Turkey is criticizing, but the process of recognizing genocide is irreversible, Armenia’s FM Edward Nalbandian told New York Times in an interview, referring to Turkey’s angry responses to the growing and “irreversible” trend of acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide.

Nalbandian expressed hope that President Obama, who had described those killings as a genocide before he was elected president, would use that terminology while still in office, which he has not yet done. “Of course if the president uses the G-word it would be a strong and important message,” Mr. Nalbandian said in a telephone interview from Washington, where an official delegation led by Armenia’s president, Serzh Sargsyan, has been visiting.

Mr. Nalbandian stated that it was unlikely that a normalization of relations with Turkey would happen soon, partly because of the unresolved genocide legacy issue. “We are where we are,” he said. “Turkey is just continuing its policy of denial. They are criticizing, but the process of recognizing genocide is irreversible,” the FM said.

Armenia’s FM said he was encouraged that an increasing number of Turks appeared to be questioning their government’s official policy of genocide denial. He also said a reconciliation between the two countries was necessary.

 “We have no other alternative,” he said. “We have to live together, not with a policy of denials, but with joint efforts to turn the dark pages.”

Noubar Afeyan, a prominent American venture capitalist of Armenian descent who is chairman of the national committee organizing centennial events in Washington, said many members of the post-genocide generation had moved beyond grief, embracing the tenacity of the Armenian diaspora, which now totals 10 million.

“As an Armenian who was born in Lebanon, grew up in Canada and lived in the United States for 35 years, I believe it’s the natural result that Armenians are maturing in relation to this tragedy,” Mr. Afeyan said in a telephone interview. “It’s extending to be not only about crimes and victims, but survivors and their saviors.”