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Deutsche Welle, Germany
April 12 2015
Pope describes Armenian killings as 'genocide' on 100th anniversary
On the 100th anniversary of the slaughter of Armenians, Pope Francis
has described the mass killing by the Ottoman Empire as "the first
genocide of the 20th century." The move could strain diplomatic ties
with Turkey.
Pope Francis addressed the systematic killing, which took place a
century ago, during a mass in Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on
Sunday. Also attending the mass, which included elements of the
Armenian Catholic rite, was Armenian patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX
Tarmouni and the country's President Serzh Sargsyan.
"In the past century our human family has lived through three massive
and unprecedented tragedies. The first, which is widely considered
'the first genocide of the 20th century', struck your own Armenian
people," the pontiff said, citing a 2000 statement signed by late
pontiff John Paul II and the Armenian patriarch.
In the joint statement 15 years ago, Pope John Paul II said "the
Armenian genocide, which began the century, was a prologue to horrors
that would follow."
"We recall the centenary of that tragic event, that immense and
senseless slaughter whose cruelty your forebears had to endure,"
Francis said on Sunday.
"It is necessary, and indeed a duty, to honor their memory, for
whenever memory fades, it means that evil allows wounds to fester," he
added.
Strained relations
The pope's use of the word "genocide" will likely test diplomatic
relations with Turkey, however, and could risk alienating an important
ally in the fight against radical Islam.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were killed between 1915
and 1917 as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart. In Armenia, the
killings are known as "Metz Yeghern," meaning "Great Evil."
Turkey, however, has long has long denied that the deaths constituted
genocide, arguing that 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians and as many Turks
were killed in clashes during the First World War when Armenians rose
up against their Ottoman rulers and sided with invading Russian
troops.
'Inhumane consequences'
In 2014, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered
unexpected condolences to Armenians for the imposed deportation of
their ancestors, which he described as having "inhumane consequences."
At the same time, however, Erdogan made it clear that while modern
Turkey tolerated the genocide accusations, the country did not share
them.
The mass on Sunday was held ahead of the official commemoration of the
murders which will take place on April 24.
ksb/jr (AFP, AP)
http://www.dw.de/pope-describes-armenian-killings-as-genocide-on-100th-anniversary/a-18376358
From: A. Papazian
April 12 2015
Pope describes Armenian killings as 'genocide' on 100th anniversary
On the 100th anniversary of the slaughter of Armenians, Pope Francis
has described the mass killing by the Ottoman Empire as "the first
genocide of the 20th century." The move could strain diplomatic ties
with Turkey.
Pope Francis addressed the systematic killing, which took place a
century ago, during a mass in Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on
Sunday. Also attending the mass, which included elements of the
Armenian Catholic rite, was Armenian patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX
Tarmouni and the country's President Serzh Sargsyan.
"In the past century our human family has lived through three massive
and unprecedented tragedies. The first, which is widely considered
'the first genocide of the 20th century', struck your own Armenian
people," the pontiff said, citing a 2000 statement signed by late
pontiff John Paul II and the Armenian patriarch.
In the joint statement 15 years ago, Pope John Paul II said "the
Armenian genocide, which began the century, was a prologue to horrors
that would follow."
"We recall the centenary of that tragic event, that immense and
senseless slaughter whose cruelty your forebears had to endure,"
Francis said on Sunday.
"It is necessary, and indeed a duty, to honor their memory, for
whenever memory fades, it means that evil allows wounds to fester," he
added.
Strained relations
The pope's use of the word "genocide" will likely test diplomatic
relations with Turkey, however, and could risk alienating an important
ally in the fight against radical Islam.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were killed between 1915
and 1917 as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart. In Armenia, the
killings are known as "Metz Yeghern," meaning "Great Evil."
Turkey, however, has long has long denied that the deaths constituted
genocide, arguing that 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians and as many Turks
were killed in clashes during the First World War when Armenians rose
up against their Ottoman rulers and sided with invading Russian
troops.
'Inhumane consequences'
In 2014, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered
unexpected condolences to Armenians for the imposed deportation of
their ancestors, which he described as having "inhumane consequences."
At the same time, however, Erdogan made it clear that while modern
Turkey tolerated the genocide accusations, the country did not share
them.
The mass on Sunday was held ahead of the official commemoration of the
murders which will take place on April 24.
ksb/jr (AFP, AP)
http://www.dw.de/pope-describes-armenian-killings-as-genocide-on-100th-anniversary/a-18376358
From: A. Papazian