Tweet
US Official News
May 9, 2014 Friday
Washington: HON. STEVE CHABOT OF OHIO IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014
Washington
The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the following Speech:
Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw the attention of my
colleagues to a statement made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdog 0an in which he noted the importance of April 24th to Armenian
communities around the world, and expressed his condolences to the
descendants of those Armenians who died in the violence nearly a
century ago. The Prime Minister renewed Turkey's offer to participate
in a joint historical commission, where Turkish, Armenian, and
international scholars would come together to document those terrible
events.
In his weekly parliamentary address to his party's legislators on
April 23rd, Prime Minister Erdog 0an stated Turkey's willingness to
``confront'' the historical events, and again called upon Armenia and
the Armenian diaspora to join this effort.
I believe a process in which both parties are active participants will
enable Turkey and Armenia to resolve many of the issues of conflict
between them, and will allow them to move deeper into the 21st Century
while building a constructive relationship, as neighbors should.
I hope my colleagues will join me in encouraging all parties to engage
in the process.
The statement issued by Prime Minister Erdog 0an follows:
The Message of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, Recep
Tayyip Erdog 0an On the Events of 1915.
The 24th of April carries a particular significance for our Armenian
citizens and for all Armenians around the world, and provides a
valuable opportunity to share opinions freely on a historical matter.
It is indisputable that the last years of the Ottoman Empire were a
difficult period, full of suffering for Turkish, Kurdish, Arab,
Armenian and millions of other Ottoman citizens, regardless of their
religion or ethnic origin.
Any conscientious, fair and humanistic approach to these issues
requires an understanding of all the sufferings endured in this
period, without discriminating as to religion or ethnicity.
Certainly, neither constructing hierarchies of pain nor comparing and
contrasting suffering carries any meaning for those who experienced
this pain themselves.
As a Turkish proverb goes, ``fire burns the place where it falls.''
It is a duty of humanity to acknowledge that Armenians remember the
suffering experienced in that period, just like every other citizen of
the Ottoman Empire.
In Turkey, expressing different opinions and thoughts freely on the
events of 1915 is the requirement of a pluralistic perspective as well
as of a culture of democracy and modernity.
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 better understand historical issues
with their legal aspects and to transform resentment to friendship
again, it is natural to approach different discourses with empathy and
tolerance and expect a similar attitude from all sides.
The Republic of Turkey will continue to approach every idea with
dignity in line with the universal values of law.
Nevertheless, using the events of 1915 as an excuse for hostility
against Turkey and turning this issue into a matter of political
conflict is inadmissible.
The incidents of the First World War are our shared pain. To evaluate
this painful period of history through a perspective of just memory is
a humane and scholarly responsibility.
Millions of people of all religions and ethnicities lost their lives
in the First World War. Having experienced events which had inhumane
consequences--such as relocation--during the First World War, should
not prevent Turks and Armenians from establishing compassion and
mutually humane attitudes among towards one another.
In today's world, deriving enmity from history and creating new
antagonisms are neither acceptable nor useful for building a common
future.
The spirit of the age necessitates dialogue despite differences,
understanding by heeding others, evaluating means for compromise,
denouncing hatred, and praising respect and tolerance.
With this understanding, we, as the Turkish Republic, have called for
the establishment of a joint historical commission in order to study
the events of 1915 in a scholarly manner. This call remains valid.
Scholarly research to be carried out by Turkish, Armenian and
international historians would play a significant role in shedding
light on the events of 1915 and an accurate understanding of history.
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.
Looking to the future with confidence, Turkey has always supported
scholarly and comprehensive studies for an accurate understanding of
history. The people of Anatolia, who lived together for centuries
regardless of their different ethnic and religious origins, have
established common values in every field from art to diplomacy, from
state administration to commerce. Today they continue to have the same
ability to create a new future.
In is our hope and belief that the peoples of an ancient and unique
geography, who share similar customs and manners will be able to talk
to each other about the past with maturity and to remember together
their losses in a decent manner. And it is with this hope and belief
that we wish that the Armenians who lost their lives in the context of
the early twentieth century rest in peace, and we convey our
condolences to their grandchildren.
Regardless of their ethnic or religious origins, we pay tribute, with
compassion and respect, to all Ottoman citizens who lost their lives
in the same period and under similar conditions.
