Recep Tayyip Erdogan marks annual commemoration of events of 1915 with message to Armenian community
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday
commemorated the lives of Armenians lost in 1915.
In a statement that was read out by the head of
the Armenian church in Turkey at an Istanbul ceremony to remember those who
died in eastern Anatolia in the early years of World War I, Erdogan paid
tribute to those gathering to mark the “tragic conditions” of the war.
“I welcome this commemoration which is taking
place once again in Turkey, the most meaningful place to share the grief
endured by the Ottoman Armenians, as well as to honor their memories,” he said.
“In the lands of Anatolia, where humanitarian
duties are never neglected and happiness and grief are sincerely shared, the
sense of conscience and justice are held above all.”
The annual commemoration marks the deaths of
Armenians in 1915, when some sided with the invading Russians and revolted. A
subsequent relocation of Armenians resulted in numerous casualties.
Turkey rejects labeling the deaths as genocide
and has called for the establishment of a joint commission of historians to
study the episode.
Erdogan said the near 1,000-year-old “culture of
cohabitation between Turks and Armenians” would always be remembered.
“We will never give up working for amity and
peace against those who try to politicize history through a bitter rhetoric of
hate and enmity and strive to alienate the two neighboring nations, who are
bound with their common history and their similar traditions,” he added in the
statement, read by Patriarch Aram Atesyan.
“With this in mind, I once again commemorate the
Ottoman Armenians who passed away and extend my condolences to their children
and grandchildren.”
The president went on the pay tribute to all
Ottoman citizens “regardless of their ethnic or religious origins” who lost
their lives. “I would like to reiterate that we share this common pain,” he
said.
The
Armenian language transcript of Erdogan's statement:
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