SENATOR MCCAIN CLAIMS ‘ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’
AzerNews Weekly
Nov 10 2009
US Senator John McCain, a former presidential candidate, reportedly
claims Turkey committed genocide against Armenians during World War
I and that this is proven with documents.
Armenians say Ottoman Turks killed 1.5 million people in 1915,
a claim strenuously denied by the modern Turkish state.
In an interview with Voice of America, McCain said he supports the
process of rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia.
McCain welcomed progress that has been achieved in Turkey-Armenia
reconciliation. "For the first time, the parties are making steps in
the same direction."
"On the other hand, the Turkish and Armenian people and states cannot
forget their past. Especially Armenians can’t. Because of that they
consider that they should develop the relations with Turkey step by
step," the senator said, adding that he favors this approach.
Senator McCain, who stood in the presidential elections on November 4,
2008 as a nominee representing the Republican Party, lost to his rival
from the Democratic Party Barack Obama. While on the campaign trail,
he was said to have vehemently rejected the "genocide" claims. The
Atlantic Monthly magazine then reported that McCain was committed to
a firm stance on the issue and has repeatedly opposed the allegations.
As for Obama, despite pledging during his pre-election campaign to
recognize the "genocide", he did not deliver on the promise after
being elected president.*