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ANKARA (Combined
Sources)--U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday
stood by his earlier statements recognizing the
Armenian Genocide and said they should not hamper
the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations.
“My views are on the record and I have not changed
views,” said President Barack Obama about the
Armenian Genocide at a joint press conference
Monday with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul.
Making his first official visit to Ankara, Obama
also said that he is “very encouraged” by
Armenia's and Turkey's ongoing efforts to
normalize bilateral ties.
The president stopped short of using the word
“Genocide” but on several occasions, most notably
in his speech at the Turkish parliament, he
stressed that his views had not changed.
The Armenian National Committee of America said
Obama missed an opportunity to honor his campaign
pledge of recognizing the Genocide.
"In his remarks today in Ankara, President Obama
missed a valuable opportunity to honor his public
pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide,” said
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian on Monday.
“The President's willingness to raise his
commitment to recognizing the Armenian Genocide,
even indirectly, in his remarks before the Turkish
Parliament represents a step in the right
direction, but far short of the clear promise he
made as a candidate that he would, as President,
fully and unequivocally recognize this crime
against humanity. We expect that the President
will, during Genocide Prevention Month this April,
stand by his word, signaling to the world that
America's commitment to the cause of genocide
prevention will never again be held hostage to
pressures from a foreign government," he added.
"I want to focus not on my views right now, but on
the views of the Turkish and Armenian people. If
they can move forward and deal with a difficult
and tragic history, then I think the entire world
should encourage that," he said.
Obama made the same point when he addressed the
Turkish parliament later in the day. “I know there
are strong views in this chamber about the
terrible events of 1915, and while there has been
a good deal of commentary about my views, it is
really about how the Turkish and Armenian people
deal with the past,” he said. “And the best way
forward for the Turkish and Armenian people is a
process that works through the past in a way that
is honest, open, and constructive,” said Obama.
During his election campaign Obama pledged to
properly recognize the Genocide.
"The Armenian genocide is not an allegation, a
personal opinion or a point of view, but rather a
widely documented fact supported by an
overwhelming body of historical evidence," he said
in a January 2008 statement on his campaign
website. "America deserves a leader who speaks
truthfully about the Armenian genocide and
responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to
be that president."
“What I have been very encouraged by is that ...
there is a series of negotiations, a process
between Armenia and Turkey to resolve a whole host
of long-standing issues, including this one,"
Obama told journalists. "I'm not interested in the
United States in any way tilting these
negotiations."
Standing alongside Obama, Gul denounced Armenian
efforts at genocide recognition and renewed
Ankara's calls for a joint Turkish-Armenian
academic study of the 1915 events. "It is not a
political but an historic issue," he said. "That's
why we should let historians discuss the matter."
For his part, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan stated on Friday that his nation will
never admit to the “so-called genocide.” “For
Turkey, it is impossible to accept a thing that
does not exist," Erdogan told a news conference in
London.
Full text of the
US president's speech at Turkish Parliament
"Mr. Speaker, Madam Deputy Speaker, distinguished
members, I am honored to speak in this chamber,
and I am committed to renewing the alliance
between our nations and the friendship between our
people.
This is my first trip overseas as President of the
United States. I have been to the G-20 Summit in
London, the NATO Summit in Strasbourg and Kehl,
and the European Union Summit in Prague. Some
people have asked me if I chose to continue my
travels to Ankara and Istanbul to send a message.
My answer is simple: Evet. Turkey is a critical
ally. Turkey is an important part of Europe. And
Turkey and the United States must stand together
's and work together 's to overcome the challenges
of our time.
This morning I had the privilege of visiting the
tomb of the great founder of your Republic. I was
deeply impressed by this beautiful memorial to a
man who did so much to shape the course of
history. But it is also clear that the greatest
monument to Ataturk's life is not something that
can be cast in stone and marble. His greatest
legacy is Turkey's strong and secular democracy,
and that is the work that this assembly carries on
today.
This future was not easily assured. At the end of
World War I, Turkey could have succumbed to the
foreign powers that were trying to claim its
territory, or sought to restore an ancient empire.
But Turkey chose a different future. You freed
yourself from foreign control. And you founded a
Republic that commands the respect of the United
States and the wider world.
There is a simple truth to this story: Turkey's
democracy is your own achievement. It was not
forced upon you by any outside power, nor did it
come without struggle and sacrifice. Like any
democracy, Turkey draws strength from both the
successes of the past, and from the efforts of
each generation of Turks that makes new progress
for your people.
