Tweet
CROWDS GATHER IN US ON 99TH YEAR OF 1915 INCIDENTS
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
April 25 2014
25 April 2014 14:02 (Last updated 25 April 2014 15:27) Armenian and
Turkish crowds gather in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, California
on the 99th anniversary of the incidents of 1915.
WASHINGTON/CHICAGO/LOS ANGELES
Both Armenians and Turks held demonstrations on the 99th anniversary
of 1915 events during the First World War, in front of the Turkish
embassy in the U.S. capital Washington, D.C. on Thursday.
Turks displayed the Turkish flag and held banners, saying "Stop
Armenian terrorism", "Reconciliation, not accusation" and "History
cannot be rewritten with lies.", while Armenians also gathered and
held opposition banners saying "We want justice".
Thousands of Armenians also gathered in Los Angeles and California.
However, many Ahiska Turks came to Chicago from four different states
in the U.S. and gathered in front of the Turkish Consulate General in
Chicago to voice that Ahiska Turks were also killed during 1915 events.
The new Turkish Ambassador in Washington, D.C., Serdar Kilic, also
commended the Turkish people who displayed sensitivity against the
Armenians in their commemoration.
-The Anatolian Armenians in the U.S. "satisfied" with Erdogan's
condolences
On 23 April, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered
condolences to the grandchildren of Armenians, an unprecedented
message which has attracted a worldwide reaction and has been seen
as historic by many.
Besides the Armenians' protests, Anatolian Armenians who live in the
United States are satisfied with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's
condolences released on Wednesday.
Vago Mesrobian, who moved to the U.S. when he was 10, expressed his
opinion on the condolence message saying, "We do not want to stay
forever offended and resentful. Even though it was late, this message
is an important step and I am sure around 2 million Armenians think
like me over this conflict."
73-year-old Armenian Setrak Kirec, who has lived in the U.S. for
over 30 years, said "We must accept (Armenian community) Erdogan's
condolence. It is the first time the Turkish government has given
this kind of message, and that it is very important. I personally
would like to congratulate the Prime Minister in order to open a new
positive door to improve relations between the two communities."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry expressed his own thoughts on the
matter Thursday. "Thoughts and prayers are with Armenians today. PM
Erdogan's striking statement affirms global principles. #NeverForget,"
read a Tweet on his Twitter account.
The 1915 events took place during the First World War, when a portion
of the Armenian population living in the Ottoman Empire sided with
invading Russians and rose up against the Ottoman authority.
The uprisings were followed by a decision by the Ottoman Empire to
relocate the Armenians living in eastern Anatolia.
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
April 25 2014
25 April 2014 14:02 (Last updated 25 April 2014 15:27) Armenian and
Turkish crowds gather in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, California
on the 99th anniversary of the incidents of 1915.
WASHINGTON/CHICAGO/LOS ANGELES
Both Armenians and Turks held demonstrations on the 99th anniversary
of 1915 events during the First World War, in front of the Turkish
embassy in the U.S. capital Washington, D.C. on Thursday.
Turks displayed the Turkish flag and held banners, saying "Stop
Armenian terrorism", "Reconciliation, not accusation" and "History
cannot be rewritten with lies.", while Armenians also gathered and
held opposition banners saying "We want justice".
Thousands of Armenians also gathered in Los Angeles and California.
However, many Ahiska Turks came to Chicago from four different states
in the U.S. and gathered in front of the Turkish Consulate General in
Chicago to voice that Ahiska Turks were also killed during 1915 events.
The new Turkish Ambassador in Washington, D.C., Serdar Kilic, also
commended the Turkish people who displayed sensitivity against the
Armenians in their commemoration.
-The Anatolian Armenians in the U.S. "satisfied" with Erdogan's
condolences
On 23 April, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered
condolences to the grandchildren of Armenians, an unprecedented
message which has attracted a worldwide reaction and has been seen
as historic by many.
Besides the Armenians' protests, Anatolian Armenians who live in the
United States are satisfied with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's
condolences released on Wednesday.
Vago Mesrobian, who moved to the U.S. when he was 10, expressed his
opinion on the condolence message saying, "We do not want to stay
forever offended and resentful. Even though it was late, this message
is an important step and I am sure around 2 million Armenians think
like me over this conflict."
73-year-old Armenian Setrak Kirec, who has lived in the U.S. for
over 30 years, said "We must accept (Armenian community) Erdogan's
condolence. It is the first time the Turkish government has given
this kind of message, and that it is very important. I personally
would like to congratulate the Prime Minister in order to open a new
positive door to improve relations between the two communities."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry expressed his own thoughts on the
matter Thursday. "Thoughts and prayers are with Armenians today. PM
Erdogan's striking statement affirms global principles. #NeverForget,"
read a Tweet on his Twitter account.
The 1915 events took place during the First World War, when a portion
of the Armenian population living in the Ottoman Empire sided with
invading Russians and rose up against the Ottoman authority.
The uprisings were followed by a decision by the Ottoman Empire to
relocate the Armenians living in eastern Anatolia.