A test of Turkey’s professed goodwill

Published: Friday April 10, 2009

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The extra-large and extra-bold headline could have been, "Obama, in Turkey, affirms the Armenian Genocide." The subheads would have noted the Turkish and Armenian reaction.

During his visit to Turkey, President Obama did not speak explicitly of the Armenian Genocide, although he did confirm that his views on the subject, which are "on the record," have not changed. It is unfortunate that he did not take the opportunity to share his views with his Turkish hosts, as "close friends" - just as he shared his views on difficult topics like Turkey's accession to the European Union with his hosts in the European Union earlier in the week, "as close friends of both Turkey and Europe."

What Mr. Obama did say, however, was significant.

First, he expressed hope that the Turkish and Armenian people "can move forward and deal with a difficult and tragic history." This can only be taken to mean that the Turkish people must come to terms with the facts of the Armenian Genocide. These facts include the state's organized effort to annihilate the Armenian people, as well as heroic tales of Turks, Kurds, Americans, and others helping save lives. Unfortunately, President Abdullah Gul, with Mr. Obama at his side, did little to take that process forward. He put forth the classic -- and patently dishonest -- version of history espoused by Turkish state historians.

Second, Mr. Obama told the Turkish parliament, "the United States strongly supports the full normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia." He said "an open border would return the Turkish and Armenian people to a peaceful and prosperous coexistence that would serve both of your nations."

This message differs from ritual calls for reconciliation. It is an explicit call for Turkey to open the border with Armenia, which it closed unilaterally 16 years ago. By calling for "full normalization," Mr. Obama is also asking Turkey to finally agree to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia - which Armenia has all along been willing to do.

It now remains to be seen how Turkey will respond to Mr. Obama's clear - and entirely reasonable - call for action. It will be a test of the goodwill professed by the Turkish authorities.

The soccer ball

Responding to a question posed by the Armenian Reporter's Tatul Hakobyan, President Serge Sargsian of Armenia on April 10 insisted that the ball is now in Turkey's court, "and if we are talking about soccer diplomacy, then we must state that the ball cannot constantly be on one side of the field and each soccer match has a predetermined time frame."

The current round of Armenian-Turkish talks started with an invitation to a September 2008 soccer match in Yerevan. Mr. Sargsian has agreed to a reciprocal invitation from Mr. Gül for the Armenia-Turkey match in Kayseri in October 2009. The question is whether he'll go over an open border, with the new Armenian ambassador to Turkey in tow.