Advocates for recognition by the United States of the Armenian Genocide turn attention to Ankara, Turkey in the coming days when President Barack Obama meets Turkish President Abdullah Gul April 5.

Hopes that Obama will lead his administration to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide have run strong, strengthened by repeated statements of support the president has made during (and before) his campaign which was backed by Armenian Americans.

Last week, prior to Obama’s departure for the G-20 Summit in London, from which he is to travel to Turkey, representatives of the Armenian Assembly of America and the Armenian National Committee of America met, at the invitation of the White House, with Obama's senior foreign policy advisors.

“The Armenian-American leadership continues to look forward, this April, to President Obama honoring his repeated pledges to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide, to broaden U.S.-Armenia relations, and to support other issues impacting Armenia and the surrounding region,” said a statement released by the Assembly (www.aaainc.org).

Both the Assembly and ANCA (www.anca.org) have launched massive awareness campaigns and are urging their American-based members to rally the support of the US Congress, as it now considers HR252 – a resolution calling for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

At a press conference in Yerevan today (Friday), Assembly country director Apri Vartanian said she is confident the Genocide issue as well as discussion of opening borders will come up during the Obama-Gul meeting.

“ . . . And I believe Turkey will do anything to prevent Obama from using the word ‘genocide’ and recognizing it at all. I also think that Turkey will resort to blackmail, if necessary – by affecting America’s interests that depend on Turkey as well,” Vartanian said. “I nevertheless think that Obama will be consistent and keep his pledge. Just because President Obama uses the word does not mean that the entire world will immediately follow suit and recognize the Armenian Genocide. For some nations it may be a more complicated process. But, I believe many nations will follow the US example after the US recognizes and reaffirms the truth. And eventually, I am convinced, there will come a time when the Armenian Genocide is no longer questioned.””

Just three months into his presidency, Obama may find it prudent to avoid potential controversy over raising the Genocide issue. It is likely, though, that meetings will focus on Turkey’s role in helping America strengthen its position in the region as it begins withdrawing troops from Iraq, while starting a build-up in Afghanistan.

A more likely opportunity for the US President to fulfill his pledge will come when he makes the traditional statements on April 24 – Armenia’s Day of Remembrance.