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ANKARA: Davutoglu Hopes 2015 Renews Turkey, Armenia Friendship

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  • ANKARA: Davutoglu Hopes 2015 Renews Turkey, Armenia Friendship

    DAVUTOGLU HOPES 2015 RENEWS TURKEY, ARMENIA FRIENDSHIP

    World Bulletin, Turkey
    Jan 21 2015

    Turkish prime minister has invited Armenians to make 2015 a year of
    peace by reviving their historical ties.

    World Bulletin / News Desk

    Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu wished Tuesday that 2015 would be the
    year when Turkey and Armenia rekindled and shared their friendship
    instead of regenerating animosity.

    His remarks came a day after the eighth death anniversary of prominent
    Turkish-Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink, who was assassinated in broad
    daylight in front of his office in Istanbul on Jan. 19, 2007. Dink
    was one of the founders of the bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos.

    "Hrant Dink was an invaluable Anatolian intellectual who, without
    compromising either his Armenian heritage or his loyalty to Turkey,
    sought to help find the ways and means through which Turks and
    Armenians may build a common future," he told the media at the
    Ritz-Carlton Hotel in London.

    The year 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of 1915 events what Armenia
    calls "genocide" and the Battle of the Dardanelles that took place in
    Canakkale province's district of Gallipoli, which marked a turnaround
    in favor of the Turks against Allied Forces during World War I.

    Davutoglu said he wished 2015 would be the year of regenerating
    friendships out of war grief of both peoples. "We all must make an
    effort to build a new world for peace," he said.

    About Turkish-Armenian friendship, he added that Turkey was making a
    natural and humanitarian call as a moral duty, something which slain
    journalist Dink always deemed was his "reason for being" throughout
    his life.

    Earlier Tuesday, Turkish premier issued a written statement to
    commemorate the anniversary of Dink's murder. He called on all
    Armenians and all those who believed in Turkish-Armenian friendship to
    "contribute to a new beginning."

    "Throughout his life, he strived, mind, heart and soul, to shed light
    on one of the major issues that the Ottoman Empire passed down to
    the Republic of Turkey. As someone who personified Turkish-Armenian
    friendship, he worked selflessly and gave his all, so that the bonds
    of a historic coexistence could be remembered, and the deep-rooted
    suffering overcome," said the statement.

    Davutoglu said they wished to open new paths into hearts and minds
    as they commemorate the anniversary of his demise, and guided by the
    seeds of friendship he sowed.

    The premier reiterated that the relocation policies applied essentially
    enforced under wartime circumstances yielded inhumane consequences,
    including that of 1915. Davutoglu said Turkey shares the suffering
    of Armenians and, with patience and resolve, is endeavouring to
    re-establish empathy between the two peoples.

    "Only by breaking taboos can we hope to begin addressing the great
    trauma that froze time in 1915. For its part, Turkey has transcended
    this critical threshold and relinquished the generalizations and
    stereotypical assertions of the past," he added.

    He believed that both Turks and Armenians, the two ancient nations,
    can demonstrate the wisdom to understand each other and contemplate
    a future together.

    "Having shared the same geography and a long history, it is only Turks
    and Armenians who can effectively address their issues together and
    work jointly to find ways forward," he added.

    Turkish premier also emphasized the need to foster a sense of mutual
    trust and cooperation, to get reacquainted against the backdrop of
    an 800 years-old common history and promote human interaction.

    He also invited their "Armenian friends" to pay more visits to Turkey
    and do away with respective prejudices.

    "We will press ahead with resolve to give due recognition to
    the Armenian cultural heritage in Turkey and to those Armenian
    personalities who made inestimable contributions to Ottoman/Turkish
    culture," he said.

    Davutoglu added that Turkey's desire to share in the pain, to heal
    the wounds and to re-establish friendships is sincere. "Our course
    is set towards a horizon of friendship and peace."

    Relations between Turkey and Armenia have historically been poor
    because of incidents that took place during World War I. The Armenian
    diaspora and government describe the 1915 events as "genocide" and
    have asked for compensation.

    Turkey officially refutes this description, saying that although
    Armenians died during relocations, many Turks also lost their lives
    in attacks carried out by Armenian gangs in Anatolia.

    Ankara has also long been calling for Armenia and its historians
    to make a joint academic research and study into the archives of
    both countries.

    In April 2014, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan - at the time prime
    minister - offered condolences for the Armenian deaths that occurred
    in 1915 - a first for a Turkish statesman.

    http://www.worldbulletin.net/turkey/153443/davutoglu-hopes-2015-renews-turkey-armenia-friendship


    From: Baghdasarian
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