YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–Commenting on Thursday’s debate in the US House of Representatives over the issue of the Armenian Genocide–the Armenian foreign ministry spokesman Ara Papian told RFE/RL Saturday that the word "Genocide" has a crucial meaning–because it is a legal term–a legal norm with certain legal consequences.
The US administration officials used to describe the Armenian Genocide of 1915 as a "massacre"–a word which is not a legal assessment of what happened then–the spokesman’said.
The US House Committee on foreign relations will continue its debate on Armenian Genocide next week.
The spokeswoman for the Armenian National Committee of America Elizabeth Chouldjian told RFE/RL on Friday that the House committee will most likely vote on the House resolution 398 during its second debate next Thursday.
According to the Armenian foreign minister spokesman–"it is impossible to block the truth" despite the fact that Turkish authorities and US administration officials are against the US House resolution 398.
Ara Papian said that he would not make predictions on the possible outcome of a voting in the US House of Representatives–adding that the process of recognition will not end with that voting. "This is just the first step–a very important step–which would make the recognition process more effective"–said Ara Papian.
The Armenian foreign ministry spokesman expressed confidence that the Armenian Genocide will be recognized not only in the US but in Turkey as well.