My country's democracy has its own story. The
general who led America in revolution and governed
as our first President was George Washington. Like
you, we built a grand monument to honor our
founding father 's a towering obelisk that stands
in the heart of the capital city that bears
Washington's name.
It took decades to build. There were frequent
delays. Over time, more and more people
contributed to help make this monument the
inspiring structure that still stands tall today.
Among those who came to our aid were friends from
all across the world, who offered their own
tributes to Washington and the country he helped
to found.
One of those tributes came from Istanbul. Ottoman
Sultan Abdulmecid sent a marble plaque that helped
to build the Washington Monument. Inscribed in the
plaque was a poem that began with a few simple
words, and I quote: “So as to strengthen the
friendship between the two countries.” Over 150
years have passed since those words were carved
into marble. Our nations have changed in many
ways. But our friendship is strong, and our
alliance endures.
It is a friendship that flourished in the years
after World War II, when President Truman
committed our nation to the defense of Turkey's
freedom and sovereignty, and Turkey committed
itself to the NATO alliance. Turkish troops have
served by our side from Koreato Kosovo to Kabul.
Together, we withstood the great test of the Cold
War. Trade between our nations has steadily
advanced. So has cooperation in science and
research.
The ties among our people have deepened as well,
and more and more Americans of Turkish origin live
and work and succeed within our borders. As a
basketball fan, I've even noticed that Hedo
Turkoglu and Mehmet Okur have got some pretty good
game.
The United States and Turkey have not always
agreed on every issue. That is to be expected --
no two nations do. But we have stood together
through many challenges over the last sixty years.
And because of the strength of our alliance and
the endurance of our friendship, both America and
Turkey are stronger, and the world is more secure.
Now, our two democracies are confronted by an
unprecedented set of challenges. An economic
crisis that recognizes no borders. Extremism that
leads to the killing of innocent men, women and
children. Strains on our energy supply and a
changing climate. The proliferation of the world's
deadliest weapons, and the persistence of tragic
conflict.
These are the great tests of our young century.
And the choices that we make in the coming years
will determine whether the future will be shaped
by fear or by freedom; by poverty or by
prosperity; by strife or by a just, secure and
lasting peace.
This much is certain: no one nation can confront
these challenges alone, and all nations have a
stake in overcoming them. That is why we must
listen to one another, and seek common ground.
That is why we must build on our mutual interests,
and rise above our differences. We are stronger
when we act together. That is the message that I
have carried with me throughout this trip to
Europe. That will be the approach of the United
States of America going forward.
Already, America and Turkey are working with the
G-20 on an unprecedented response to an
unprecedented economic crisis. This past week, we
came together to ensure that the world's largest
economies take strong and coordinated action to
stimulate growth and restore the flow of credit;
to reject the pressure of protectionism, and to
extend a hand to developing countries and the
people hit hardest by this downturn; and to
dramatically reform our regulatory system so that
the world never faces a crisis like this again.
As we go forward, the United States and Turkey can
pursue many opportunities to serve prosperity for
our people, particularly when it comes to energy.
To expand markets and create jobs, we can increase
trade and investment between our countries. To
develop new sources of energy and combat climate
change, we should build on our Clean Technology
Fund to leverage efficiency and renewable energy
investments in Turkey. And to power markets in
Turkey and Europe, the United States will continue
to support your central role as an East-West
corridor for oil and natural gas.
This economic cooperation only reinforces the
common security that Europe and the United States
share with Turkey as a NATO ally, and the common
values that we share as democracies. So in meeting
the challenges of the 21st century, we must seek
the strength of a Europe that is truly united,
peaceful and free.
Let me be clear: the United States strongly
supports Turkey's bid to become a member of the
European Union. We speak not as members of the EU,
but as close friends of Turkey and Europe. Turkey
has been a resolute ally and a responsible partner
in transatlantic and European institutions. And
Turkey is bound to Europe by more than bridges
over the Bosphorous. Centuries of shared history,
culture, and commerce bring you together. Europe
gains by diversity of ethnicity, tradition and
faith -- it is not diminished by it. And Turkish
membership would broaden and strengthen Europe's
foundation once more.
Turkey has its own responsibilities. You have made
important progress toward membership. But I also
know that Turkey has pursued difficult political
reforms not simply because it's good for Europe,
but because it is right for Turkey.
