US President Barack Obama has met President Abdullah Gül and addressed the General Assembly in Ankara during the first day of his visit to Turkey. Faced with questions on recognizing Armenian Genocide claims and aiding the struggle against armed Kurdish rebel group, the PKK, Obama abstained from making concrete statements.

Among the topics of discussions were the situation in Afghanistan and the fight against terrorism. Obama, expressed a continued support for the latter.

PKK and the Kurdish issue

Responding to a question during the press conference, Obama assured the audience that the PKK was regarded as a "terrorist organization" by the US. He said that their collaboration with the Turkish administration was showing results, as attacks by the PKK were in decline. "We discussed with president Gül on how to further our support."

Armenian issue

He said that his views on the Armenian Genocide claims had not changed,  but that he was encouraged by the recent talks between Turkey and Armenia. In 2008, he had asserted that the events of 1915 amounted to a "genocide". This time, he refrained from using the word and noted that his aim was to facilitate the ongoing dialogue between the two peoples.

On the other hand, President Gül voiced the Turkish position and proposed to leave the discussion to historians. He claimed that both Muslim Turks and Armenians suffered during the times of war and that the Turkish administration has opened the archives to anyone willing to work on them.

"As the problems in the Caucasus are resolved, the dialogue between Turkey and Armenia will go further" he added. 

In parliament

During his speech in parliament, Obama referred to recent reforms in Turkey and demanded a continuing effort of democratization.

He welcomed the Kurdish broadcasts in state television as well as the abolition of State Security Courts. Nonetheless, he stressed that further reforms were needed for freedom of expression and freedom of faith, citing the opening of the seminary in Heybeliada. 

The Armenian issue could be discussed in parliament, he told the MPs. Regarding Cyprus, the Obama stated that both the US and the UN supported a federation of the two peoples. 

As for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Obama emphasized that they supported a two-state solution. 

The US President said that while Turkey and his country had not always agreed on everything, the two states were stronger when they acted together. He said Turkey and the US had to listen to each other and seek common ground.

Protests

Around 500 protesters gathered in Ankara and tried to walk to parliament, shouting "Yankee go home!". The police intervened and took 21 people into custody.

Activists criticized Obama's visit as part of a plan to "subcontract Turkey" to the wars the US and the NATO are waging in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obama met with opposition party leaders following his address in parliament. He is expected to arrive in Istanbul later this evening (6 April) and to participate in several meetings tomorrow.(EZÖ/BÇ/AGÜ)