For more information please visit: http://thomas.loc.gov/
May 9, 2014 Friday
Washington: HON. STEVE CHABOT OF OHIO IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014
Washington
The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the following Speech:
Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw the attention of my
colleagues to a statement made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdog 0an in which he noted the importance of April 24th to Armenian
communities around the world, and expressed his condolences to the
descendants of those Armenians who died in the violence nearly a
century ago. The Prime Minister renewed Turkey's offer to participate
in a joint historical commission, where Turkish, Armenian, and
international scholars would come together to document those terrible
events.
In his weekly parliamentary address to his party's legislators on
April 23rd, Prime Minister Erdog 0an stated Turkey's willingness to
``confront'' the historical events, and again called upon Armenia and
the Armenian diaspora to join this effort.
I believe a process in which both parties are active participants will
enable Turkey and Armenia to resolve many of the issues of conflict
between them, and will allow them to move deeper into the 21st Century
while building a constructive relationship, as neighbors should.
I hope my colleagues will join me in encouraging all parties to engage
in the process.
The statement issued by Prime Minister Erdog 0an follows:
The Message of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, Recep
Tayyip Erdog 0an On the Events of 1915.
The 24th of April carries a particular significance for our Armenian
citizens and for all Armenians around the world, and provides a
valuable opportunity to share opinions freely on a historical matter.
It is indisputable that the last years of the Ottoman Empire were a
difficult period, full of suffering for Turkish, Kurdish, Arab,
Armenian and millions of other Ottoman citizens, regardless of their
religion or ethnic origin.
Any conscientious, fair and humanistic approach to these issues
requires an understanding of all the sufferings endured in this
period, without discriminating as to religion or ethnicity.
Certainly, neither constructing hierarchies of pain nor comparing and
contrasting suffering carries any meaning for those who experienced
this pain themselves.
As a Turkish proverb goes, ``fire burns the place where it falls.''
It is a duty of humanity to acknowledge that Armenians remember the
suffering experienced in that period, just like every other citizen of
the Ottoman Empire.
In Turkey, expressing different opinions and thoughts freely on the
events of 1915 is the requirement of a pluralistic perspective as well
as of a culture of democracy and modernity.
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 better understand historical issues
with their legal aspects and to transform resentment to friendship
again, it is natural to approach different discourses with empathy and
tolerance and expect a similar attitude from all sides.
The Republic of Turkey will continue to approach every idea with
dignity in line with the universal values of law.
Nevertheless, using the events of 1915 as an excuse for hostility
against Turkey and turning this issue into a matter of political
conflict is inadmissible.
The incidents of the First World War are our shared pain. To evaluate
this painful period of history through a perspective of just memory is
a humane and scholarly responsibility.
Millions of people of all religions and ethnicities lost their lives
in the First World War. Having experienced events which had inhumane
consequences--such as relocation--during the First World War, should
not prevent Turks and Armenians from establishing compassion and
mutually humane attitudes among towards one another.
In today's world, deriving enmity from history and creating new
antagonisms are neither acceptable nor useful for building a common
future.
The spirit of the age necessitates dialogue despite differences,
understanding by heeding others, evaluating means for compromise,
denouncing hatred, and praising respect and tolerance.
With this understanding, we, as the Turkish Republic, have called for
the establishment of a joint historical commission in order to study
the events of 1915 in a scholarly manner. This call remains valid.
Scholarly research to be carried out by Turkish, Armenian and
international historians would play a significant role in shedding
light on the events of 1915 and an accurate understanding of history.
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.
Looking to the future with confidence, Turkey has always supported
scholarly and comprehensive studies for an accurate understanding of
history. The people of Anatolia, who lived together for centuries
regardless of their different ethnic and religious origins, have
established common values in every field from art to diplomacy, from
state administration to commerce. Today they continue to have the same
ability to create a new future.
In is our hope and belief that the peoples of an ancient and unique
geography, who share similar customs and manners will be able to talk
to each other about the past with maturity and to remember together
their losses in a decent manner. And it is with this hope and belief
that we wish that the Armenians who lost their lives in the context of
the early twentieth century rest in peace, and we convey our
condolences to their grandchildren.
Regardless of their ethnic or religious origins, we pay tribute, with
compassion and respect, to all Ottoman citizens who lost their lives
in the same period and under similar conditions.
For more information please visit: http://thomas.loc.gov/