U.S. State Department: Armenia and Turkey Should Work Together to Achieve “Acknowledgement of Facts”

WASHINGTON, DC  (Armenianow.com) — The United States continues to urge Armenia and Turkey “to work together to achieve a full, frank and just acknowledgement of the facts”, said U.S. Department of State spokesperson Jen Psaki during a daily press briefing in Washington, DC, on Thursday.

Psaki made the statement in answering a question from a reporter asking for an updated on the 2009 Turkish-Armenian protocols and on how the normalization process between the two estranged neighboring nations is going on.

“We believe that by working together to address their shared history, Armenia and Turkey can promote stability and prosperity in the entire Caucasus region, so we continue to work with them on that,” the U.S. Department of State representative said. “While the protocols may not be moving forward at this time, we note that both sides remain committed to the process of normalizing relations and neither side has withdrawn. Our greatest interest on this issue is to see Armenia and Turkey heal the wounds of the past and move forward together in a shared future of security and prosperity in the region, and our policy is, of course, naturally guided by that goal.”

Psaki was also asked to present the U.S. administration’s position on the Senate committee resolution on the Armenian genocide resolution.

“Our position has long been that we acknowledge – clearly acknowledge as historical fact and mourn the loss of 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire,” she said. “These horrific events resulted in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century, and the United States recognizes that they remain a great source of pain for the people of Armenia and of Armenian descent, as they do for all of us who share basic universal values. Beyond that, I don’t have any other comment for you.”

The resolution passed by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 10 was welcomed by official Yerevan.

“On the eve of the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide the adoption by the Senate Committee of Resolution 410 is an important step on the way to restoration of historical truth and prevention of crimes against humanity,” Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said in a statement released today.

US State Department daily briefing Thursday April 10, 2014 (from 11.45 minute)