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Journal of Turkish Weekly
April 24 2014
'Amen,' says Armenian Patriarchate over PM's 1915 message
24 April 2014
Turkey's Armenian Patriarchate has welcomed Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip ErdoÄ?an's message on the Armenian issue, saying `amen' to his
wish of condolences to the descendants of the Armenians.
In a statement, the patriarchate said the message from the prime
minister provides a `cornerstone for a bridge between the Turkish and
Armenian communities.' It said the message could turn a new page in
Turkish-Armenian ties, and with regard to Muslim and non-Muslim
Ottoman citizens' bitter memories from World War I.
In one part of his message, ErdoÄ?an had stated: `Millions of people of
all religions and ethnicities lost their lives in World War I. Having
experienced events that had inhumane consequences ` such as relocation
` during World War I, should not prevent Turks and Armenians from
establishing compassion and mutually humane attitudes between each
another.'
The Armenian Patriarchate said the message had the characteristics of
encouraging both communities in taking positive steps. `We said `amen'
to the prime minister's wish for resting in peace to the Armenians who
lost their lives and accept the condolences with love,' the statement
said.
On the other hand, Armenian President Serzh Sargsian yesterday accused
Turkey of `utter denial' in failing to recognize the World War I mass
killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide.
In a statement marking the 99th anniversary of the start of the
killings and mass deportations, Sargsian made no acknowledgement of
ErdoÄ?an's move and instead accused Turkey of continuing to ignore the
facts.
`The Armenian genocide ... is alive as far as the successor of Ottoman
Turkey continues its policy of utter denial. The denial of a crime
constitutes the direct continuation of that very crime. Only
recognition and condemnation can prevent the repetition of such crimes
in the future,' he said.
He said the looming 100th anniversary offered `Turkey a good chance to
repent and set aside the historical stigma in case they make efforts
to set free their state's future from this heavy burden.'
However, Sargisian also stressed that the events of 1915 `should not
prevent Turks and Armenians from establishing compassion and mutually
humane attitudes towards one another.'
Armenian Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan urged Turkey to recognize
the genocide. `Our task is not only to restore our rights, but also to
prevent a recurrence of such crimes.'
Meanwhile, U.S. Department of State spokeswoman Jen Psaki said
Washington welcomed ErdoÄ?an's `historic public acknowledgement of the
suffering that Armenians experienced in 1915.'
Yesterday was a day of national mourning in Armenia and requiem masses
were held in churches across the country, marking the 99th anniversary
of the massacres.
All national television channels ran live broadcasts of the annual
ceremony, which saw thousands of Armenians gathering at a hilltop
memorial above Yerevan to lay flowers at the eternal flame.
April 24 2014
'Amen,' says Armenian Patriarchate over PM's 1915 message
24 April 2014
Turkey's Armenian Patriarchate has welcomed Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip ErdoÄ?an's message on the Armenian issue, saying `amen' to his
wish of condolences to the descendants of the Armenians.
In a statement, the patriarchate said the message from the prime
minister provides a `cornerstone for a bridge between the Turkish and
Armenian communities.' It said the message could turn a new page in
Turkish-Armenian ties, and with regard to Muslim and non-Muslim
Ottoman citizens' bitter memories from World War I.
In one part of his message, ErdoÄ?an had stated: `Millions of people of
all religions and ethnicities lost their lives in World War I. Having
experienced events that had inhumane consequences ` such as relocation
` during World War I, should not prevent Turks and Armenians from
establishing compassion and mutually humane attitudes between each
another.'
The Armenian Patriarchate said the message had the characteristics of
encouraging both communities in taking positive steps. `We said `amen'
to the prime minister's wish for resting in peace to the Armenians who
lost their lives and accept the condolences with love,' the statement
said.
On the other hand, Armenian President Serzh Sargsian yesterday accused
Turkey of `utter denial' in failing to recognize the World War I mass
killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide.
In a statement marking the 99th anniversary of the start of the
killings and mass deportations, Sargsian made no acknowledgement of
ErdoÄ?an's move and instead accused Turkey of continuing to ignore the
facts.
`The Armenian genocide ... is alive as far as the successor of Ottoman
Turkey continues its policy of utter denial. The denial of a crime
constitutes the direct continuation of that very crime. Only
recognition and condemnation can prevent the repetition of such crimes
in the future,' he said.
He said the looming 100th anniversary offered `Turkey a good chance to
repent and set aside the historical stigma in case they make efforts
to set free their state's future from this heavy burden.'
However, Sargisian also stressed that the events of 1915 `should not
prevent Turks and Armenians from establishing compassion and mutually
humane attitudes towards one another.'
Armenian Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan urged Turkey to recognize
the genocide. `Our task is not only to restore our rights, but also to
prevent a recurrence of such crimes.'
Meanwhile, U.S. Department of State spokeswoman Jen Psaki said
Washington welcomed ErdoÄ?an's `historic public acknowledgement of the
suffering that Armenians experienced in 1915.'
Yesterday was a day of national mourning in Armenia and requiem masses
were held in churches across the country, marking the 99th anniversary
of the massacres.
All national television channels ran live broadcasts of the annual
ceremony, which saw thousands of Armenians gathering at a hilltop
memorial above Yerevan to lay flowers at the eternal flame.