In the last several years, you have abolished
state-security courts and expanded the right to
counsel. You have reformed the penal code, and
strengthened laws that govern the freedom of the
press and assembly. You lifted bans on teaching
and broadcasting Kurdish, and the world noted with
respect the important signal sent through a new
state Kurdish television station.
These achievements have created new laws that must
be implemented, and a momentum that should be
sustained. For democracies cannot be static 's
they must move forward. Freedom of religion and
expression lead to a strong and vibrant civil
society that only strengthens the state, which is
why steps like reopening the Halki Seminary will
send such an important signal inside Turkey and
beyond. An enduring commitment to the rule of law
is the only way to achieve the security that comes
from justice for all people. Robust minority
rights let societies benefit from the full measure
of contributions from all citizens.
I say this as the President of a country that not
too long ago made it hard for someone who looks
like me to vote. But it is precisely that capacity
to change that enriches our countries. Every
challenge that we face is more easily met if we
tend to our own democratic foundation. This work
is never over. That is why, in the United States,
we recently ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay
closed, and prohibited 's without exception or
equivocation 's any use of torture.
Another issue that confronts all democracies as
they move to the future is how we deal with the
past. The United States is still working through
some of our own darker periods. Facing the
Washington monument that I spoke of is a memorial
to Abraham Lincoln, the man who freed those who
were enslaved even after Washington led our
Revolution. And our country still struggles with
the legacy of our past treatment of Native
Americans.
Human endeavor is
by its nature imperfect. History, unresolved, can
be a heavy weight. Each country must work through
its past. And reckoning with the past can help us
seize a better future. I know there are strong
views in this chamber about the terrible events of
1915. While there has been a good deal of
commentary about my views, this is really about
how the Turkish and Armenian people deal with the
past. And the best way forward for the Turkish
and Armenian people is a process that works
through the past in a way that is honest, open and
constructive.
We have already
seen historic and courageous steps taken by
Turkish and Armenian leaders. These contacts hold
out the promise of a new day. An open border would
return the Turkish and Armenian people to a
peaceful and prosperous coexistence that would
serve both of your nations. That is why the United
States strongly supports the full normalization of
relations between Turkey and Armenia.
It speaks to
Turkey's leadership that you are poised to be the
only country in the region to have normal and
peaceful relations with all the South Caucusus
nations. And to advance that peace, you can play a
constructive role in helping to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which has continued for
far too long.
Advancing peace also includes the dispute that
persists in the eastern Mediterranean. Here, there
is cause for hope. The two Cypriot leaders have an
opportunity through their commitment to
negotiations under the United Nations Good Offices
Mission. The United States is willing to offer all
the help sought by the parties as they work toward
a just and lasting settlement that reunifies
Cyprus into a bizonal and binominal federation.
These efforts speak to one part of the critical
region that surrounds Turkey. And when we consider
the challenges before us, on issue after issue, we
share common goals.
In the Middle East, we share the goal of a lasting
peace between Israel and its neighbors. Let me be
clear: the United States strongly supports the
goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living
side by side in peace and security. That is a goal
shared by Palestinians, Israelis, and people of
good will around the world. That is a goal that
that the parties agreed to in the Roadmap and at
Annapolis. And that is a goal that I will actively
pursue as President.
We know that the road ahead will be difficult.
Both Israelis and Palestinians must take the steps
that are necessary to build confidence. Both must
live up to the commitments they have made. Both
must overcome longstanding passions and the
politics of the moment to make progress toward a
secure and lasting peace.
The United States and Turkey can help the
Palestinians and Israelis make this journey. Like
the United States, Turkey has been a friend and
partner in Israel's quest for security. And like
the United States, you seek a future of
opportunity and statehood for the Palestinians.
Now, we must not give into pessimism and mistrust.
We must pursue every opportunity for progress, as
you have done by supporting negotiations between
Syria and Israel. We must extend a hand to those
Palestinians who are in need, while helping them
strengthen institutions. And we must reject the
use of terror, and recognize that Israel's
security concerns are legitimate.
The peace of the region will also be advanced if
Iran forgoes any nuclear weapons ambitions. As I
made clear yesterday in Prague, no one is served
by the spread of nuclear weapons. This part of the
world has known enough violence. It has known
enough hatred. It does not need a race for
ever-more powerful tools of destruction.
