Senator Robert “Bob” Menendez raised the matter of Armenian Genocide recognition during Thursday’s hearings at the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the Voice of America Armenian Service reported.

The senator posed several questions to David Michael Satterfield, who has been nominated as the next US Ambassador to Turkey, during the Senate hearings on the approval of his respective candidacy.

Menendez asked Satterfield whether he acknowledges that around 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire, from 1915 to 1923.

Satterfield responded that they certainly were aware of that brutality.

Menendez asked Satterfield whether he recognizes that it was genocide.

Satterfield responded that the US president had stated that it was one of the most horrible atrocities of the 20th century, and that he joins that statement.

Menendez asked Satterfield whether it was genocide.

Satterfield responded that the president’s statement is the position of the US government.

Menendez asked Satterfield whether he acknowledges that in 1915, the allied forces of England, France, and Russia for the first time jointly accused another government of committing a crime against humanity and civilization.

Satterfield responded that he is a historian and well aware of the events of that time.

Menendez asked Satterfield whether he acknowledges that Henry Morgenthau, the then US Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, had stated that the Turkish government’s order on the deportation of Armenians had actually been an execution order for an entire nation.

Satterfield responded that he is aware of that statement.

Subsequently, Bob Menendez noted that this was like a diplomatic dance. He stated that the US, as a country, does not recognize the historical fact, whereas even the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has recognized Armenian Genocide. Menendez added that we cannot move toward the future if we cannot acknowledge the past.