INFORMATION ABOUT THE ARMENIAN DEATHS DURING WWI
The Associated Press State & Local Wire
May 15, 2009 Friday 12:11 AM GMT
Here’s a look at the dispute arising from the killings of up to 1.5
million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I:
Many history scholars, as well as Armenians, have referred to the
killings as a genocide.
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland recognized the killings as genocide in 2007,
and former President Ronald Reagan did so in 1981.
The Turkish government has argued that the killings were not a result
of genocide, but were caused by civil war. It also says many Muslims
were killed by Armenian Christians.
President Obama in April referred to the killings as one of the
greatest "atrocities" during the 20th Century, but did not use the term
"genocide."
He said during his campaign that the killings constituted genocide. The
Bush administration also did not use the term "genocide."
U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt alleges that congressional challenger David
Krikorian made false campaign statements when he said that Schmidt
received campaign donations from Turkish interests in return for
helping them deny that a genocide took place.