Obama Pushes Turkey to Acknowledge Armenian Holocaust

President Barack Obama referred to Armenian holocaust recognition in a speech today in Turkey. However, he may have disappointed Armenian voters in the United States by avoiding a strong stance on the Armenian holocaust, also known as the Armenian genocide.

"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," Obama said about halfway through a speech before the Armenian parliament on Monday, April 6.

While Obama did not specifically criticize Turkish leaders, his statement can be read as a critique of Turkey's continued denial of the Armenian holocaust, widely acknowledged by historians and most nations as undeniable fact. The Armenian holocaust was the systematic massacre of at least one million Armenians beginning in 1915.

The main thrust of Obama's speech was an affirmation of the alliance between Turkey and the United States, and a vehement promise that the United States is not waging war against Islam. Both points were largely expected, and his Armenian holocaust reference was perhaps the most unexpected portion of the speech.

Obama preceded the indirect mention of the Armenian holocaust with a delicate acknowledgment of past mistakes by the United States. "Another issue that confronts all democracies as they move to the future is how we deal with the past," he began. "The United States is still working through some of our own darker periods in our history."

The implication is that the United States government admits to these historic failings without costly reparations, widespread global condemnation or violent repercussions. To the contrary, the nation is engaged in a mainly healthy, open dialogue.

The issue of Armenian holocaust recognition is important to the small but vocal and somewhat politically powerful Armenian community in the United States. Furthermore, the much stronger Israeli lobby may now stand behind Armenia in condemnation of Turkey, if only in retaliation for Turkey's condemnation of Israel's January attack on Palestinians in Gaza.

Armenian lobbyists and Armenian-American citizens have campaigned for Obama and secretary of state Hillary Clinton to push Turkish officials to recognize the Armenian holocaust during their visits to Turkey.

The Turkish government has also faced strong domestic pressure to recognize the Armenian holocaust. In late 2008, a group of more than 200 prominent Turkish scholars launched a petition drive to push for governmental recognition of the Armenian holocaust. Thousands of Turkish citizens signed the petition.

Obama mentioned the Armenian holocaust several times during presidential election campaign and pledged that he will acknowledge the Armenian holocaust as president. It's still early in his first term, and he's had a very full plate in his first 100 days.