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Turkish Ambassador to Washington Namik Tan criticized U.S. President Barack Obama for his annual April 24 address to Armenian people on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

Tan responded Obama on Twitter, labeling U.S. President’s statement inaccurate, flawed and one-sided political characterization of history.

“It is unacceptable for third parties to pass judgment based on domestic political considerations on history of Turkish-Armenian relations. Such unwarranted statements will only complicate efforts to reach a just memory on the Turkish-Armenian common history,” he tweeted.

Since being elected U.S. President, Barack Obama has made his third address to the Armenian community in the United States in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

However, as during his previous addresses, the U.S. President used the term Meds Yeghern (Arm. Great Massacre), without qualifying the crime as genocide

“We solemnly remember the horrific events that took place ninety-six years ago, resulting in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century.  In 1915, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed.  A full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all our interests.

Contested history destabilizes the present and stains the memory of those whose lives were taken, while reckoning with the past lays a sturdy foundation for a peaceful and prosperous shared future. History teaches us that our nations are stronger and our cause is more just when we appropriately recognize painful pasts and work to rebuild bridges of understanding toward a better tomorrow.  The United States knows this lesson well from the dark chapters in our own history.

The United States has deeply benefited from the significant contributions to our nation by Armenian Americans, many of whom are descended from the survivors of the Meds Yeghern,” Obama said in his address.

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