Has Obama Already Recognized the Armenian Genocide?

The Council of the Bar Association of the Republic of Armenia has released a statement in a reference to US President Barack Obama’s April 24 address in 2009.

“President Obama used the historical Armenian term “Meds Yeghern” (Great Calamity), which is synonymous to “genocide,” a more contemporary term. The term “Meds Yeghern” was used by President Obama twice and was clearly described as an attempt to destroy the Armenian people. It is obvious that “Meds Yeghern” was referred to by President Obama in exactly the same meaning, as we, Armenians, refer to it. The term “Meds Yeghern,” “Hayots Tseghaspanutiun,” and “Armenian Genocide” have been always absolutely identical. From a legal point of view, President Obama has described a genocide, because an attempt to destroy a people is, by definition, a genocide,” reads the statement.

Citing the Obama address, the Council states that it is necessary to utterly obliterate the international public misconception that President Obama has not acknowledged the Armenian Genocide because the term genocide was not spelled out. The Bar Association of the Republic of Armenia hereby gives its legal assessment to the Statement by President Obama.

“Even though Obama the politician did not use the term genocide, Obama the lawyer, the graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, has already clearly acknowledged the events of the Armenian Genocide. On behalf of the Bar Association of the Republic of Armenia we would like to express our gratitude to President Obama for his historic Statement.

"Taking into account the significance of international recognition of genocide for purposes of preventing the crime of genocide in the future, we believe that it is the time to call things by their proper names and to condemn the Meds Yeghern, defining it as genocide in unequivocal terms. In this respect, we should greatly appreciate the initiative of the US Congress and call upon it to approve the Resolution,” concludes the Council of the Bar Association the Republic of Armenia.