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VATICAN DOES NOT 'SEEK POLEMIC' OVER 1915 INCIDENTS
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
April 15 2015
15 April 2015 20:48 (Last updated 15 April 2015 20:49)
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi's comments follow Pope
Francis' controversial statement over 1915 incidents in Turkey
VATICAN CITY
The Vatican has taken note of Turkey's reaction to Pope Francis'
statement over the1915 incidents and has no intention of creating a
polemic, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said Wednesday.
Last Sunday, Pope Francis called the 1915 events that affected
Armenians "the first genocide of the 20th century," which led Turkey
to recall its ambassador to the Vatican and also summon the Vatican
envoy in Ankara.
"The pope's speech was very clear. He quoted a declaration signed
by Pope John Paul II and Kerekin II (in 2001), and used the word
'genocide' in that context," Lombardi told a press conference
Wednesday, adding that there was no need to make further statements
about this issue.
"But, we will note any objections from the Turkish side. We have
never sought to create a polemic," he said.
He also said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's call for
a joint history commission was an "interesting and meaningful offer."
When reporters pointed out that Erdogan's suggestion was not new,
Lombardi said that Turkey's long denial of genocide was not new either,
adding that Turkey was free to protest the pope's words.
"We would like to prevent any and all polemics," he stressed.
The 1915 events took place during World War I when a portion of
the Armenian population living in the Ottoman Empire sided with the
invading Russians and revolted against the empire.
The Ottoman Empire relocated Armenians in eastern Anatolia following
the revolts and there were Armenian casualties during the process.
Armenia has demanded an apology and compensation, while Turkey has
officially refuted Armenian allegations over the incidents saying that,
although Armenians died during the relocations, many Turks also lost
their lives in attacks carried out by Armenian gangs in Anatolia
http://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/494330--vatican-does-not-seek-polemic-over-1915-incidents
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
April 15 2015
15 April 2015 20:48 (Last updated 15 April 2015 20:49)
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi's comments follow Pope
Francis' controversial statement over 1915 incidents in Turkey
VATICAN CITY
The Vatican has taken note of Turkey's reaction to Pope Francis'
statement over the1915 incidents and has no intention of creating a
polemic, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said Wednesday.
Last Sunday, Pope Francis called the 1915 events that affected
Armenians "the first genocide of the 20th century," which led Turkey
to recall its ambassador to the Vatican and also summon the Vatican
envoy in Ankara.
"The pope's speech was very clear. He quoted a declaration signed
by Pope John Paul II and Kerekin II (in 2001), and used the word
'genocide' in that context," Lombardi told a press conference
Wednesday, adding that there was no need to make further statements
about this issue.
"But, we will note any objections from the Turkish side. We have
never sought to create a polemic," he said.
He also said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's call for
a joint history commission was an "interesting and meaningful offer."
When reporters pointed out that Erdogan's suggestion was not new,
Lombardi said that Turkey's long denial of genocide was not new either,
adding that Turkey was free to protest the pope's words.
"We would like to prevent any and all polemics," he stressed.
The 1915 events took place during World War I when a portion of
the Armenian population living in the Ottoman Empire sided with the
invading Russians and revolted against the empire.
The Ottoman Empire relocated Armenians in eastern Anatolia following
the revolts and there were Armenian casualties during the process.
Armenia has demanded an apology and compensation, while Turkey has
officially refuted Armenian allegations over the incidents saying that,
although Armenians died during the relocations, many Turks also lost
their lives in attacks carried out by Armenian gangs in Anatolia
http://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/494330--vatican-does-not-seek-polemic-over-1915-incidents
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress