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Glendale News Press
April 24 2014
Local Armenian-American leaders say Turkish Prime Minister's statement
falls short
April 23, 2014
Leaders of the Armenian community in Glendale said a statement by the
Turkish Prime Minister on Wednesday offering his condolences to
descendants of Armenians massacred by the Ottoman Empire nearly a
century ago fell short because the country continues to refuse to
characterize the deaths as a genocide.
The statements by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan come as
Armenian-Americans in Glendale prepare to host a variety of events
commemorating the genocide of about 1.5 million people.
Events include a candlelight vigil Wednesday night near the Civic
Auditorium and an evening of song, dance and speeches on Thursday
evening at the Alex Theatre.
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"We do not see this as being something that is an adequate and
appropriate acceptance of responsibility for the international crime
that had been committed," said Berdj Karapetian, chairman of the
Glendale chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America.
He added that the condolences, which characterized the inhumane acts
during World War I as a shared pain, whitewashed over the ethnic
cleansing.
The United States also has yet to describe the massacres as a
genocide, although many local governments across the country, such as
Glendale, have done so.
Erdogan also said in his statement that past events with "inhumane
consequences" should not prevent Armenians and Turks from
"establishing compassion and mutually humane attitudes towards one
another."
Mayor Zareh Sinanyan called the statement weak and indirect.
"I think his statement is evasive and insincere. It's not the
condolences Armenians expect from the leader of the Republic of
Turkey," Sinanyan said, adding that, in his mind, the statement was
meant to stymie the significance of genocide-related commemorative
events that take place around the world on April 24.
Sinanyan, like others, said that an apology and a showing of remorse
is necessary for healing.
"There has got to be meaningful action," he said.
Meanwhile, according to the Los Angeles Times, Turkish scholars called
the statement historic because of its conciliatory tone.
http://articles.glendalenewspress.com/2014-04-23/news/tn-gnp-me-local-armenianamerican-leaders-say-turkish-prime-ministers-statement-falls-short-20140423_1_armenians-and-turks-armenian-genocide-turkish-prime-minister
April 24 2014
Local Armenian-American leaders say Turkish Prime Minister's statement
falls short
April 23, 2014
Leaders of the Armenian community in Glendale said a statement by the
Turkish Prime Minister on Wednesday offering his condolences to
descendants of Armenians massacred by the Ottoman Empire nearly a
century ago fell short because the country continues to refuse to
characterize the deaths as a genocide.
The statements by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan come as
Armenian-Americans in Glendale prepare to host a variety of events
commemorating the genocide of about 1.5 million people.
Events include a candlelight vigil Wednesday night near the Civic
Auditorium and an evening of song, dance and speeches on Thursday
evening at the Alex Theatre.
Advertisement
"We do not see this as being something that is an adequate and
appropriate acceptance of responsibility for the international crime
that had been committed," said Berdj Karapetian, chairman of the
Glendale chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America.
He added that the condolences, which characterized the inhumane acts
during World War I as a shared pain, whitewashed over the ethnic
cleansing.
The United States also has yet to describe the massacres as a
genocide, although many local governments across the country, such as
Glendale, have done so.
Erdogan also said in his statement that past events with "inhumane
consequences" should not prevent Armenians and Turks from
"establishing compassion and mutually humane attitudes towards one
another."
Mayor Zareh Sinanyan called the statement weak and indirect.
"I think his statement is evasive and insincere. It's not the
condolences Armenians expect from the leader of the Republic of
Turkey," Sinanyan said, adding that, in his mind, the statement was
meant to stymie the significance of genocide-related commemorative
events that take place around the world on April 24.
Sinanyan, like others, said that an apology and a showing of remorse
is necessary for healing.
"There has got to be meaningful action," he said.
Meanwhile, according to the Los Angeles Times, Turkish scholars called
the statement historic because of its conciliatory tone.
http://articles.glendalenewspress.com/2014-04-23/news/tn-gnp-me-local-armenianamerican-leaders-say-turkish-prime-ministers-statement-falls-short-20140423_1_armenians-and-turks-armenian-genocide-turkish-prime-minister