Obama Faces Dilemma On Annual Day Of Remembrance For Killings Of Armenians Turks
Referring to the killings as genocide could upend recent pledges of a closer partnership with Turkey, a vital ally in a critical region. Steering around the word would break his unequivocal campaign pledges to recognize the killings as genocide.
The decision follows an announcement by Turkey and Armenia on Wednesday that they were nearing a historic reconciliation after years of tension. The Obama administration is wary of upsetting that development and closely coordinated a statement Wednesday about the apparent breakthrough with the Turkish government and Swiss mediators.
The dispute involves the killing of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians. Genocide scholars widely view the event as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey denies that the deaths constituted genocide, contending the toll has been inflated and that the casualties were victims of civil war and unrest.
The announcement of progress between Turkey and Armenia appeared timed to set the stage for Fridays White House statement. During a trip to Turkey this month, Obama emphasized U.S. support for the reconciliation efforts and avoided the term genocide in a speech to the Turkish parliament. He said in response to an inquiry, however, that he had not changed his views on the question.
Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday spoke by phone with Armenian President Serge Sarkisian, and a statement from Bidens office said the vice president told him he welcomed Wednesdays announcement.
“The vice president applauded President Sarkisians leadership, and underscored the administrations firm support for both Armenia and Turkey in this process,” the statement said.
Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties, and their border has been closed since 1993 because of a Turkish protest of Armenias occupation of land claimed by Azerbaijan.
In September, Turkish President Abdullah Gul became the first Turkish leader to visit Armenia, where he and Sarkisian watched their countries football teams play a World Cup qualifying match. The Armenian government appears to be interested in further talks. Armenian-American groups and supporters in Congress are focused on passing a resolution that describes the killings as genocide and argue that it should not undermine diplomatic efforts.
Turkey wants its talks with Armenia to advance in parallel with negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan over disputed territory controlled by Armenia.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia during that nations conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Turkey backs Azerbaijans claim to the disputed region, which has a high number of ethnic Armenian residents but lies within Azerbaijans borders.