Turkey's Erdogan offers condolences over WWI killings of Armenians
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 23 April 2014 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Turkey's Erdogan offers condolences over WWI killings of Armenians, 23 April 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/53a1378d1d.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
April 23, 2014
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has offered condolences to descendants of the victims of the mass killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians during World War I by Ottoman forces.
In an April 23 statement released in nine languages, including Armenian, Erdogan said, "The incidents of the First World War are our shared pain."
Erdogan said he hoped "the peoples of an ancient and unique geography, who share similar customs and manners will be able to talk to each other about the past with maturity."
Erdogan added that "we wish that the Armenians who lost their lives in the context of the early 20th century rest in peace."
It is believed to be the first time a Turkish prime minister has offered such explicit condolences.
Erdogan's statement comes on the eve of Remembrance Day, which Armenians around the world mark to honor those who died in what Armenians call a genocide.
Turkey rejects the term genocide, saying thousands of Turks also were killed in fighting.
Based on reporting from AFP and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
