The Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website reports today (April 25, 2011) that Armenia yesterday marked the 96th anniversary since the mass killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire. Armenia says up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed between 1915 and 1917, and describes the killings as "genocide" by Turkey -- which Turkey refuses to acknowledge.
In a written statement yesterday (April 24, 2011) -- marking the anniversary of the Armenian killings -- US President Barack Obama said the mass deaths represent "one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century."
But for the third straight year, Obama did not use the word "genocide" to describe the deaths.
Last year, a US Congressional panel gave its support to a statement calling the event "genocide." This angered Turkey and caused it to recall its ambassador from Washington, and to send him back only after the Obama Adminsitration used its influence to prevent the statement from ever reaching the full House of Representatives for a discussion and vote.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment