Obama's annual statement on April 24 draws fire from both Turkey, Armenians

U.S. President Barack Obama's annual April 24 statement marking the incidents of 1915 yesterday drew criticism from both Turkey and Armenia as he called the killings a great tragedy, once again declining to use the word "genocide." Armenians accused Obama, who used the Armenian expression "Meds Yeghern" (a great tragedy), of betrayal, while the Turkish Foreign Ministry said, "This statement distorts the historical facts. Therefore, we find it very problematic and deeply regret it."