To the Editor:

Re “A Belated Recognition of Genocide” (Op-Ed, Oct. 30 ):

We should all thank Samantha Power, former ambassador to the United Nations, for calling attention to the recent House of Representatives resolution stating the obvious: The Ottoman Empire committed genocide against Armenians starting in 1915. Turkey’s continuing denial of this atrocity needs to be condemned, and the current government of Turkey needs to be informed that Americans do not tolerate genocide or similar acts under another name.

Turkey may threaten acts against the United States if we tell the truth, but the Turks have far more to lose than we do if the already messy relationship between the two countries deteriorates further.

John G.H. Cant

Fremont, Calif.

To the Editor:

As an Armenian-American with grandparents who survived the Armenian genocide, I’m extremely happy that the House of Representatives finally passed a resolution that properly recognizes it. And while Samantha Power rightly points out that the United States has capitulated to Turkish pressure over the years, she fails to adequately address why she, too, succumbed to that pressure as a member of the Obama administration.

Armenian-Americans placed a lot of hope and faith in Ms. Power when she campaigned for Barack Obama, who unequivocally promised to recognize the Armenian genocide. That’s why it was so disappointing when she abrogated that trust with Armenian-Americans after Mr. Obama failed to honor that pledge and caved to Ankara’s wishes.