Comments of the Turkish Foreign Ministry on the US President’s statement on the events of 1915:
- Biden’s statement came under pressure from Armenian extremist groups and anti-Turkish groups
- Turkey’s proposal to form a joint historical committee in 2005 on the events is still valid despite Armenia’s rejection of it at that time
- Turkey has never shied from confronting its history, and it is not in a position to receive lessons from anyone, including the United States
- The wounds of the past should be completely healed, and sincere efforts made to build a common future for Turks and Armenians
- We call on Biden to correct this grave mistake, which serves no purpose other than to satisfy some political circles.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed on Saturday that US President Joe Biden does not have the legal right to judge historical issues, and his statements about the alleged “genocide” of Armenians are of no value.
This came in a statement issued by the ministry commenting on Biden’s description on Saturday of the events of 1915 as a “genocide” against the Armenians.
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Ankara expressed its rejection of the US President’s statement about the events of 1915, condemning it in the strongest terms.
He added, “The President of the United States does not have the legal and moral right to judge historical issues, and his statements are worthless”.
The statement said, “We do not accept, and we strongly condemn the statement of the US President about the events of 1915 which he made on April 24th.
He is under pressure from Armenian extremist groups and anti-Turkish groups”.
He pointed out that Biden’s statement is not based on a scientific or legal basis or conclusion on the subject.
He said that there was no condition for the use of the term genocide as defined in international law in relation to the events of 1915.
Noting that such an approach would only distort history, and pointed out that the European Court of Human Rights clearly mentioned the controversial nature of the events of 1915.
He added that the proposal submitted by Turkey to form a joint historical committee in 2005.
What was about creating a fair memory in light of the scientific facts about that period is still valid, despite the Armenian side’s rejection of it at that time.
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He indicated that Turkey is located in the heart of a geographical area called the cradle of civilizations, and it adopts the slogan of making efforts for humanity, peace and stability despite all the pain it incurs.
He stressed that Turkey has never shied from confronting its history, and is not in a position to receive lessons from anyone, including the United States.
The statement respected the memory of all the Muslims, Christians and Jews who lost their lives in the Ottoman Empire.
Among those who were before and during the First World War, which witnessed exceptional circumstances.
He pointed out the message that was sent by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the ceremony held at the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul.
Which was on the occasion of April 24 this year for the sake of the Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives during the First World War, reflects Turkey’s approach to this matter.
And in a message that Erdogan sent to the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey Sahak Mashalyan on Saturday.
In it, he stressed that the culture of coexistence between the Turks and Armenians should not be allowed to disappear.
He said, “We cannot allow the disappearance of the culture of coexistence for hundreds of years between the Turks and Armenians”.
He added, “What unites us (the Turks and Armenians) is not interests, but our close association with the state and the values and ideals themselves”.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry statement stressed the need to heal the wounds of the past completely, and to make sincere efforts in order to build a common future for Turks and Armenians.
He stressed that Biden’s recent statement will only serve to polarize and put difficulties in the way of peace and stability in the region.
He stressed that the distorted US statement of historical facts will not be accepted by the conscience of the Turkish people, and it will open a deep wound that shakes the mutual trust and friendship between the two countries.
The statement called on Biden to correct this grave mistake, which does not serve any purpose but to satisfy some political circles.
He called for support for efforts made to establish peaceful coexistence in the region, especially between the Turkish and Armenian peoples.
Instead of serving the agendas of these circles that are trying to create enmity out of history.
