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The Armenian Reporter | April 4, 2009 National Washington briefing by Emil Sanamyan Obama begins tour of Europe and Turkey President Barack Obama began a weeklong five-city tour that focuses on the European allies of the United States, relations with Russia and Turkey, and the economic crisis. The trip is the president’s first major foray abroad since taking office. In London on April 1–2, Mr. Obama was joined by leaders of world’s largest economies, including those of Russia and Turkey, for the G20 economic summit. Talks with the Russian president were followed by a joint statement pledging a fresh nuclear disarmament initiative, and cooperation on missile defense, nonproliferation, counterterrorism, and talks with Iran. The president’s next stop, Strasbourg (April 3–4), is hosting the 60th anniversary summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which just expanded to 28 members after formally adopting Albania and Croatia. Another former Yugoslav republic, Macedonia, has been blocked from joining due to Greece’s longstanding objections to that country’s name. A spokesperson for the State Department said on April 1 that NATO is open to additional members and “that both Georgia and Ukraine, should they choose to become NATO members and meet NATO’s membership criteria, will someday become members of the alliance.” While U.S. officials refuse to admit it, rhetorically there has been markedly less enthusiasm for the two countries’ membership since the brief war between Russia and Georgia last August. After a stop in Prague for a summit between the United States and the European Union on April 5, Mr. Obama will continue to Ankara (April 5–6) and Istanbul (April 6–7). According to a White House national security affairs spokesperson, Denis McDonough, who spoke with Turkish media on March 28, the Ankara itinerary includes a visit to the Ataturk Mausoleum; a meeting with the Turkish president, followed by lunch and a joint press conference; an address to the Turkish parliament; and a meeting with the prime minister. In Istanbul later on April 6, Mr. Obama will participate in the meeting of the Alliance of Civilizations – a United Nations program co-initiated by Turkey and Spain. The alliance brings together 78 countries worldwide, including Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia, but not Armenia, Georgia, or Israel. And on the final day of the trip, Mr. Obama will meet with Turkey’s religious leaders, visit Sultanahmet Mosque and Hagia Sophia, and participate in a roundtable with a group of Turkish students joined by others in Europe and Middle East via video conference. Administration official promises “energetic engagement” on Karabakh “We must engage energetically on enduring conflicts in Moldova and Nagorno-Karabakh,” newly appointed Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon told members of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee during his March 27 confirmation hearings. In his prepared testimony, Mr. Gordon also promised to “support the negotiations on a settlement in Cyprus; promote Turkey’s EU aspirations while encouraging it to improve relations with Armenia, Cyprus and Greece; and vigorously promote the diversification of European energy supplies.” Denies media report that he claimed it “will not pass” by Emil Sanamyan WASHINGTON – Rep. Mark Kirk (R.-Ill.), co-chair of the congressional Armenian caucus, says that he remains hopeful about the progress of the Armenian Genocide resolution and was misquoted by the Turkish media about it. “My hope is that we get this resolution to [a vote on] on the floor and that we adopt it,” Mr. Kirk told the Armenian Reporter on April 2. But, he added, “I don’t know when Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi is going to put this resolution on the floor. We are all waiting for the Speaker to tell us.” Mr. Gordon, the State Department’s new manager for Europe and Eurasia, also promised to “promote democracy, encourage economic reform, protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolve the enduring conflicts that cause needless suffering on a daily basis and – as we saw last summer in Georgia – risk erupting violently at any time.” Possibly reflecting the Obama administration’s interest in engaging Russia, and while referring to “the Russian invasion of Georgia and unjustifiable recognition of two breakaway regions,” the testimony did not as in the past offer outright support for Georgia’s position on those regions. Committee member Sen. Bob Menendez (D.-N.J.) raised concerns with Mr. Gordon’s past opposition Armenian Genocide affirmation and tilt in favor of Turkey on the Cyprus conflict. In his response, Mr. Gordon referred to the Genocide as “a terrible tragedy” and used other language that was also employed by former President George W. Bush and his officials when discussing the issue. He also declined to term Turkish military presence in Cyprus an occupation. House Intelligence Committee holds Armenia briefing A key congressional panel that oversees the U.S. intelligence community this week held a rare briefing dedicated to Armenia. According to a public notice on its website, the House Select Intelligence Committee met on March 31 to receive a closed “Briefing on Armenia,” presumably given by administration officials. “My hope is that [Speaker Pelosi] puts the resolution on the floor,” he said. “President [Barack] Obama said that he is for this resolution and campaign promises should matter.” Together with Reps. Adam Schiff (D.