Congressmen Adam Schiff sent a letter to President Obama on Wednesday urging him to use the term “genocide” in his statement marking the April 24 anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide, Asbarez reported.

“Unfortunately, both last year and in 2009, you did not use the term ‘genocide’ to describe the events of 1915-23. I ask you to return to the clarity you so forcefully expressed in 2008, and stand with the ever-dwindling number of survivors, as well as the descendants of others, who survived the Armenian Genocide and continue to suffer the ‘double killing’ of denial, by referring to it as a genocide,” the letter reads.

“Perhaps hoping that by holding off on recognition, some in the Administration believed that the United States could catalyze a possible reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey.  It is clear now that the Protocols process was a gambit by Ankara to prevent the Administration from using the word “genocide,” and to forestall consideration of a genocide resolution by the Congress.  Turkey’s professed desire for reconciliation with Armenia was illusory. Now that the truth has been revealed, I ask you to return to the clarity you so forcefully expressed in 2008,” Schiff said.