The great suffering and losses that accompanied the forced displacement of Armenians in 1915 under the Ottoman Empire are called a “genocide” by Armenians and “deportation” by Turkey. The parliaments of 20 countries have recognized the Armenian version of events. The centenary of the Armenian genocide is only five months away.
In the United States, where the Armenian issue is most prominent, 42 states have recognized the events as genocide. Yet, in his eagerly anticipated statements every April 24, President Barack Obama has used the expression “meds yeghern,” which means “great calamity” in Armenian, rather than the word “genocide.” Serving his second term free from the pressures of re-election, Obama is unlikely to alter his usual language in 2015. The Republicans, who took control of the Senate in midterm elections Nov. 4, appear to stand closer to Turkey on the Armenian issue, provided Turkey mends fences with Israel.
