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Wall Street Journal
April 24 2014
Turkey PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan Offers Condolences Over Armenia Killings
Erdogan Acknowledges 'Inhumane Consequences' of Deportations
ANKARA, Turkey--Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on
Wednesday offered an unprecedented, conciliatory message to Armenia on
the eve of the anniversary of the massacre of Armenians almost a
century ago.
Mr. Erdogan called the events of World War I "our shared pain" and
acknowledged that the deportation of Armenians in 1915 had "inhumane
consequences."
Mr. Erdogan released a statement in Turkish, Armenian and seven other
languages, expressing hope that those killed are in peace and offering
Turkey's condolences to their descendants. The message came a day
before Armenians mark the 99th anniversary of the killings in 1915 by
Ottoman Turks.
The episode is considered by many historians as the first genocide of
the 20th century. They estimate that about 1.5 million Armenians died.
Turkey rejects the term genocide. It says the figures are inflated and
that there were deaths on both sides as the Ottoman Empire collapsed.
Mr. Erdogan, in his message, admitted that the deportations had dire
consequences, but didn't use the term "genocide." He said millions of
people "of all religions and ethnicities" lost their lives during the
war.
"The incidents of the World War I are our shared pain," Mr. Erdogan's
message read.
Mr. Erdogan said the events should not prevent, "Turks and Armenians
from establishing compassion and mutually humane attitudes toward one
another" and asked that they not be used against Turkey.
"Using the events of 1915 as an excuse for hostility against Turkey
and turning this issue into a matter of political conflict is
inadmissible," he said.
Mr. Erdogan also renewed a Turkish proposal for a joint study of the
events, involving scholars from both sides.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304518704579519491262070868
April 24 2014
Turkey PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan Offers Condolences Over Armenia Killings
Erdogan Acknowledges 'Inhumane Consequences' of Deportations
ANKARA, Turkey--Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on
Wednesday offered an unprecedented, conciliatory message to Armenia on
the eve of the anniversary of the massacre of Armenians almost a
century ago.
Mr. Erdogan called the events of World War I "our shared pain" and
acknowledged that the deportation of Armenians in 1915 had "inhumane
consequences."
Mr. Erdogan released a statement in Turkish, Armenian and seven other
languages, expressing hope that those killed are in peace and offering
Turkey's condolences to their descendants. The message came a day
before Armenians mark the 99th anniversary of the killings in 1915 by
Ottoman Turks.
The episode is considered by many historians as the first genocide of
the 20th century. They estimate that about 1.5 million Armenians died.
Turkey rejects the term genocide. It says the figures are inflated and
that there were deaths on both sides as the Ottoman Empire collapsed.
Mr. Erdogan, in his message, admitted that the deportations had dire
consequences, but didn't use the term "genocide." He said millions of
people "of all religions and ethnicities" lost their lives during the
war.
"The incidents of the World War I are our shared pain," Mr. Erdogan's
message read.
Mr. Erdogan said the events should not prevent, "Turks and Armenians
from establishing compassion and mutually humane attitudes toward one
another" and asked that they not be used against Turkey.
"Using the events of 1915 as an excuse for hostility against Turkey
and turning this issue into a matter of political conflict is
inadmissible," he said.
Mr. Erdogan also renewed a Turkish proposal for a joint study of the
events, involving scholars from both sides.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304518704579519491262070868