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TURKEY DISAGREES WITH SOME OF BUSH STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN ANNIVERSARY
Anatolia news agency
25 Apr 06
Ankara, 25 April: "It is not possible for Turkey to share some
expressions of US President George Bush in his statement released
on 24 April. On the other hand, the reference to creation of joint
commissions is positive," said Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman
Namik Tan on Tuesday [25 April].
Replying a question about President Bush's statement on so-called
Armenian genocide anniversary, Tan said: "President Bush displayed
his regular attitude of releasing a written statement on 'Armenian
remembrance day' on 24 April this year as well. It is not possible
for Turkey to share some assessments in the statement."
"History can only be written and assessed on the basis of official
documents. The resource is the archives," he noted.
"Controversial part of Turkish-Armenian joint history can only be
researched on scientific aspect, and the assessments can be made
under the results of these researches," he added.
Tan said: "Thus, Turkey's proposal (to Armenia) to investigate
incidents before and after 1915 by a joint history commission (and to
share results with people) can enlighten this period of history and
normalize the relations between the two countries, and this initiative
should be supported."
US President George Bush said in his statement (released on 24 April):
"Today, we remember one of the horrible tragedies of the 20th century
- the mass killings and forced exile of as many as 1.5m Armenians
in the final days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915. This was a tragedy
for all humanity and one that we and the world must never forget. We
mourn this terrible chapter of history and recognize that it remains
a source of pain for people in Armenia and for all those who believe
in freedom, tolerance, and the dignity and value of every human
life. We encourage dialogues, including through joint commissions,
that strive for a shared understanding of these tragic events and
move Armenia and Turkey towards normalized relations."
Anatolia news agency
25 Apr 06
Ankara, 25 April: "It is not possible for Turkey to share some
expressions of US President George Bush in his statement released
on 24 April. On the other hand, the reference to creation of joint
commissions is positive," said Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman
Namik Tan on Tuesday [25 April].
Replying a question about President Bush's statement on so-called
Armenian genocide anniversary, Tan said: "President Bush displayed
his regular attitude of releasing a written statement on 'Armenian
remembrance day' on 24 April this year as well. It is not possible
for Turkey to share some assessments in the statement."
"History can only be written and assessed on the basis of official
documents. The resource is the archives," he noted.
"Controversial part of Turkish-Armenian joint history can only be
researched on scientific aspect, and the assessments can be made
under the results of these researches," he added.
Tan said: "Thus, Turkey's proposal (to Armenia) to investigate
incidents before and after 1915 by a joint history commission (and to
share results with people) can enlighten this period of history and
normalize the relations between the two countries, and this initiative
should be supported."
US President George Bush said in his statement (released on 24 April):
"Today, we remember one of the horrible tragedies of the 20th century
- the mass killings and forced exile of as many as 1.5m Armenians
in the final days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915. This was a tragedy
for all humanity and one that we and the world must never forget. We
mourn this terrible chapter of history and recognize that it remains
a source of pain for people in Armenia and for all those who believe
in freedom, tolerance, and the dignity and value of every human
life. We encourage dialogues, including through joint commissions,
that strive for a shared understanding of these tragic events and
move Armenia and Turkey towards normalized relations."