tush irk cipriots, but cypriots. i wouldn't want to guess how far he'd go to make a difference. >> i wasn't asking you so much about him but the assignment where you're at, turkey and its influence in this decision making process. from our perspective, i've been following this almost 20 years now, it's clear to me ta turkey has a significant influence into whether or not this issue is resolved or not in a way that's acceptable both to greek and turkish cypriots and the international community. i get a sense based on the prime minister's most recent statements that it's become more onerous, not less so, to achieve that goal. let me turn to another issue. which i'm sure you'll want to be diplomatic about. and that is the question of -- as our ambassador to turkey in this interrelationship with armenia. from your view, has the united states ever denied the fact that there was an armenian genocide? >> i stand behind president obama's characterization of the tragic massacre, murder of a million and a half men, women and c