The U.S. House of Representatives is unlikely to approve the Armenian Genocide resolution before the end of this year. The United States and Turkey have a U.S. $30bn military contract for this year alone. Turkey will certainly use its geopolitical influence in this matter, Cem Toker, the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Turkey, told journalists in Yerevan on March 23.

According to him, amid the international pressure on Ankara in the context of the Armenian Genocide, Turkish politicians, who are declaring for normalizing relations with Armenia, find it more and more difficult to defend their opinion.

As to whether he himself admits the fact of the Armenian Genocide, Toker said that he does not like tiresome history. It is an obvious fact that horrible events took place, he said. Toker does not know if the events can be qualified as genocide. He is well aware of the Armenian side’s position, but the Turkish side holds the opposite opinion. Toker stated he understand the issue is a most painful one for the Armenians. After visiting Armenia the fifth time he has come to realize that each Armenian family has its own history of the 1915 events. On the other hand, he has heard many stories about Turks’ saving Armenians, feeding their children and providing them with clothing.

Toker pointed out that he is trying to remain neutral to the 1915 events. He visited the Memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims in Yerevan.

Responding to a question concerning Article 301 of the Turkish Criminal Code, the Turkish politician gave assurances that Turkey has registered serious progress. Specifically, people are not prosecuted for admitting the Armenian Genocide. The article is actually applied to those insulting the Turkish nation. Toker recalled three grand funeral ceremonies – the funerals of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, President Halil Turgut Özal and the journalist Hrant Dink. In this context he pointed out that must suggest a change in the situation inside Turkey.

T.P.