Two weeks ahead of the annual commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, US President Barack Obama on Tuesday marked the 15th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda with a statement urging the United States and its world partners to deepen their commitment to ending the cycle of genocide, the White House reported.

BY ALLEN YEKIKAN

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan on Tuesday hailed what he called progress in the ongoing talks to normalize his country's strained relations with Armenia. His remarks come amid growing concern in Yerevan that Ankara's increasingly uncompromising preconditions on Armenia may be guiding the negotiations in an untenable direction.

YEREVAN--In a letter to the chairman of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Howard Berman, the Chairman of the Armenian National Assembly's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Armen Rustamian on Thursday expressed his strong support for US affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, stressing that US recognition would be the greatest contributor to the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

Writer Temel Demirer from Turkey stands before the Ankara Penal Court N2 for his calling to recognize Armenian Genocide.

Turkey's foreign minister has hinted he may make another presidential bid, following his party's victory in Sunday's parliamentary elections. Abdullah Gul said Wednesday in Ankara that he can not ignore what he said is popular support for his candidacy.

Straddling a promising energy corridor running from east to west, Turkey is keen to turn its geographical position into political capital. To the west, Ankara wants to exploit its position to gain leverage with the world's second-biggest energy consumer, the European Union, whose membership Turkey seeks. Looking east and south, Turkey strives to expand its influence in countries that supply the oil and gas Europe needs, especially Central Asia.

Six people were killed and 91 injured in the attack carried out by a male suicide bomber in Turkish capital, Ankara, the governor said to reporters.

The more Ankara speaks against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the more countries and organizations are interested in real facts.