Tweet
TURKEY'S PM DAVUTOGLU EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO DESCENDANTS OF DECEASED ARMENIANS
Daily Sabah, Turkey
April 20 2015
DAILY SABAH WITH ANADOLU AGENCY
ISTANBUL
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has expressed his condolences to
the grandchildren of Armenians who lost their lives during forced
deportations from Anatolia in WW I in a statement issued four days
before the annual commemoration of the events. In his message,
Davutoglu said that Turkey will honor the deceased Armenians in a
ceremony that will be held on April 24 at the Armenian Patriarchate in
Istanbul. The ceremony is significant, as it is the first of its kind
that Turkey has held to mark the 1915 incidents. The move is also a
reflection of the genuine will of the government to ameliorate ties
with Armenians that have been soured by the constant pressure of the
community to brand the events as genocide and Turkey's rejection of
the label.
"As descendants of nations with different ethnic and religious
origins who endured these sufferings amid the conditions of WWI,
we understand what the Armenians feel. We remember with respect the
innocent Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives and offer our deep
condolences to their descendants.
It is both a historical and humane duty for Turkey to uphold the memory
of Ottoman Armenians and Armenian cultural heritage," Davutoglu said
in his message.
He continued: "With this in mind, a religious ceremony will be held by
the Armenian Patriarchate on April 24 this year and Ottoman Armenians
will be remembered in Turkey, just as they will be across the world."
He also underlined how meaningful it would be "if Turkey and Armenia
had been able to commemorate Ottoman Armenians together with a ceremony
that befits both nations," recalling it was what President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan also said in last year's message when he was prime minister.
Erdogan issued a message ahead of the 99th year commemoration of the
1915 incidents last year. In an unprecedented move, Erdogan extended
his condolences to the grandchildren of Ottoman Armenians who lost
their lives in the 1915 events.
Meanwhile, EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkır, Foreign
Minister Mevlut CavuÅ~_oglu and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arınc
spoke about the issue. CavuÅ~_oglu said Turkey will not give up its
efforts to reconcile with Armenians. Bozkır said Turkey is happy
living with Armenians and the issue should not be restricted within
the definition of genocide. Arınc gave a brief press statement on
Monday, where he said: "We are the protector of oppressed nations,
we never betrayed them. We know that there were tragic events that
the rebellious gangs who were once considered loyal nations had to
face. We did not commit genocide on purpose or by will."
Turkey's official stance on the matter is that it does not deny that
there were killings of Armenians during the forced deportation of
the community in WWI, which was a decision delivered by the Ottoman
government to handle the insurrection. However, they firmly deny
that the killings amount to genocide, and claim there was a lack of
intention to deliberately destroy the community. Turkey also claims
there were losses on both sides, and rules out any discrimination
against Turks in appraising the events. Despite pressure to implicate
Turkey in the highly serious crime of genocide, Turkey maintains its
sympathy for the community and makes efforts to heal its wounds.
"It is possible to establish the causes of what happened in WWI
and those who were responsible for it. However, laying all the
blame through generalizations on the Turkish nation by reducing
everything to one word and compounding it with hate speech is both
morally and legally problematic," Davutoglu said. He also added:
"We believe that when history is no longer exploited for political
purposes, such a mature and morally sound outcome can be attained,"
and called for an objective way of looking at things.
He also said: "The scars left by the exile and massacres that Turkish
and Muslim Ottomans were subjected to a century ago are still vivid
in our minds today. To ignore this fact and discriminate between pains
suffered is as questionable historically as it is mistaken morally."
Turkey, the successor of the Ottoman Empire, which is held responsible
for the killings, has been facing intense pressure from the Armenian
diaspora which has politicized the issue ahead of the incidents'
centennial commemoration, possibly, as some historians have argued,
to acquire reparations. Turkish officials have repeatedly called
for the issue to be analyzed by historians and have warned that
politicizing such a sensitive matter harms the community itself.
Davutoglu said: "In Turkey, every viewpoint is freely expressed
and openly debated. Documents and knowledge of every kind can be
investigated. By providing these means, Turkey is taking significant
and positive steps toward the building of a common future. As
descendants of two ancient peoples who 100 years ago shared the same
destiny, whether in joy or in sorrow, our common responsibility and
calling today is to heal century-old wounds and re-establish our
human ties once again. Turkey will not remain indifferent to this
responsibility, and will continue to do its utmost for friendship
and peace."
Ankara has already put into practice policies like the returning
of confiscated property, the assigning of bureaucrats of Armenian
origin and bringing life back to their places of worship as part of
its democracy initiatives. But these policies undermine the efforts of
the Armenian diaspora, Armenia and Western countries, which have taken
the 1915 issue to their parliaments with the aim of isolating Turkey.
