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TURKISH PM PAYS TRIBUTE TO PEOPLE WHO DIED IN 1915
Turkish Press
April 24 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
We convey our condolences to the grandchildren of Armenians who lost
their lives, says Erdogan
ANKARA - Regardless of their ethnic or religious origins, we pay
tribute, with compassion and respect, to all Ottoman citizens who
lost their lives in the events of 1915, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan has said in a written statement.
Erdogan released the message on Wednesday ahead of the anniversary of
the events of 1915, which led to an unknown number of people dying
in civil strife after the Ottoman Empire approved a deportation law
for Armenians in April 24 of that year.
The unrest came after Armenians, aided by the invading Russian army
during the First World War, held an uprising following the law's
approval.
Erdogan said: "Armenians who lost their lives in the events in the
early twentieth century rest in peace, and we convey our condolences
to their grandchildren."
"In Turkey, expressing different opinions and thoughts freely on the
events of 1915 is the requirement of a pluralistic society as well
as of a culture of democracy and modernity," said Erdogan in the
statement released in Turkish, English, French, Armenian and several
other languages.
Erdogan said that any conscientious, fair and humane approach to the
Armenian issue was required in order to bring forth an understanding
of all the suffering experienced during the period, regardless of
religion or ethnicity.
- 'Climate of freedom'
Erdogan stated that Turkey was open to reconsidering its approach to
the issue, and added: "Some may perceive this climate of freedom in
Turkey as an opportunity to express accusatory, offensive and even
provocative assertions and allegations."
"Even so, if this will enable us to understand historical issues with
their actual aspects and to transform resentment to friendship again,
we will consider different discourses with empathy and tolerance and
expect a similar attitude from all sides."
Erdogan also called for Turkish and Armenian societies not to derive
enmity from history and create new antagonisms.
"The spirit of the age necessitates dialogue despite differences,
understanding by heeding others, evaluating the means for compromise,
denouncing hatred, and praising respect and tolerance."
"It is with this understanding that we have opened our archives to
all researchers. Today, hundreds of thousands of documents in our
archives are at the service of historians," he said.
The Armenian diaspora and the state of Armenia term the incidents as
"genocide" and ask for compensation, whereas Turkey says that, while
Armenians died during the deportation, many Turks also died due to
the attacks by Armenian gangs all across Anatolia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Turkish Press
April 24 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
We convey our condolences to the grandchildren of Armenians who lost
their lives, says Erdogan
ANKARA - Regardless of their ethnic or religious origins, we pay
tribute, with compassion and respect, to all Ottoman citizens who
lost their lives in the events of 1915, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan has said in a written statement.
Erdogan released the message on Wednesday ahead of the anniversary of
the events of 1915, which led to an unknown number of people dying
in civil strife after the Ottoman Empire approved a deportation law
for Armenians in April 24 of that year.
The unrest came after Armenians, aided by the invading Russian army
during the First World War, held an uprising following the law's
approval.
Erdogan said: "Armenians who lost their lives in the events in the
early twentieth century rest in peace, and we convey our condolences
to their grandchildren."
"In Turkey, expressing different opinions and thoughts freely on the
events of 1915 is the requirement of a pluralistic society as well
as of a culture of democracy and modernity," said Erdogan in the
statement released in Turkish, English, French, Armenian and several
other languages.
Erdogan said that any conscientious, fair and humane approach to the
Armenian issue was required in order to bring forth an understanding
of all the suffering experienced during the period, regardless of
religion or ethnicity.
- 'Climate of freedom'
Erdogan stated that Turkey was open to reconsidering its approach to
the issue, and added: "Some may perceive this climate of freedom in
Turkey as an opportunity to express accusatory, offensive and even
provocative assertions and allegations."
"Even so, if this will enable us to understand historical issues with
their actual aspects and to transform resentment to friendship again,
we will consider different discourses with empathy and tolerance and
expect a similar attitude from all sides."
Erdogan also called for Turkish and Armenian societies not to derive
enmity from history and create new antagonisms.
"The spirit of the age necessitates dialogue despite differences,
understanding by heeding others, evaluating the means for compromise,
denouncing hatred, and praising respect and tolerance."
"It is with this understanding that we have opened our archives to
all researchers. Today, hundreds of thousands of documents in our
archives are at the service of historians," he said.
The Armenian diaspora and the state of Armenia term the incidents as
"genocide" and ask for compensation, whereas Turkey says that, while
Armenians died during the deportation, many Turks also died due to
the attacks by Armenian gangs all across Anatolia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress