The great suffering and losses that accompanied the forced displacement of Armenians in 1915 under the Ottoman Empire are called a “genocide” by Armenians and “deportation” by Turkey. The parliaments of 20 countries have recognized the Armenian version of events. The centenary of the Armenian genocide is only five months away.

In the United States, where the Armenian issue is most prominent, 42 states have recognized the events as genocide. Yet, in his eagerly anticipated statements every April 24, President Barack Obama has used the expression “meds yeghern,” which means “great calamity” in Armenian, rather than the word “genocide.” Serving his second term free from the pressures of re-election, Obama is unlikely to alter his usual language in 2015. The Republicans, who took control of the Senate in midterm elections Nov. 4, appear to stand closer to Turkey on the Armenian issue, provided Turkey mends fences with Israel.

In a taboo-breaking move, in April Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was then prime minister, issued a message of condolence to the Armenians. “We wish that the Armenians who lost their lives in the context of the early 20th century rest in peace, and we convey our condolences to their grandchildren,” he said. Following Erdogan’s message, Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian invited his future Turkish counterpart to attend the centennial genocide commemorations in Yerevan in 2015. Sarkisian said he was inviting the Turkish leader so he could “face up to telling testimonies of the history of the Armenian genocide.”

The leadership of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has not responded to the invitation. The General Staff, however, made an interesting move the first week in November, removing from its website archival documents under the heading “Armenian activities in 1914-1918,” which included photographs of Turks massacred by Armenian rebels. Ali Ihsan Kokturk, a lawmaker from the main opposition Republican People’s Party, said the military had removed the files in line with a government recommendation and had submitted a parliamentary question on the issue. It is not clear whether Kokturk’s claim is true, but the military’s move underscores Turkey’s desire for the centenary to pass in a calm atmosphere.