Reaction on Clinton out of key
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Aralık 04, 2008 00:00
Many reactions to the appointment of Sen. Hillary Clinton to head the State Department in America’s incoming Obama Administration, we find out of step with current reality.
On the Turkish side, recent reaction has boiled down to: Well, Clinton may have co-sponsored a resolution and endorsed the Armenian claims of alleged genocide in her campaign, but when push came to shove in 2007 she came down on Turkey’s side as the issue moved through the American Congress.
As to the reaction coming from the Armenian side of the issue, the Daily News report yesterday on the Armenian National Committee of America was faithful to this binary line of analysis: "We are certainly pleased to see that, for the first time in recent memory, an individual with a strong record in support of Armenian genocide recognition will serve as America’s secretary of state," said ANCA’s Aram Hamparian.
The matter of genocide claims will not disappear any time soon as an issue dividing Turks and Armenians. Neither is the cottage industry of lobbyists on both sides in Washington likely to find real jobs anytime soon.
But the context has changed dramatically; Turkish-Armenian relations have evolved so far beyond this narrow band of empty debate that we do not believe this issue can hold Turkish-Armenian relations hostage any longer. Nor is it likely to tie Secretary Clinton’s ability to frame any regional initiatives in any significant way.
Since the last time this resolution came before the U.S. Congress, Turkish President Abdullah Gül visited Yerevan at the invitation of his counterpart Serge Sarkisyan. Just a few weeks ago, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian made a return visit to Istanbul, calling for normalization of relations and praising the Turkish government’s initiatives in the Caucasus. Just days ago, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan was in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, emphasizing how important Turkish-Armenian entente is to the frozen conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
On the business and civil society front, the pace has been just as frantic. A Turkish entrepreneur is organizing a concert in Yerevan as an Armenian businessman plans the release of a new wine vintage using grapes from Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Regular flights are about to begin between the two capitals and a Turkish university has announced plans for a faculty of Armenian studies. And so much more.
Empty political vessels such as congressional resolutions can only dominate when the agenda is otherwise empty. This is hardly the case between Armenia and Turkey today.
Sen. Clinton may be a good secretary of state or a lousy one. Time will tell. But her one-time support or opposition to the "genocide resolution" is irrelevant. So will be the resolution should Congress take it up once again.
As to the reaction coming from the Armenian side of the issue, the Daily News report yesterday on the Armenian National Committee of America was faithful to this binary line of analysis: "We are certainly pleased to see that, for the first time in recent memory, an individual with a strong record in support of Armenian genocide recognition will serve as America’s secretary of state," said ANCA’s Aram Hamparian.
The matter of genocide claims will not disappear any time soon as an issue dividing Turks and Armenians. Neither is the cottage industry of lobbyists on both sides in Washington likely to find real jobs anytime soon.
But the context has changed dramatically; Turkish-Armenian relations have evolved so far beyond this narrow band of empty debate that we do not believe this issue can hold Turkish-Armenian relations hostage any longer. Nor is it likely to tie Secretary Clinton’s ability to frame any regional initiatives in any significant way.
Since the last time this resolution came before the U.S. Congress, Turkish President Abdullah Gül visited Yerevan at the invitation of his counterpart Serge Sarkisyan. Just a few weeks ago, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian made a return visit to Istanbul, calling for normalization of relations and praising the Turkish government’s initiatives in the Caucasus. Just days ago, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan was in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, emphasizing how important Turkish-Armenian entente is to the frozen conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
On the business and civil society front, the pace has been just as frantic. A Turkish entrepreneur is organizing a concert in Yerevan as an Armenian businessman plans the release of a new wine vintage using grapes from Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Regular flights are about to begin between the two capitals and a Turkish university has announced plans for a faculty of Armenian studies. And so much more.
Empty political vessels such as congressional resolutions can only dominate when the agenda is otherwise empty. This is hardly the case between Armenia and Turkey today.
Sen. Clinton may be a good secretary of state or a lousy one. Time will tell. But her one-time support or opposition to the "genocide resolution" is irrelevant. So will be the resolution should Congress take it up once again.