ANKARA — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent a message on April 24 to the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Armenian community of Turkey on the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The message was read during a memorial liturgy at the Armenian Holy Hakob Church in Istanbul.
According to reports, the message was read by Patriarchal Vicar Father Grigor Damadyan. As in previous years, Erdoğan began his statement with similar wording:
“Once again this year, I respectfully commemorate the Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives under the difficult conditions of World War I and extend my condolences to their descendants.”
According to Ermenihaber, Erdoğan reiterated his longstanding position that the events of 1915 do not constitute genocide, but were the result of broader turmoil. “During the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, all Ottoman peoples suffered greatly due to occupations, conflicts, uprisings, banditry, and disease,” he stated.
He added that Ottoman Armenians, who made significant contributions to various sectors of the empire, also endured great suffering.
“The Republic of Turkey has been able to understand how to overcome these pains without forgetting them,” Erdoğan said.
In his message, he also stated that Turkey aims to leave future generations a legacy “where truth is connected to conscience, rather than to painful memories.”
He concluded: “As a nation of 86 million, we will build our future together and shape the legacy we leave to our descendants. With these thoughts, I once again share the pain experienced by the Armenian people in the past and respectfully commemorate the memory of all Ottoman citizens who lost their lives.”
