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OBAMA ISSUES ANNUAL ARMENIAN STATEMENT, AVOIDS 'GENOCIDE'
Fresno Bee, CA
April 24 2013
President Barack Obama on Wednesday issued the White House's standard
April 24 statement marking what he termed the Meds Yeghern ... one
of the worst atrocities of the 20th century."
Carefully avoiding the term "genocide" or phrase "Armenian genocide,"
Obama stated that "ninety-eight years ago, 1.5 million Armenians
were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days of the
Ottoman Empire."
Like other presidents before him, Obama had indicated while campaigning
his intention to apply the term genocide. That played well among
Armenian-American voters. Once in office, though, he shifted position.
There are several events marking the annual observance of the Armenian
genocide, starting with Tuesday evening's prayer service next to
the Armenian memorial monument at Ararat Cemetery. This is the 98th
anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
Other events:
Wednesday Annual Armenian flag raising ceremony, 9 a.m. in front of
Fresno City Hall.
Commemoration ceremony, including student speakers and ethnic
activities, 1 p.m., free speech area at Fresno State.
Church and civic commemoration of the Armenian genocide, 7 p.m. at
the Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church, 3673 N. First St., Fresno.
Keynote speaker is John M. Evans, former ambassador to Armenia.
Sunday Commemoration at the Soghomon Tehlirian Memorial Statue,
1 p.m., at the Masis-Ararat Cemetery, 250 N. Hughes Ave., Fresno.
Photo: CRAIG KOHLRUSS/THE FRESNO BEE - Deacon Berj K. Apkarian, center,
of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Fresno swings an incense
censer Tuesday during a prayer service next to the Armenian memorial
monument at Ararat Cemetery to commemorate the 98th anniversary of
the Armenian genocide.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/04/24/3271713/obama-issues-annual-armenian-statement.html
Fresno Bee, CA
April 24 2013
President Barack Obama on Wednesday issued the White House's standard
April 24 statement marking what he termed the Meds Yeghern ... one
of the worst atrocities of the 20th century."
Carefully avoiding the term "genocide" or phrase "Armenian genocide,"
Obama stated that "ninety-eight years ago, 1.5 million Armenians
were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days of the
Ottoman Empire."
Like other presidents before him, Obama had indicated while campaigning
his intention to apply the term genocide. That played well among
Armenian-American voters. Once in office, though, he shifted position.
There are several events marking the annual observance of the Armenian
genocide, starting with Tuesday evening's prayer service next to
the Armenian memorial monument at Ararat Cemetery. This is the 98th
anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
Other events:
Wednesday Annual Armenian flag raising ceremony, 9 a.m. in front of
Fresno City Hall.
Commemoration ceremony, including student speakers and ethnic
activities, 1 p.m., free speech area at Fresno State.
Church and civic commemoration of the Armenian genocide, 7 p.m. at
the Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church, 3673 N. First St., Fresno.
Keynote speaker is John M. Evans, former ambassador to Armenia.
Sunday Commemoration at the Soghomon Tehlirian Memorial Statue,
1 p.m., at the Masis-Ararat Cemetery, 250 N. Hughes Ave., Fresno.
Photo: CRAIG KOHLRUSS/THE FRESNO BEE - Deacon Berj K. Apkarian, center,
of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Fresno swings an incense
censer Tuesday during a prayer service next to the Armenian memorial
monument at Ararat Cemetery to commemorate the 98th anniversary of
the Armenian genocide.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/04/24/3271713/obama-issues-annual-armenian-statement.html