TURKISH PM OFFERS FIRST CONDOLENCES FOR ARMENIAN MASSACRE
Straits Times, Singapore
April 23 2014
Published on Apr 24, 2014 6:55 AM
11 28 0 0 PRINT EMAIL
Armenians take part in a gathering to commemorate the 99th anniversary
of the Ottoman Turkish genocide against the Armenian people, in the
Lebanese capital Beirut on April 23, 2014. Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan offered condolences over the massacre of Armenians
almost 100 years ago, describing the events of World War I as "our
shared pain". -- PHOTO: AFP
ANKARA (AFP) - Turkey's Prime Minister offered his condolences on
Wednesday, April 23, 2014, over the massacre of Armenians during World
War I, calling it "our shared pain", the country's most significant
overture yet over the deeply divisive episode.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement, on the eve of the
99th anniversary of the start of mass deportations of Armenians in
1915, is the first such overt comment by a Turkish leader over the
killings, considered by many as the first genocide of the 20th century.
He acknowledged that the events of 1915 had "inhumane consequences"
but also said it was "inadmissable" for them to be used as an excuse
today for hostility against Turkey.
"The incidents of the First World War are our shared pain," said Mr
Erdogan in what Turkish media described as an unexpected statement
that was issued in several languages, including Armenian.
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/world/middle-east/story/turkish-pm-offers-first-condolences-armenian-massacre-20140424
Straits Times, Singapore
April 23 2014
Published on Apr 24, 2014 6:55 AM
11 28 0 0 PRINT EMAIL
Armenians take part in a gathering to commemorate the 99th anniversary
of the Ottoman Turkish genocide against the Armenian people, in the
Lebanese capital Beirut on April 23, 2014. Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan offered condolences over the massacre of Armenians
almost 100 years ago, describing the events of World War I as "our
shared pain". -- PHOTO: AFP
ANKARA (AFP) - Turkey's Prime Minister offered his condolences on
Wednesday, April 23, 2014, over the massacre of Armenians during World
War I, calling it "our shared pain", the country's most significant
overture yet over the deeply divisive episode.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement, on the eve of the
99th anniversary of the start of mass deportations of Armenians in
1915, is the first such overt comment by a Turkish leader over the
killings, considered by many as the first genocide of the 20th century.
He acknowledged that the events of 1915 had "inhumane consequences"
but also said it was "inadmissable" for them to be used as an excuse
today for hostility against Turkey.
"The incidents of the First World War are our shared pain," said Mr
Erdogan in what Turkish media described as an unexpected statement
that was issued in several languages, including Armenian.
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/world/middle-east/story/turkish-pm-offers-first-condolences-armenian-massacre-20140424