Obama responds to Armenian appeals
US President Barack Obama has pledged to continue endeavoring
toward a normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations without
pre-conditions and in a reasonable timeframe, Armenia Today news
agency reported.
Obama has reportedly made the pledge in a letter addressed to the head of the Armenian Assembly of America Grayr Ovanisian.
The White House leader’s letter came in response to numerous appeals by representatives of the Armenian diaspora who voiced support for the Turkey-Armenia rapprochement but insisted that Washington push for Ankara’s refraining from linking the normalization process with the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict.
Also, the Armenian community reminded Obama about his pre-election promise to recognize the alleged 1915 genocide in the Ottoman Empire. Nonetheless, US president again did not use the word "genocide", regarding the World War I-era developments as "a great tragedy of the 20th century."
"I believe the Armenian and Turkish people should admit the events of the past years for their current efforts to be successful," the letter said.
Turkey and Armenia face decades of enmity. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory and genocide claims. The two governments signed protocols to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders on October 10 in an effort to normalize ties. However, the documents require ratification in both countries’ parliaments to take effect, and Ankara has made clear it could fully normalize ties with Yerevan only after the Garabagh conflict has been settled, i.e. after Armenian troops pull out of the occupied Azerbaijani territories.*
Obama has reportedly made the pledge in a letter addressed to the head of the Armenian Assembly of America Grayr Ovanisian.
The White House leader’s letter came in response to numerous appeals by representatives of the Armenian diaspora who voiced support for the Turkey-Armenia rapprochement but insisted that Washington push for Ankara’s refraining from linking the normalization process with the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict.
Also, the Armenian community reminded Obama about his pre-election promise to recognize the alleged 1915 genocide in the Ottoman Empire. Nonetheless, US president again did not use the word "genocide", regarding the World War I-era developments as "a great tragedy of the 20th century."
"I believe the Armenian and Turkish people should admit the events of the past years for their current efforts to be successful," the letter said.
Turkey and Armenia face decades of enmity. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory and genocide claims. The two governments signed protocols to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders on October 10 in an effort to normalize ties. However, the documents require ratification in both countries’ parliaments to take effect, and Ankara has made clear it could fully normalize ties with Yerevan only after the Garabagh conflict has been settled, i.e. after Armenian troops pull out of the occupied Azerbaijani territories.*
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