Erdogan issues statement on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day but again refuses to acknowledge it

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has released a statement on the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide but again avoided to describe the massacre of over 1,5 million Armenians in his country’s precursor, the Ottoman Empire, as genocide. 

Erdogan’s statement addressed to the Armenian community of Istanbul and the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul) Archbishop Sahag II Mashalian was read during a mass in the Holy Vartanants Church in Istanbul’s Feriköy.

In the statement, Erdogan essentially repeated his previous April 24 statements, saying that “Ottoman Armenians died in difficult conditions of WWI.”

“Those who tried to create animosity from history and cut the strong bridges and ties between us haven’t been able to achieve their goal to this day,” Erdogan said. He continued “we must build the future together, believing that memories of the past must not take the present and future hostage.”

He said he rules out discrimination against members of the Armenian community in Turkiye. But such discriminations, including attacks, have actually taken place over the course of recent years.

“With these thoughts I once again sincerely share the pains suffered by the Armenian community in the past and remember with respect the Ottoman citizens who lost their lives,” the Turkish leader said.