Addressing members of the Turkish community at the Turkish Embassy in Washington D.C., Ambassador Namik Tan commented on the statement released by Obama on April 24, a date considered by Armenians as the anniversary of the incidents of 1915.
Noting some circles were pleased with Obama's statement as he did not use the word "genocide", Tan said, "we do not feel that way", and continued, "we will not accept whatever President Obama says, because his statement has no scientific aspect and it is totally a political discourse".
Tan said Obama's statement or similar remarks did not help Turkey's efforts on the issue.
"Let us examine this matter together in a scientific way. Let independent historians examine our history. We should not try to force anybody to accept our memories. We may think differently about our histories, but we should walk towards the future together," Tan said.
US President Barack Obama described the incidents of 1915 as a "great tragedy" in a presidential statement he released on April 24.
In his message, Obama used the Armenian expression "Meds Yeghern", meaning "great tragedy" in Turkish, while describing the incidents of 1915, just like he did in a similar statement last year.