He concluded his statement by saying: "We are calling on all third
parties to adopt an approach based on just memory and a common peaceful
future, rather than aggravating age-old wounds. It is with these
feelings and thoughts that we once more commemorate with deep respect
the Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives during the relocations in
1915, and we share in the grief of their children and grandchildren."
http://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2015/04/20/turkeys-pm-davutoglu-extends-condolences-to-descendants-of-deceased-armenians
Daily Sabah, Turkey
April 20 2015
DAILY SABAH WITH ANADOLU AGENCY
ISTANBUL
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has expressed his condolences to
the grandchildren of Armenians who lost their lives during forced
deportations from Anatolia in WW I in a statement issued four days
before the annual commemoration of the events. In his message,
Davutoglu said that Turkey will honor the deceased Armenians in a
ceremony that will be held on April 24 at the Armenian Patriarchate in
Istanbul. The ceremony is significant, as it is the first of its kind
that Turkey has held to mark the 1915 incidents. The move is also a
reflection of the genuine will of the government to ameliorate ties
with Armenians that have been soured by the constant pressure of the
community to brand the events as genocide and Turkey's rejection of
the label.
"As descendants of nations with different ethnic and religious
origins who endured these sufferings amid the conditions of WWI,
we understand what the Armenians feel. We remember with respect the
innocent Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives and offer our deep
condolences to their descendants.
It is both a historical and humane duty for Turkey to uphold the memory
of Ottoman Armenians and Armenian cultural heritage," Davutoglu said
in his message.
He continued: "With this in mind, a religious ceremony will be held by
the Armenian Patriarchate on April 24 this year and Ottoman Armenians
will be remembered in Turkey, just as they will be across the world."
He also underlined how meaningful it would be "if Turkey and Armenia
had been able to commemorate Ottoman Armenians together with a ceremony
that befits both nations," recalling it was what President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan also said in last year's message when he was prime minister.
Erdogan issued a message ahead of the 99th year commemoration of the
1915 incidents last year. In an unprecedented move, Erdogan extended
his condolences to the grandchildren of Ottoman Armenians who lost
their lives in the 1915 events.
Meanwhile, EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkır, Foreign
Minister Mevlut CavuÅ~_oglu and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arınc
spoke about the issue. CavuÅ~_oglu said Turkey will not give up its
efforts to reconcile with Armenians. Bozkır said Turkey is happy
living with Armenians and the issue should not be restricted within
the definition of genocide. Arınc gave a brief press statement on
Monday, where he said: "We are the protector of oppressed nations,
we never betrayed them. We know that there were tragic events that
the rebellious gangs who were once considered loyal nations had to
face. We did not commit genocide on purpose or by will."
Turkey's official stance on the matter is that it does not deny that
there were killings of Armenians during the forced deportation of
the community in WWI, which was a decision delivered by the Ottoman
government to handle the insurrection. However, they firmly deny
that the killings amount to genocide, and claim there was a lack of
intention to deliberately destroy the community. Turkey also claims
there were losses on both sides, and rules out any discrimination
against Turks in appraising the events. Despite pressure to implicate
Turkey in the highly serious crime of genocide, Turkey maintains its
sympathy for the community and makes efforts to heal its wounds.
"It is possible to establish the causes of what happened in WWI
and those who were responsible for it. However, laying all the
blame through generalizations on the Turkish nation by reducing
everything to one word and compounding it with hate speech is both
morally and legally problematic," Davutoglu said. He also added:
"We believe that when history is no longer exploited for political
purposes, such a mature and morally sound outcome can be attained,"
and called for an objective way of looking at things.
He also said: "The scars left by the exile and massacres that Turkish
and Muslim Ottomans were subjected to a century ago are still vivid
in our minds today. To ignore this fact and discriminate between pains
suffered is as questionable historically as it is mistaken morally."
Turkey, the successor of the Ottoman Empire, which is held responsible
for the killings, has been facing intense pressure from the Armenian
diaspora which has politicized the issue ahead of the incidents'
centennial commemoration, possibly, as some historians have argued,
to acquire reparations. Turkish officials have repeatedly called
for the issue to be analyzed by historians and have warned that
politicizing such a sensitive matter harms the community itself.
Davutoglu said: "In Turkey, every viewpoint is freely expressed
and openly debated. Documents and knowledge of every kind can be
investigated. By providing these means, Turkey is taking significant
and positive steps toward the building of a common future. As
descendants of two ancient peoples who 100 years ago shared the same
destiny, whether in joy or in sorrow, our common responsibility and
calling today is to heal century-old wounds and re-establish our
human ties once again. Turkey will not remain indifferent to this
responsibility, and will continue to do its utmost for friendship
and peace."
Ankara has already put into practice policies like the returning
of confiscated property, the assigning of bureaucrats of Armenian
origin and bringing life back to their places of worship as part of
its democracy initiatives. But these policies undermine the efforts of
the Armenian diaspora, Armenia and Western countries, which have taken
the 1915 issue to their parliaments with the aim of isolating Turkey.
He concluded his statement by saying: "We are calling on all third
parties to adopt an approach based on just memory and a common peaceful
future, rather than aggravating age-old wounds. It is with these
feelings and thoughts that we once more commemorate with deep respect
the Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives during the relocations in
1915, and we share in the grief of their children and grandchildren."
http://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2015/04/20/turkeys-pm-davutoglu-extends-condolences-to-descendants-of-deceased-armenians