Turkey Presents Four Reservations to the U.S. Regarding the Armenian Genocide

According to the Turkish newspaper Sabah, which is considered a mouthpiece for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Ankara is conducting secret diplomacy with the United States ahead of April 24, as it is concerned about signals received from Washington. This topic was addressed by Ermenihaber.

"There are rumors in Turkey that U.S. President Joe Biden may use the term 'Armenian Genocide' on April 24. Last week, Turkey's presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın met with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and presented Turkey's four reservations regarding the Armenian Genocide issue. Kalın argued that there is no legal basis for labeling the events as genocide, emphasizing that a court ruling is necessary, as seen in the cases of Rwanda and Srebrenica.

He reminded Sullivan, as the second point, that the term 'genocide' was introduced in 1948, indicating that the UN Convention, which established the term, cannot have retroactive effect. While presenting Turkey's other concerns, Erdoğan's spokesperson stressed that Biden's use of the word 'genocide' would create problems in U.S.-Turkey relations.

In a last-ditch effort, Turkey is clinging to this hope. According to the website, Kalın conveyed the message that a new order is being established in the Caucasus, stating, 'We say that we should normalize relations with Armenia. We say, 'If they (the Armenians) take the right steps, look, we may even open the gates.' In such a period, if you use the word genocide, you are sabotaging the entire process in the Caucasus.'"