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Today's Zaman, Turkey
May 2 2014
PM ErdoÄ?an meets Armenian deputy patriarch after surprise condolence
Archbishop Aram AteÅ?yan speaks to reporters in Ankara after his
meeting with Prime Minister ErdoÄ?an on Thursday. (Photo: Cihan)
May 01, 2014, Thursday/ 18:57:59/ TODAYSZAMAN .COM/ ISTANBUL
An delegation headed by Archbishop Aram AteÅ?yan, deputy patriarch of
the Armenian Patriarchate based in Ä°stanbul, met with Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an at the Prime Ministry in Ankara on
Thursday after ErdoÄ?an's surprise April 23 condolence message to the
grandchildren of Armenians who died in 1915.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, AteÅ?yan said the delegation
had had constructive talks with ErdoÄ?an and expressed his optimism for
the Armenian community in Turkey despite some lingering problems.
AteÅ?yan also said there are still things to be done to address the
grievances of the Armenian community and that he remains hopeful for
solutions.
Recalling that it was the first time a Turkish prime minister had
publicly addressed the sorrows of Armenian people, AteÅ?yan stated: `We
cannot ignore this. We don't want this olive branch of peace to go
dry. We want this branch to take root and blossom in the future. We
need everybody's support to reap the benefits. These two communities
lived together in peace for many years [during the Ottoman Empire]. We
miss those old days. We are calling out to both communities from this
point: the two communities should meet and ensure peace. This first
step taken by the prime minister [ErdoÄ?an] was appreciated by most of
our community. Let's work hand-in-hand to construct bridges of peace
between the two communities.'
The meeting came a week after ErdoÄ?an offered condolences to the
grandchildren of Ottoman Armenians killed in the turbulent events of
1915, deaths which are regarded as genocide by most Armenians. Turkey
strongly denies such a definition, citing that both Muslims and
Armenians suffered in intra-communal fighting in Anatolia during World
War I.
ErdoÄ?an's surprising statement came just one day before April 24, when
Armenians commemorate the events they describe as genocide under
Ottoman rule. The statement was issued in nine languages -- Turkish,
German, French, English, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Western Armenian
and Eastern Armenian -- in a move to make sure the statement is heard
and understood by a wide audience.
`It is our hope and belief that the peoples of an ancient and unique
land, who share similar customs and manners, will be able to maturely
talk to each other about the past and to remember their shared losses
in a decent manner. And it is with this hope and belief that we wish
that the Armenians who lost their lives in the context of the early
twentieth century rest in peace, and we convey our condolences to
their grandchildren,' said the statement.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-346613-pm-erdogan-meets-armenian-deputy-patriarch-after-surprise-condolence.html
May 2 2014
PM ErdoÄ?an meets Armenian deputy patriarch after surprise condolence
Archbishop Aram AteÅ?yan speaks to reporters in Ankara after his
meeting with Prime Minister ErdoÄ?an on Thursday. (Photo: Cihan)
May 01, 2014, Thursday/ 18:57:59/ TODAYSZAMAN .COM/ ISTANBUL
An delegation headed by Archbishop Aram AteÅ?yan, deputy patriarch of
the Armenian Patriarchate based in Ä°stanbul, met with Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an at the Prime Ministry in Ankara on
Thursday after ErdoÄ?an's surprise April 23 condolence message to the
grandchildren of Armenians who died in 1915.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, AteÅ?yan said the delegation
had had constructive talks with ErdoÄ?an and expressed his optimism for
the Armenian community in Turkey despite some lingering problems.
AteÅ?yan also said there are still things to be done to address the
grievances of the Armenian community and that he remains hopeful for
solutions.
Recalling that it was the first time a Turkish prime minister had
publicly addressed the sorrows of Armenian people, AteÅ?yan stated: `We
cannot ignore this. We don't want this olive branch of peace to go
dry. We want this branch to take root and blossom in the future. We
need everybody's support to reap the benefits. These two communities
lived together in peace for many years [during the Ottoman Empire]. We
miss those old days. We are calling out to both communities from this
point: the two communities should meet and ensure peace. This first
step taken by the prime minister [ErdoÄ?an] was appreciated by most of
our community. Let's work hand-in-hand to construct bridges of peace
between the two communities.'
The meeting came a week after ErdoÄ?an offered condolences to the
grandchildren of Ottoman Armenians killed in the turbulent events of
1915, deaths which are regarded as genocide by most Armenians. Turkey
strongly denies such a definition, citing that both Muslims and
Armenians suffered in intra-communal fighting in Anatolia during World
War I.
ErdoÄ?an's surprising statement came just one day before April 24, when
Armenians commemorate the events they describe as genocide under
Ottoman rule. The statement was issued in nine languages -- Turkish,
German, French, English, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Western Armenian
and Eastern Armenian -- in a move to make sure the statement is heard
and understood by a wide audience.
`It is our hope and belief that the peoples of an ancient and unique
land, who share similar customs and manners, will be able to maturely
talk to each other about the past and to remember their shared losses
in a decent manner. And it is with this hope and belief that we wish
that the Armenians who lost their lives in the context of the early
twentieth century rest in peace, and we convey our condolences to
their grandchildren,' said the statement.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-346613-pm-erdogan-meets-armenian-deputy-patriarch-after-surprise-condolence.html