I have not changed views on Armenian resolution, Barack Obama said in Istanbul

PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday his views on a resolution calling the 1915 Armenian incidents in Ottoman state a Genocide had not changed, but said he was encouraged by talks between Turkey and Armenia.





"Well, my views are on the record and I have not changed views," Obama told a joint press conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul in the Turkish capital of Ankara.





Obama said that negotiations between Turkey and Armenia could bear fruit very quickly. "If they can move forward and deal with a difficult and tragic history, then I think the entire world should encourage that," Obama said.



Obama also said, "what I have been very encouraged by is news that under President Gul's leadership you are seeing a series of negotiations, a process in place between Armenia and Turkey to resolve a whole host of long-standing issues including this one."



"I want to be as encouraging as possible around those negotiations which are moving forward and could bear fruit very quickly."



During his election campaign, presidential candidate Barack Obama pledged that, as president, he will recognize the Armenian Genocide.