I have made it clear to the people and leaders of
the Islamic Republic that the United States seeks
engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual
respect. We want Iran to play its rightful role in
the community of nations, with the economic and
political integration that brings prosperity and
security. Now, Iran's leaders must choose whether
they will try to build a weapon or build a better
future for their people.
Both Turkey and the United States support a secure
and united Iraq that does not serve as a
safe-haven for terrorists. I know there were
differences about whether to go to war. There were
differences within my own country as well. But now
we must come together as we end this war
responsibly, because the future of Iraq is
inseparable from the future of the broader region.
The United States will remove our combat brigades
by the end of next August, while working with the
Iraqi government as they take responsibility for
security. And we will work with Iraq, Turkey, and
all of Iraq's neighbors, to forge a new dialogue
that reconciles differences and advances our
common security.
Make no mistake, though: Iraq, Turkey, and the
United States face a common threat from terrorism.
That includes the al Qaeda terrorists who have
sought to drive Iraqis apart and to destroy their
country. And that includes the PKK. There is no
excuse for terror against any nation. As
President, and as a NATO ally, I pledge that you
will have our support against the terrorist
activities of the PKK. These efforts will be
strengthened by the continued work to build ties
of cooperation between Turkey, the Iraqi
government, and Iraq's Kurdish leaders, and by
your continued efforts to promote education and
opportunity for Turkey's Kurds.
Finally, we share the common goal of denying al
Qaeda a safe-haven in Pakistan or Afghanistan. The
world has come too far to let this region
backslide, and to let al Qaeda terrorists plot
further attacks. That is why we are committed to a
more focused effort to disrupt, dismantle, and
defeat al Qaeda. That is why we are increasing our
efforts to train Afghans to sustain their own
security, and to reconcile former adversaries. And
that is why we are increasing our support for the
people of Afghanistan and Pakistan, so that we
stand on the side of their security, their
opportunity, and the promise of a better life.
Turkey has been a true partner. Your troops were
among the first in the International Security
Assistance Force. You have sacrificed much in this
endeavor. Now, we must achieve our goals together.
I appreciate that you have offered to help us
train and support Afghan Security Forces, and
expand opportunity across the region. Together, we
can rise to meet this challenge like we have so
many before.
I know there have been difficulties these last few
years. I know that the trust that binds us has
been strained, and I know that strain is shared in
many places where the Muslim faith is practiced.
Let me say this as clearly as I can: the United
States is not at war with Islam and will never be.
In fact, our partnership with the Muslim world is
critical in rolling back a fringe ideology that
people of all faiths reject.
But I also want to be clear that America's
relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will
not be based on opposition to al Qaeda. Far from
it. We seek broad engagement based upon mutual
interests and mutual respect. We will listen
carefully, bridge misunderstanding, and seek
common ground. We will be respectful, even when we
do not agree. And we will convey our deep
appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done
so much over so many centuries to shape the world
for the better 's including my own country. The
United States has been enriched by Muslim
Americans. Many other Americans have Muslims in
their family, or have lived in a Muslim-majority
country 's I know, because I am one of them.
Above all, we will demonstrate through actions our
commitment to a better future. We want to help
more children get the education that they need to
succeed. We want to promote health care in places
where people are vulnerable. We want to expand the
trade and investment that can bring prosperity for
all people. In the months ahead, I will present
specific programs to advance these goals. Our
focus will be on what we can do, in partnership
with people across the Muslim world, to advance
our common hopes, and our common dreams. And when
people look back on this time, let it be said of
America that we extended the hand of friendship.
There is an old Turkish proverb: 'You cannot put
out fire with flames.'
America knows this. Turkey knows this. There are
some who must be met with force. But force alone
cannot solve our problems, and it is no
alternative to extremism. The future must belong
to those who create, not those who destroy. That
is the future we must work for, and we must work
for it together.
I know there are those who like to debate Turkey's
future. They see your country at the crossroads of
continents, and touched by the currents of
history. They know that this has been a place
where civilizations meet, and different peoples
come together. And they wonder whether you will be
pulled in one direction or another.
Here is what they don't understand: Turkey's
greatness lies in your ability to be at the center
of things. This is not where East and West divide
's it is where they come together. In the beauty
of your culture. In the richness of your history.
In the strength of your democracy. In your hopes
for tomorrow.
I am honored to stand here with you 's to look
forward to the future that we must reach for
together 's and to reaffirm America's commitment
to our strong and enduring friendship.
Thank you."
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