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Turkey Relieved Obama Did Not Use 'G' Word

Ankara is pleased, again, that US President Barack Obama did not use the word “genocide” on this Armenian Remembrance Day, writes Tulin Daloglu.
Armenian protesters shout slogans against Turkey during a demonstation near the Turkish embassy in central Athens, April 24, 2013. Hundreds of Armenians marched to commemorate the 98th anniversary of the mass killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915. Twenty one countries worldwide, including Greece, Russia, and France as well as the European parliament recognize the mass killings as an act of genocide, despite strong objections from Turkey. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis (GREECE - Tags: CIVIL UNREST ANNI

“Today, we commemorate the Meds Yeghern and honor those who perished in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century,” President Barack Obama said today [April 24]. “Ninety-eight years ago, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire.” He then went on to say: “I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view has not changed. A full, frank and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all of our interests. Nations grow stronger by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past, thereby building a foundation for a more just and tolerant future.”

The Turkish media has expressed relief that Obama once again ignored to use the word “genocide.” However, the Turkish Foreign Ministry released a written statement late evening [April 24] condemning Obama's remarks. "We find [President Obama's] statement [on Armenian Remembrance Day] troubling in all ways, and condemn it. These kinds of one-sided statements under the influence of domestic politics and with a selective sense of justice in interpreting a controversial historical event [like this one] not only harm Turkish-US relations, but also make it more difficult for Turks and Armenians to achieve consensus over a just memory," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

"We expect from an important ally such as the US not to further complicate this matter, but instead to encourage the Armenian side for a more realistic and negotiable scientific research and make constructive contributions to resolve this issue." In other words, neither Obama's remarks nor those on the Turkish side regarding Armenian Remembrance Day - since the president came to office - changed at all.

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