The spokesperson for State Department Marie Harf avoided giving a direct answer to the clear questions of Associated Press reporter Matthew Lee who is known for his uncompromisable position on many issues.

During the Tuesday briefing he asked to repeat position of the State Department on the Armenian Genocide and Holy Mass by Pope Francis. In response, Marie Harf repeated the official position and refrained from commenting on Pope's remarks.

Here is the test of a dialogue between Matthew Lee and Marie Harf: 

QUESTION: All right. Pope Francis over the weekend and his characterization of the massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks a hundred years ago as the first genocide of the 20th century. And since we are marking the anniversary, if you could restate the U.S. position on what happened?

MS HARF: Yes. The President and other senior Administration officials have repeatedly acknowledged as historical fact and mourned the fact that 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire, and stated that a full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all our interests, including Turkey’s, Armenia’s, and America’s.

One of the principles, I think, that’s guided the Administration’s work in this area and in atrocity prevention more broadly is that nations are stronger and they progress by acknowledging and reckoning with pretty painful elements of their past; doing so is really essential to building a different, more tolerant future. And I think that sort of guides how we look at this and other issues.

QUESTION: Any reaction to the Pope?

MS HARF: Nothing beyond what I just said.

QUESTION: Are you --

QUESTION: And so you’re asking for Turkey to make that public acknowledgement then? Is that what you’re saying?

MS HARF: Nothing more than I just said.

QUESTION: The Turks recalled their ambassador to the Vatican. Erdogan has said today that he condemns the Pope for these comments. Are you concerned at all at this kind of uptick in tensions surrounding it --

MS HARF: I don’t think --

QUESTION: -- regardless of the use of the word --

MS HARF: I don’t think I have much more to say on this.

QUESTION: All right. Can you remind us what candidate Obama’s position was on the Armenia --

MS HARF: I’m happy for you to check with the 2008 Barack Obama campaign, Matt. I don’t speak for them. I speak for the State Department and the Administration.

QUESTION: Does anyone still speak for the 2008 campaign?

MS HARF: I’m happy for you to call someone and find out.

QUESTION: Because I seem to recall that he was in favor of using that word.

MS HARF: I’m happy for you to get in touch with the campaign.

QUESTION: It’s interesting how many candidates run on that, as that as part of their platform, and then upon winning change their minds because Turkey is a NATO ally and no one wants to upset them. Is that why?

MS HARF: Why what?

QUESTION: Why the President has revised his position on whether what happened was a genocide?

MS HARF: I’m happy for you to check with the White House on the President specifically.

QUESTION: Okay. As --

MS HARF: As I said, he has made clear and what our policy is is clear.

QUESTION: As it relates to the State Department then, what is the State Department’s position?

MS HARF: I just outlined what our position is very clearly.

QUESTION: Are there any plans for any commemorations again, given it’s the 100th anniversary?

MS HARF: Let me check. I don’t know.