-Calif.), George Radanovich (R.-Calif.) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D.-N.J.), Mr. Kirk is an original co-sponsor of House Resolution 252 affirming the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide, which is currently co-sponsored by 85 additional members of the House of Representatives. On April 2, the English version of Hurriyet daily published a translated excerpt of an interview with Rep. Kirk published the same day in the daily Aksam in Turkish. The excerpt quoted Rep. Kirk as saying, “Speaker of the House Congressional aides declined to discuss the briefing, citing government secrecy, but a source familiar with the issue told the Armenian Reporter that the U.S. and Armenian governments were working cooperatively on the issue that was the briefing’s focus. The committee is chaired by Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D.-Tex.) and includes as a member Rep. Adam Schiff (D.-Calif.). Rep. Schiff and two other committee members visited Armenia during a May 2008 trip that included stops in Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Turkey’s friends in Congress write to Obama, Gül, and Sargsian Congressional supporters of U.S.- Turkey ties who have also opposed past resolutions affirming the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide have written to Presidents Barack Obama, Abdullah Gül, and Serge Sargsian to “support Armenian- Turkish rapprochement.” Reps. Robert Wexler (D.-Fla.), Ike Skelton (D.-Mo.), Alcee Hastings (D.-Fla.) and John Murtha (D.-Penn.) were the main signatories to the Gül-Sargsian letter. Mr. Wexler co-chairs the congressional Turkey caucus. In 2007 he was joined by Reps. Skelton, Hastings, Murtha, and other senior democratic members in opposing passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution, which was supported by the House Democratic leadership. The March 30 letter addressed to Presidents Gül and Sargsian said its authors “care deeply about Armenia and Turkey” and supported “ongoing efforts . . . to heal open wounds, mend broken hearts and create a better future for both nations and peoples.” In an April 1 letter to Mr. Obama, Mr. Wexler was joined by other Turkey caucus co-chairs and 27 other members to tout Turkey’s importance and call on the president to step up U.S.-Turkey cooperation. Among other issues in the long agenda, they called on the Obama “Administration [to] lend its unequivocal support to Turkey and its rapprochement efforts with its neighbor Armenia.” The letter makes no mention of Mr. Obama’s pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide or the congressional resolution on the issue introduced last month. f Rep. Mark Kirk is waiting for Speaker’s decision on Genocide resolution Rep. Mark Kirk (R.-Ill.), co-chair of the House Armenian caucus, says he has been misquoted by Turkish media. President Obama standing between Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdogan and Russia’s President Medvedev at the G20 summit in London. Photo: White House. Rep. Robert Wexler with Barack Obama at a pre-election rally. Last year Mr. Wexler predicted U.S.- Turkey ties would “blossom” under Mr. Obama. AP photo Philip Gordon. Photo: Brookings.edu of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi will not dare pass the bill. She will not place Obama in a difficult position. The bill will not pass, don’t worry.” When asked about this line, Mr. Kirk said that it was “quite an addition to what I said.” While confirming that he spoke with Aksam newspaper correspondent Nagehan Alci, Mr. Kirk said the quote was inaccurate. “When my words were translated from English to Turkish and then back to English, I did not recognize them anymore,” Mr. Kirk said. “The interview made it sound like I was not a supporter of the resolution. Not only I am supporter, but I am a lead Republican supporter.” The Armenian Reporter’s request for Ms. Alci to comment made shortly before press time has not yet been answered. f
