The Armenian National Congress of America criticized the congratulatory message issued by the White House on Armenia’s Independence Day.

“On the positive side, the letter does note Yerevan's ‘response to the Syrian refugee crisis and its contributions to global peacekeeping operations and nuclear security.’

The letter is also notable for what it leaves out, namely any mention of the Armenian Genocide, the issue that the President so very prominently used to secure Armenian American votes in 2008, but that he quickly abandoned once elected,” ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian said.

“It also does not reference the President's signature Armenian initiative in office, the Turkish-Armenian Protocols. Looking back, it's clear that the President, having secured Armenia's backing for these recklessly flawed (and now demonstrably failed) accords in the first months of his first term, never held Ankara to account for walking away from its agreement to end its illegal blockade of Armenia.

Also, no mention of Artsakh, which, in the context of Azerbaijan's April offensive, represents a missed opportunity to challenge Baku's aggression and press the case for peace. This silence sends a dangerous signal to the Aliyev regime.

Ironic that President Obama's staff, in another context, used the phrase: ‘We remain committed to the promise of those early years,’ words that can very well refer to his own unfulfilled pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide.”