Obama avoids calling Armenian killings 'genocide'
* Armenian American groups criticize Obama's word choice
* Obama says his position unchanged on 1915 killings (Adds background, paragraphs 9-10, lawmaker, group's comments, paragraphs 13-17)
By Jeff Mason
WASHINGTON, April 24 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama avoided using the word genocide on Friday when describing mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915, and welcomed efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalize relations.
As a presidential candidate, Obama, who took office in January, had described the killings of Armenians as genocide, but he referred to them as "atrocities" on Friday.
"Ninety four years ago, one of the great atrocities of the 20th century began," Obama said in a statement released by the White House. "Each year, we pause to remember the 1.5 million Armenians who were subsequently massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire."
Armenian American groups criticized Obama for not keeping a campaign pledge to stick to the genocide characterization.
Despite his careful word choice, Obama said his position on the killings was unchanged.
"I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed," he said. "My interest remains the achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts."
Turkey and Armenia said this week they had agreed on a road map to normalize ties after a century of hostility that traces its roots to the 1915 mass killing and deportation of Armenians, which Armenia says was genocide.
"I also strongly support the efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalize their bilateral relations," Obama said. "Under Swiss auspices, the two governments have agreed on a framework and road map for normalization. I commend this progress, and urge them to fulfill its promise."
Turkey accepts that many Christian Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks but denies that up to 1.5 million died and that it amounts to genocide. Turkish officials have warned that any new attempt in the U.S. Congress to brand the killings a genocide could damage U.S.-Turkish ties.
The Obama administration sees Turkey as a key ally whose help it needs to solve confrontations from Iran to Afghanistan.
'SHARP DISAPPOINTMENT'
"I join with all Armenian Americans in voicing our sharp disappointment with President Obama's failure to honor his solemn pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide," said Ken Hachikians, head of the Armenian National Committee of America.
"The president's statement today represents a retreat from his pledge and a setback to the vital change he promised to bring about in how America confronts the crime of genocide."
The Turkish Coalition of America, however, offered praise.
"We applaud President Obama for deferring to historians to settle the long-standing debate over the events of 1915-1918," said Lincoln McCurdy, the group's president.
"This tragic period in history led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Muslims and Christians alike. President Obama has sent a clear message to America and the world that his administration will not sacrifice long-term strategic allies for short-term political gains."
U.S. Representative Adam Schiff criticized Obama.
"We will persevere until it is the policy of the United States to recognize genocide wherever and whenever it occurs, and to do all in its power to prevent this scourge from tarnishing the human race ever again," Schiff said.
(Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell; editing by Will Dunham)
* Obama says his position unchanged on 1915 killings (Adds background, paragraphs 9-10, lawmaker, group's comments, paragraphs 13-17)
By Jeff Mason
WASHINGTON, April 24 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama avoided using the word genocide on Friday when describing mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915, and welcomed efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalize relations.
As a presidential candidate, Obama, who took office in January, had described the killings of Armenians as genocide, but he referred to them as "atrocities" on Friday.
"Ninety four years ago, one of the great atrocities of the 20th century began," Obama said in a statement released by the White House. "Each year, we pause to remember the 1.5 million Armenians who were subsequently massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire."
Armenian American groups criticized Obama for not keeping a campaign pledge to stick to the genocide characterization.
Despite his careful word choice, Obama said his position on the killings was unchanged.
"I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed," he said. "My interest remains the achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts."
Turkey and Armenia said this week they had agreed on a road map to normalize ties after a century of hostility that traces its roots to the 1915 mass killing and deportation of Armenians, which Armenia says was genocide.
"I also strongly support the efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalize their bilateral relations," Obama said. "Under Swiss auspices, the two governments have agreed on a framework and road map for normalization. I commend this progress, and urge them to fulfill its promise."
Turkey accepts that many Christian Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks but denies that up to 1.5 million died and that it amounts to genocide. Turkish officials have warned that any new attempt in the U.S. Congress to brand the killings a genocide could damage U.S.-Turkish ties.
The Obama administration sees Turkey as a key ally whose help it needs to solve confrontations from Iran to Afghanistan.
'SHARP DISAPPOINTMENT'
"I join with all Armenian Americans in voicing our sharp disappointment with President Obama's failure to honor his solemn pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide," said Ken Hachikians, head of the Armenian National Committee of America.
"The president's statement today represents a retreat from his pledge and a setback to the vital change he promised to bring about in how America confronts the crime of genocide."
The Turkish Coalition of America, however, offered praise.
"We applaud President Obama for deferring to historians to settle the long-standing debate over the events of 1915-1918," said Lincoln McCurdy, the group's president.
"This tragic period in history led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Muslims and Christians alike. President Obama has sent a clear message to America and the world that his administration will not sacrifice long-term strategic allies for short-term political gains."
U.S. Representative Adam Schiff criticized Obama.
"We will persevere until it is the policy of the United States to recognize genocide wherever and whenever it occurs, and to do all in its power to prevent this scourge from tarnishing the human race ever again," Schiff said.
(Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell; editing by Will Dunham)
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