that he has not changed his views on the controversial Armenian genocide issue.
Yerevan Press Club chairman Boris Navasartyan said he welcomed Obama’s remarks in Turkey, but said the real weight of the matter was on Turkish and Armenian leaders.
"The important thing is the step Armenia and Turkey are willing to take without any pressure. The step needs to be persuasive," he said.
Armenia argues the death of Armenians in 1915 in the Ottoman Empire is genocide, while Turkey, admitting hundreds of thousands of Armenians and Turks died during the upheaval caused by World War One, stringently denies it constitutes genocide.
When asked at a joint press conference with President Abdullah Gül if he will support a U.S. congressional resolution that would label the 1915 events as genocide, Obama said, "My views are on the record, and I have not changed those views."
During his campaign for president, Obama promised to support the resolution and said he recognized the massacres as genocide. His election had raised the hope among the Armenian diaspora that he would recognize it as the president.
In his address to Turkish Parliament, Obama acknowledged the sensitive nature of the matter and said, "The best way forward for the Turkish and Armenian people is a process that works through the past in a way that is honest, open and constructive."
The chairman of the Gyumri Journalists’ Club Asparez, Levon Barseghyan, praised Obama’s statements, saying, "Steps taken by Obama are praiseworthy in terms of the normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relations."
Caucasus Institute President Alexander Isgandaryan said it had been apparent that Obama would not risk relations with Turkey by referring to the murders as genocide in his April 24 statement. "All candidates for president make the same kinds of statements during their campaign," said Isgardaryan, but added that he found Obama’s statements in Turkey positive. "U.S. support for the opening of the border between Turkey and Armenia and the establishment of relations is crucial," he said.
Giro Manoyan from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaksutyun Bureau International Secretariat described Obama’s remarks in Turkey on the matter as "positive but inadequate." "I find it positive because he openly said his opinions on the 1915 matter had not changed under the roof of the Turkish Parliament as the Turkish president was watching. He also referred to the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border. What I find inadequate is his failure to tell Turkey to recognize the genocide," said Manoyan.
Yerevan Press Club chairman Boris Navasartyan said he welcomed Obama’s remarks in Turkey, but said the real weight of the matter was on Turkish and Armenian leaders.
"The important thing is the step Armenia and Turkey are willing to take without any pressure. The step needs to be persuasive," he said.
Armenia argues the death of Armenians in 1915 in the Ottoman Empire is genocide, while Turkey, admitting hundreds of thousands of Armenians and Turks died during the upheaval caused by World War One, stringently denies it constitutes genocide.
When asked at a joint press conference with President Abdullah Gül if he will support a U.S. congressional resolution that would label the 1915 events as genocide, Obama said, "My views are on the record, and I have not changed those views."
During his campaign for president, Obama promised to support the resolution and said he recognized the massacres as genocide. His election had raised the hope among the Armenian diaspora that he would recognize it as the president.
In his address to Turkish Parliament, Obama acknowledged the sensitive nature of the matter and said, "The best way forward for the Turkish and Armenian people is a process that works through the past in a way that is honest, open and constructive."
The chairman of the Gyumri Journalists’ Club Asparez, Levon Barseghyan, praised Obama’s statements, saying, "Steps taken by Obama are praiseworthy in terms of the normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relations."
Caucasus Institute President Alexander Isgandaryan said it had been apparent that Obama would not risk relations with Turkey by referring to the murders as genocide in his April 24 statement. "All candidates for president make the same kinds of statements during their campaign," said Isgardaryan, but added that he found Obama’s statements in Turkey positive. "U.S. support for the opening of the border between Turkey and Armenia and the establishment of relations is crucial," he said.
Giro Manoyan from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaksutyun Bureau International Secretariat described Obama’s remarks in Turkey on the matter as "positive but inadequate." "I find it positive because he openly said his opinions on the 1915 matter had not changed under the roof of the Turkish Parliament as the Turkish president was watching. He also referred to the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border. What I find inadequate is his failure to tell Turkey to recognize the genocide," said Manoyan.