Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
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PRESS RELEASE

April 5, 2009
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: mzachariades@aaainc.org
Phone: (202) 393-3434

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S VISIT TO TURKEY COMES AS PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN
REASSERTS GENOCIDE DENIAL

Washington, DC – Just days prior to the start of President Barack
Obama’s visit to Turkey, at a Friday new conference in London, Turkish
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, in reference to the Armenian Genocide,
stated that "For Turkey, it is impossible to accept a thing that does
not exist."

"President Obama’s trip provides a welcome opportunity for Turkey to
comes to terms with its genocidal past," stated Armenian Assembly of
America (Assembly) Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "Denial of this
historical fact does not advance U.S. interests," continued Ardouny.

As President Obama stated in 2008, "Genocide, sadly, persists to this
day, and threatens our common security and common humanity. Tragically,
we are witnessing in Sudan many of the same brutal tactics –
displacement, starvation, and mass slaughter – that were used by the
Ottoman authorities against defenseless Armenians back in 1915…America
deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and
responds forcefully to all genocides."

While the Assembly is encouraged by ongoing reports of rapprochement
between Turkey and Armenia, normalization of relations and Turkey’s
lifting of the blockade should not be held hostage to U.S. affirmation
of the Armenian Genocide.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c) (3)
tax-exempt membership organization.

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