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TURKEY CALLS WWI ARMENIAN KILLINGS 'SHARED PAIN'
The Tribune,
April 23 2014
By SUZAN FRASER
Associated PressApril 23, 2014
ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on
Wednesday offered an unprecedented, conciliatory message to Armenians
on the eve of the anniversary of the massacre of Armenians almost a
century ago.
Erdogan called the events of World War I "our shared pain" and
acknowledged that the deportation of Armenians in 1915 had "inhumane
consequences."
Erdogan released a statement in Turkish, Armenian and seven other
languages, expressing hope that those killed are in peace and offering
Turkey's condolences to their descendants. The message came a day
before Armenians mark the 99th anniversary of the killings in 1915
by Ottoman Turks.
The episode is considered by many historians as the first genocide of
the 20th century. They estimate that about 1.5 million Armenians died.
Turkey rejects the term genocide, saying those figures are inflated
and there were deaths on both sides as the Ottoman Empire collapsed.
Erdogan, in his message, acknowledged that the deportations had dire
consequences, but did not use the term "genocide." He said millions
of people "of all religions and ethnicities" lost their lives during
the war.
"The incidents of the First World War are our shared pain," Erdogan's
message read.
The Armenian National Committee of America dismissed Erdogan's
statement as "simply 99 years of genocide denial repackaged."
"Mr. Erdogan's statement ... is a patently transparent attempt
to mute international condemnation and calls for justice for the
centrally planned and systematically executed campaign of murder and
deportation," the group said.
Erdogan said the events should not prevent "Turks and Armenians
from establishing compassion and mutually humane attitudes toward
one another."
"Using the events of 1915 as an excuse for hostility against Turkey
and turning this issue into a matter of political conflict is
inadmissible," Erdogan said.
Erdogan also renewed a Turkish proposal for a joint study of the
events involving scholars from both nations.
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2014/04/23/3033126/turkey-calls-wwi-armenian-killings.html
The Tribune,
April 23 2014
By SUZAN FRASER
Associated PressApril 23, 2014
ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on
Wednesday offered an unprecedented, conciliatory message to Armenians
on the eve of the anniversary of the massacre of Armenians almost a
century ago.
Erdogan called the events of World War I "our shared pain" and
acknowledged that the deportation of Armenians in 1915 had "inhumane
consequences."
Erdogan released a statement in Turkish, Armenian and seven other
languages, expressing hope that those killed are in peace and offering
Turkey's condolences to their descendants. The message came a day
before Armenians mark the 99th anniversary of the killings in 1915
by Ottoman Turks.
The episode is considered by many historians as the first genocide of
the 20th century. They estimate that about 1.5 million Armenians died.
Turkey rejects the term genocide, saying those figures are inflated
and there were deaths on both sides as the Ottoman Empire collapsed.
Erdogan, in his message, acknowledged that the deportations had dire
consequences, but did not use the term "genocide." He said millions
of people "of all religions and ethnicities" lost their lives during
the war.
"The incidents of the First World War are our shared pain," Erdogan's
message read.
The Armenian National Committee of America dismissed Erdogan's
statement as "simply 99 years of genocide denial repackaged."
"Mr. Erdogan's statement ... is a patently transparent attempt
to mute international condemnation and calls for justice for the
centrally planned and systematically executed campaign of murder and
deportation," the group said.
Erdogan said the events should not prevent "Turks and Armenians
from establishing compassion and mutually humane attitudes toward
one another."
"Using the events of 1915 as an excuse for hostility against Turkey
and turning this issue into a matter of political conflict is
inadmissible," Erdogan said.
Erdogan also renewed a Turkish proposal for a joint study of the
events involving scholars from both nations.
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2014/04/23/3033126/turkey-calls-wwi-armenian-killings.html