Obama names massacres of Armenians the worst tragedy of XX century: U.S. Ambassador

YEREVAN, April 24./ARKA/. U.S. President Barack Obama names to the massacres of the Armenians at the Ottoman Empire the worst tragedy of the 20th century, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern said Wednesday.

On April 24, the Armenians from all over the world commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 committed by the Ottoman Empire. This year is the 98th anniversary of the Genocide.  

He said people walk here (to the Genocide Memorial) in order to pay tribute to the victims. Obama has a clear stance on the issue. He refers to the massacres of 1.5 million of Armenians as to the worst tragedy of the 20th century, Heffern added. 

Each April 24 U.S. Presidents traditionally appeal to the Armenian people expressing their sympathy and support. However, none of them has ever uttered “Genocide” term, instead they substituted it with “massacres,” “slaughter,” “great tragedy.” Nevertheless, Obama, who has promised to recognize the Genocide if elected as U.S. President, has called the Genocide “Mets Eghern” which actually means “Genocide” in Armenian language. 

The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide committed in XX century. Turkey denies the accusation of massacres and the killing of one and a half million Armenians during World War I.

The Armenian Genocide  was  recognized by  Russia, Germany, France, Netherlands, Vatican, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden, Venezuela, Lebanon, France,  42  U.S. states, as well as by the parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium, National Council of Switzerland, Canada,  Poland, Italy, other countries as well as the  European Parliament, the World Council of Churches. -0-