An Iraqi Armenian settled in
Yerevan, Armenia
The election of Barak Obama as U.S. President brought a new hope to Armenians worldwide that another U.S. President could recognize the Armenian Genocide fulfilling his campaign promise. U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and U.S. House of Representatives twice (in 1975 and 1984) recognized the Armenian Genocide. However, the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide does not need such confirmation, which will not bind Turkey to recognize it. 21 countries in the world (beside international bodies and political figures) and 42 U.S. states had recognized the Armenian Genocide so far.
Everything changes fast in this world; no eternal allies and interests. US-Turkey relations were changed during and after Iraq's invasion in 2003 and Turkey-Israel relations were also changed after Gaza's military operations and Turkey's stance on this issue. Turks themselves accept that the new U.S. administration is the most pro-Armenian administration ever. Let us look at the history of recognizing the Armenian Genocide and the successes of the Armenian Cause in the last 40 years and learn lessons from. Armenians should concentrate on "Recognition" of the Genocide, "Restitution" for losses suffered and "Return" of Our historical lands. Only Recognition is not enough. Meanwhile, Armenians should all engage in boosting Armenia's economy and keeping the liberated Artsakh-Karabakh (NKR) Republic. Armenians in Diaspora also have to pay attention to the other main goal: preserving our language and identity. The newly established Ministry of Diaspora should boost this aim. The Armenian government should put the priority of repatriating Armenians of Diaspora.
I think that recognizing the Armenian Genocide by the U.S. President for the second time will not damage U.S.-Turkey relations as some politicians assume. Nothing happened when President Reagan recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1981. Turkey will "warn" and "threaten" but nothing will be changed. Let us remember what happened when France and Germany and other European countries, which have strong relations with Turkey, recognized the Armenian Genocide.
On April 8, 2009, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that Nagorno-Karabakh's status must be resolved before Turkey and Armenia can open full diplomatic relations. Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian called the statement an attempt to scuttle the talks.
"Turkey sets a number of preconditions including abandoning demands for international recognition of the Armenian genocide and NKR conflict settlement on Azerbaijan-stipulated terms. This is what we'll never sacrifice for normalization of ties. Both Turkey and Azerbaijan are aware of it, '' RA president stated.
Political analysts expected that Turkey would wait until April 24 this year to see if U.S. President Barak Obama uses the word «Genocide» in describing the mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. The analysts believed that Turkey, then, would decide its steps towards Armenia: to open the borders it closed in 1993 and to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia.
The latest developments, however, showed that Turkish officials, after U.S. President Obama's visit and remarks on the Armenian Genocide, concluded that Obama will use the term "Genocide" in his first annual speech on April 24. This shows that external motives, rather than national interests, inspire Turkey in its foreign policy.
In a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on July 28, 2008, then Sen. Obama described the official U.S. position on the events of 1915-23, which is not to describe them as a genocide, as "untenable." He reminded Ms. Rice that "the occurrence of the Armenian genocide in 1915 is not an 'allegation,' a 'personal opinion,' or a 'point of view.' Supported by overwhelming evidence, it is a widely documented fact."
Everything changes fast in this world; no eternal allies and interests. US-Turkey relations were changed during and after Iraq's invasion in 2003 and Turkey-Israel relations were also changed after Gaza's military operations and Turkey's stance on this issue. Turks themselves accept that the new U.S. administration is the most pro-Armenian administration ever. Let us look at the history of recognizing the Armenian Genocide and the successes of the Armenian Cause in the last 40 years and learn lessons from. Armenians should concentrate on "Recognition" of the Genocide, "Restitution" for losses suffered and "Return" of Our historical lands. Only Recognition is not enough. Meanwhile, Armenians should all engage in boosting Armenia's economy and keeping the liberated Artsakh-Karabakh (NKR) Republic. Armenians in Diaspora also have to pay attention to the other main goal: preserving our language and identity. The newly established Ministry of Diaspora should boost this aim. The Armenian government should put the priority of repatriating Armenians of Diaspora.
I think that recognizing the Armenian Genocide by the U.S. President for the second time will not damage U.S.-Turkey relations as some politicians assume. Nothing happened when President Reagan recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1981. Turkey will "warn" and "threaten" but nothing will be changed. Let us remember what happened when France and Germany and other European countries, which have strong relations with Turkey, recognized the Armenian Genocide.
On April 8, 2009, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that Nagorno-Karabakh's status must be resolved before Turkey and Armenia can open full diplomatic relations. Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian called the statement an attempt to scuttle the talks.
"Turkey sets a number of preconditions including abandoning demands for international recognition of the Armenian genocide and NKR conflict settlement on Azerbaijan-stipulated terms. This is what we'll never sacrifice for normalization of ties. Both Turkey and Azerbaijan are aware of it, '' RA president stated.
Political analysts expected that Turkey would wait until April 24 this year to see if U.S. President Barak Obama uses the word «Genocide» in describing the mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. The analysts believed that Turkey, then, would decide its steps towards Armenia: to open the borders it closed in 1993 and to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia.
The latest developments, however, showed that Turkish officials, after U.S. President Obama's visit and remarks on the Armenian Genocide, concluded that Obama will use the term "Genocide" in his first annual speech on April 24. This shows that external motives, rather than national interests, inspire Turkey in its foreign policy.
In a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on July 28, 2008, then Sen. Obama described the official U.S. position on the events of 1915-23, which is not to describe them as a genocide, as "untenable." He reminded Ms. Rice that "the occurrence of the Armenian genocide in 1915 is not an 'allegation,' a 'personal opinion,' or a 'point of view.' Supported by overwhelming evidence, it is a widely documented fact."
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