The Age, Australia
April 26 2009
Obama marks Turkish atrocity, not genocide
April 26, 2009
WASHINGTON. President Barack Obama marked the 94th anniversary of the
killings of more than a million Armenians by Ottoman Turks without
describing the violence as genocide, a term US ally Turkey rejects.
Mr Obama recalled "one of the great atrocities of the 20th century" in
a statement on Friday, the annual day of remembrance by Armenians. He
said his personal view of what happened had not changed. Mr Obama said
during his election campaign that the killings constituted genocide.
The President said he strongly supported efforts by Turkey and Armenia
to normalise relations.
The Armenian Government has accused Ottoman Turkey of genocide against
Armenians. The Turkish Government says massacres took place in a kind
of civil war.