Responses to Secretary Clinton's "private" visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial fell into two general categories, according to Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“The first, which appears limited to the "quick to accommodate anything crowd," measures the visit against the floor set by the Turkish government's denial campaign, and, of course, against this hateful set of lies, any step by a third party, however token or inadequate, is welcomed as progress,” he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

“The second, which I sense represents the pulse of our community, measures this visit against the higher standard of American ideals, Armenian dignity, and the repeated pledges by the Secretary and the President to live up to the principles of truth, fairness, and justice. Against this higher standard, the Secretary fell short not only of our commonly held core values but also - and this is important - failed to live up to her very own public commitments. Once again: She betrayed her promise, not simply our expectations. This critical distinction is well understood, to be sure, by the Secretary and the President. Armenians - whether in America, in Armenia, or elsewhere throughout the world - are under no obligation - moral or diplomatic or otherwise - to ignore this glaring reality,” he said.

“The first approach will, as they say, "slow dance" us to hell, trapping us, as it does, into endlessly applauding a never-ending series of half-measures meant not to mark progress, but rather to substitute for the very action - Armenian Genocide recognition - that the President and Secretary so vigorously committed to undertake,” Mr. Hamparian concluded.