U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff, the lead sponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution in Congress, called on President Barack Obama to finally recognize the Armenian Genocide on April 24. 

Each year, Obama has issued a statement marking the anniversary of the start of first genocide of the 20th century, but has consistently failed to properly refer to this campaign of killing as a “genocide”, says the statement issued on Congressman’s official website.

In the letter to President Obama, Schiff states: “I urge you to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide in your statement this year, to call genocide, genocide, and to stand with the ever-dwindling number of survivors, as well as the descendants of those who were lost, and who must otherwise continue to suffer the indignity, injury and pain of denial.”

The fact of the Armenian Genocide is recognized by many states. It was first recognized in 1965 by Uruguay. In general, the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey has already been recognized by 21 countries and 43 out of 50 U.S. states.

Turkey denies accusations of mass killings of Armenians during the First World War and is extremely sensitive to criticism voiced by the western states.