ANKARA RELIEVED BUT NOT SATISFIED AFTER OBAMA'S APRIL 24 MESSAGE
US President Barack Obama on Saturday declined, for a second time, to use the word "genocide" to describe the atrocities experienced by Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire a century ago. The widely anticipated move was a relief to Ankara , which has repeatedly warned that endorsement of the genocide claims by the US administration would irreparably harm ties, but the way Obama described the historic event also rattled Turkish policy-makers. Obama, who repeatedly promised to call the 1915 events "genocide" when he was running for president, also disappointed Armenians, who have been pressing him to keep his campaign promise. The US president says his personal view - referring to earlier statements that the killings of Armenians in eastern Anatolia did constitute "genocide" - has not changed since he became president but he wants to focus on a process of normalization between Turkey and Armenia instead of on history. Similar to his April 24 message last year, Obama used the Armenian term "Meds Yeghern," which means "great tragedy," to refer to the World War I-era events. Turkey denies that the events amount to genocide and says many Turks were also killed by Armenian gangs revolting against the Ottoman Empire in an attempt to create an independent Armenian state in eastern Anatolia in collaboration with the Russian army. "On this solemn day of remembrance, we pause to recall that ninety-five years ago one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century began. In that dark moment of history, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire ," Obama said in his message on April 24, the day when Armenians claim a systematic genocide campaign began. "Today is a day to reflect upon and draw lessons from these terrible events. I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed. It is in all of our interest to see the achievement a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts. The Meds Yeghern is a devastating chapter in the history of the Armenian people, and we must keep its memory alive in honor of those who were murdered and so that we do not repeat the grave mistakes of the past." US presidents issue statements every April 24, but Obama's statement this year was different from the previous ones because he also mentioned Turks who saved Armenians in 1915. "I salute the Turks who saved Armenians in 1915 and am encouraged by the dialogue among Turks and Armenians, and within Turkey itself, regarding this painful history. Together, the Turkish and Armenian people will be stronger as they acknowledge their common history and recognize their common humanity," he said. In Ankara , reactions were mixed. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan appeared to welcome the statement, saying that " Turkey 's sensitivities have been observed" and that Obama's refusal to call the 1915 events "genocide" was due to Turkey 's diplomatic efforts. But the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, "We deeply regret this statement, which reflects an incorrect and one-sided political perception. The fiercest enemy of the historical facts is subjective recollections. No nation has the right to impose its recollections on another." The statement added that "third counties have neither the right nor the authority to judge the history of Turkish-Armenian relations with political motives." Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu criticized Obama's statement, calling it "unacceptable." "If we are going to share grief for humanitarian reasons, then we would expect respect for our own grief as well," Davutoglu said. Parliament has held up ratification of the deal as Turkey presses for a settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan over a region in Azerbaijan that has been under Armenian control since a conflict in the 1990s. But Turkish officials, including Davutoglu and President Abdullah Gul, have voiced expectations that the freeze in the normalization process would give both sides an opportunity to consider the rest of the process with an understanding of each side's difficulties. /Today's Zaman/
TURKEY, BRAZIL DISCUSS WAYS TO SOLVE IRANIAN NUCLEAR ROW
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Saturday confirmed that Turkey is discussing Iran 's nuclear program with Brazil , saying that both countries are trying to solve the issue through peaceful means. He made the remarks in Istanbul alongside his visiting Brazilian counterpart, Celso Amorim, following a one-and-a-half-hour working lunch. Brazil and Turkey , which both hold nonpermanent seats on the UN Security Council, are currently seeking alternatives to sanctions over Iran 's nuclear program. Implying that they have intensified talks for a peaceful solution, Davutoglu said they frequently talk on the phone and that their weekly discussions have become almost routine. On Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's visit to Turkey last year, Davutoglu said it marked the start of high-level visits between the two countries. "Turkish-Brazilian strategic cooperation is rapidly improving," he said. Davutoglu added that he will go to Brazil with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan next month as Brazil will be hosting a summit of the Alliance of Civilizations, which Turkey co-chairs. Reiterating that they are pleased about strengthening bilateral relations and working together in several international forums, Davutoglu said the two countries have similar positions on almost all international issues, adding that they are cooperating on international platforms and that they have developed very close relations regarding Iran's nuclear program. He said Erdogan and Lula met last week in the US and then he went to Brazil as a follow-up to this meeting, and later traveled to Iran and Brussels and told Amorim about his meetings, since Amorim will visit Iran after Turkey . "Both countries' goal is to contribute to global peace and maintain regional stability," Davutoglu said. Silva is also set to visit Tehran next month to discuss possible ways to peacefully resolve the issue of Iran 's nuclear program. /Today's Zaman/
ASSAD INVITES BAYKAL TO VISIT SYRIA
Syria President Bashar Assad has invited main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal to visit his country in line with Syria 's recently strengthened relations with Turkey . Assad's invitation was conveyed to Baykal by Syrian Ambassador to Turkey Nidal Kabalan. /Hurriyet/
ANKARA, YEREVAN TO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES ON PROTOCOLS
Following US President Barack Obama April 24 statement on the Armenian allegations, which did not use the word "genocide," a behind the scenes process to make progress on the reconciliation protocols between Turkey and Armenia has begun. In line with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent separate meetings with Obama and Armenia President Serzh Sargsyan in Washington , Turkey will reportedly drop a resolution in Nagorno-Karabakh as a precondition and will encourage Azerbaijan to work towards a solution. If a road map for Karabakh emerges, the approval process for the protocols signed last fall will begin in Parliament. Armenia will also reportedly drop its suspension of ratification of the protocols announced last Thursday. /Sabah/
IN BRUSSELS , EMINE ERDOGAN TO TALK ABOUT TURKISH WOMEN
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's wife Emine Erdogan on Thursday is traveling to Brussels accompanied by Beyhan Bagis, the wife of State Minister and Chief European Union talks Negotiator's Egemen Bagis. During her visit, Erdogan will speak at a conference on Turkish women's role in the EU process as a guest of honor. / Sabah , Turkiye/
95th ANNIVERSARY OF ANZAC OBSERVED
Commemorating the 95th anniversary of Battle of Canakkale (Gallipoli), a dawn service was held yesterday at Anzac Bay . Thousands of Australians and New Zealanders walked to Gallipoli. The dawn service ended with a laying of flowers at the ceremonial area, two minutes of silence, and the signing of the national anthems of Turkey , Australia and New Zealand . /Hurriyet/
TURKISH TV SERIES NOW SHOWN IN 36 COUNTRIES
The number of foreign countries where Turkish television series are being aired has risen to 36, the Culture Ministry's Abdurrahman Celik said on Saturday. In the southeastern province of Mardin to visit the set of the series "Ask Bir Hayal" (Love Is a Dream), Celik said that a growing number of Turkish TV series are breaking viewing records in the Middle East, the Balkans and Turkic nations. "There is a great interest in Turkey throughout the world," he said. "In addition, many film production companies want to shoot movies or TV series in Turkey , as they are fascinated by Turkey 's natural beauty they see in our TV series." Celik added that the government is working to make it easier for foreign film crews to shoot in Turkey . Celik stated that many foreign production teams want to shoot in eastern and southeastern provinces, especially Mardin and Şanlıurfa, as they find the local lifestyles very interesting. Cappadocia is another popular spot for filming, he added. /Today's Zaman/