"Let us start by solving the Armenian genocide question by relegating it to study by a comité de sages," Mabley said.

Turkey denies the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915 to 1923 was genocide and says many people were killed on both sides of inter-communal fighting during World War One. But following discontent with Turkey's military incursion into northern Syria, the U.S. House of Representatives formally recognized Armenian genocide on Oct. 29.

"Its impact on Turkish-American relations is disastrous given the pro-Armenian lobby and its power in both the state and federal legislatures," Mabley said.

Ending the conflict with Kurdish groups in Turkey and Syria would also undercut the appeal of separatist groups, Mabley said.

"The surest way to prevent the establishment of a separate country called Kurdistan would be to make intelligent concessions on the educational and linguistic front," he said.

The former diplomat also asked for the release of journalists imprisoned in Turkey.

"Release the journalists. Let the Chinese be the standard bearer for this dubious practice. Journalists are a threat to regime stability when they are in jail," he said.

Turkey and China are the world’s two leading jailors of journalists. Turkish media have been hard hit by a government crackdown that followed a 2016 coup attempt. Dozens of journalists have been imprisoned and critical media outlets shut down.

Reporter’s code: 50101