The Armenian Reporter | April 4, 2009 3 Community Yale Club ballroom filled to capacity, over 200 guests, for the Armenian Relief Society Centennial Banquet. Rep. Anna Eshoo speaks at ars centennial banquet Rep. Eshoo said she would raise Armenian Genocide issue with Obama on March 30. at a scheduled meeting NEW YORK – The Armenian Relief Society, founded in New York in 1910, celebrated its 100th anniversary at New York’s Yale Club on March 28. Keynote speaker Rep. Anna Eshoo (D.-Calif.) said “The time for passing the Genocide resolution has never been more right,” according to a report by Armenian Weekly editor Khatchig Mouradian. “I will be meeting with the president on Monday [March 30] evening, and I am going to again raise this issue [of Armenian Genocide recognition] with him,” she noted. Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo, speaker at the ars Centennial Gala Banquet on March 28, 2009, receives a plaque of appreciation from the ARS Eastern Region, presented by Angele Manoogian from Florida, chairperson of the Centennial. Speculations mount about a possible Armenia- Turkey deal Continued from page 1 one on the tense history between the two nations.” The latter issue – of a commission – has been one of the more controversial matters. In 2005, the Turkish government first proposed establishing a “commission of historians” allegedly to study the genocide. Seeing it as a ploy against genocide affirmation, President Robert Kocharian made a counteroffer suggesting a bilateral commission to look into all issues. President Serge Sargsian has taken a similar position. Another sticking point has been Turkey’s preconditions related to the Karabakh conflict, but those appear to have been set aside for the moment. Long-held suspicions and mounting speculations With Turkish officials saying that a Congressional resolution about the Armenian Genocide would undermine progress in the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia, many longtime observers wonder whether the speculations are just intended to provide an excuse for President Obama to go back on his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Already, when asked about the issue, spokespersons for the White House have responded repeatedly that the administration’s “focus is on how, moving forward, the United States can help Armenia and Turkey work together to come to terms with the past.” Turkish media has speculated for months about an imminent breakthrough in relations between Armenia and Turkey, and Western media too have started speculating on the topic. Much of the fodder for such speculation has been provided by officials involved. Both Armenian and Turkish officials have said a breakthrough is close. Foreign Minister Nalbandian said last November in Istanbul that Armenia-Turkey normalization “could be done in a quick way, because I do not see any major obstacles.” According to Turkey’s Sabah newspaper, senior members of the Turkish parliament for the ruling party, visiting Washington last month, told their congressional counterparts not to move on the Armenian Genocide resolution, as an Armenia-Turkey deal was imminent. Other officials told the Armenian Reporter they believe some kind of a deal is likely, although one key Armenian official discounted newspaper reports. Armenian Relief Society members with 50 or more years of service were honored with corsages and certificates given by the Eastern Region. Ten out of 12 honorees are in the photo with Abp. Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate. End-game, kind of Ten months ago, when the Armenian Reporter asked experts if they expected such a breakthrough, most were not optimistic. It was in the editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal on July 9, 2008, that President Sargsian first sought to convey his determination to normalize relations with Turkey. The initiative since then seems to have been boosted by the aftermath of the war in Georgia – which drew Russia and Turkey closer together – and the election of Barack Obama as U.S. president. President Abdullah Gül made his unprecedented half-day visit to Yerevan in September. And two months ago President Sargsian and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met at Davos, Switzerland, shortly before Mr. Erdogan’s stormy departure from a panel on which he appeared with the Israeli president. More talks have taken place between the two countries’ foreign ministers and other officials. Expectations for a breakthrough had been raised before, perhaps artificially so. But the talks do appear to be reaching a kind of an end-game. Turkish leaders’ overriding concern seems to be to get President Obama to continue the previous administrations’ policies on the Armenian Genocide issue. The first crucial test of that will be President Obama’s comments on the subject in Turkey and in the anticipated April 24 commemorative statement. From the Turkish perspective, success in getting President Obama to sidestep the issue should be a good enough catalyst for a positive change in Turkey’s policy toward Armenia. But this is true only if, as a senior Turkish official told this newspaper, it is in fact their intention “to have best relations with Armenia,” and “good relations” with Armenians in the diaspora. You share the same community. Discover what happens when you share the same experience. For more information about Relay For Life or to join an event near you, visit www.cancer.org/RelayNYNJ or call 1.800.ACS.2345. Paint the Town Purple in celebration of Relay For Life on May 1, May Day For Relay. 1.800.ACS.2345 www.cancer.org/relayNYNJ
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