However, some of Obama’s remarks during the election campaign, such as his support for Armenian allegations of genocide, have led to concern in Ankara about a dampening of hopes. As some circles begin to highlight Obama’s previously stated stances as being worrisome for Turkey, Yeni Şafak’s Ali Bayramoğlu thinks Obama’s selection of Joe Biden as vice president, who Turkey never found sympathetic to itself due to his proximity to the Armenian diaspora, his remarks about recognizing Armenian allegations of genocide and the strategy he is expected to follow in the settlement of the Cyprus and Kurdish issues should not lead to pessimism in Turkey. According to Bayramoğlu, what needs to be seen is that the “change” Obama represents symbolically is in favor of Turkey under any circumstances in the middle and long term and that there is only one way to increase the benefits Obama’s election will bring to Turkey: to keep up with the symbolic and active change in the world and to settle problems quickly through political and peaceful means.
According to Star’s Mustafa Karaalioğlu, if Obama, as he promised, tries to solve problems through dialogue and diplomacy and if he revolves around the axis of international law, this will mean Turkey will shine as a star in the region. This is so “because Turkey takes initiatives consonant with this line. The policy Ankara pursues in the Middle East, the Caucasus and Iraq is one which will facilitate the possible new US policy. But it needs some time because, before all, a decision needs to first be made on the Iraqi occupation. Because Obama is known as a politician who does not make quick decisions, even his decision-making process will lead to a loss of time,” he explains.
Milliyet’s Semih İdiz acknowledges that Ankara has some concerns about Obama’s presidency, particularly about his promises to the Armenian diaspora, but does not think that Obama will put his words into action by recognizing the Armenian allegations of genocide. “It does not seem very difficult for Obama to pass the Armenian resolution because Democrats have the majority in Congress; however, Obama will see that he will be unable to act comfortably on this matter,” says İdiz, presuming that he will not want to endanger the mellowing of relations between Turkey and Yerevan, which Washington favors, or prevent a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. “We will see whether these factors will stop Obama. If they do not and Obama supports the passage of the Armenian resolution, this will contradict the policy on Turkey he announced during his campaign and cast a shadow on his consistency,” warns İdiz.
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