Your trusted source

I am here to commemorate the victims of the events of 1915 on behalf of President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern told reporters at Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. 

Mr Heffern declined to comment on the statement made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the eve of the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Speaking about the statement to be made by U.S. President Barack Obama, the U.S. envoy said that the “President’s statement will be a strong one.”

Referring to the Armenian-Turkish Protocols, the Ambassador said, “We welcome the initiative of Presidents Sargsyan and Gul. We think that for both countries, it is important to have open borders and form diplomatic relations. The United States and other countries – friends of Turkey continue exerting efforts to make it a reality.”

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, the Italian Chamber of Deputies, majority of U.S. states, parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium and Wales, National Council of Switzerland, Chamber of Commons of Canada, Polish Sejm, Vatican, European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.