Speaking at a press conference at the Glendale Hilton on Friday, US Ambassador to Armenia Marrie L. Yovanovitch dodged the Armenian Genocide issue, deferring to President Obama's April 24 statement as US policy. In response to questions from Asbarez English editor Ara Khachatourian, Yovanovitch said the President's statement reflected Washington's policy.

In his April 24 address, Obama refrained from using the term Genocide and referred to 1915 atrocities as "Mets Yeghern". During his pre-election campaign Obama had many times promised to recognize Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire in case of being elected as US President.