Armenia's President slams Turkey’s negationist policy on France 24

PARIS, MARCH 21, ARMENPRESS. The President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan slammed the new expressions of Turkish denialism in an interview to France 24.

As reports “Armenpress” citing the website of France 24, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to change this year’s Gallipoli commemoration to coincide with Armenia’s marking of the 100th anniversary of the genocide was a “cynical expression of denialism”.

“Unfortunately, once again we find ourselves facing a negationist approach and I’m sorry to use this expression, but it is a particularly cynical act. The Battle of Gallipoli did not start of April 24 [1915], nor did it end on April 24, it’s self-evident. On one hand, this is a way of injuring, of wounding the Armenian people and at the same time, it is intended to set obstacles on the path to centennial commemorations [of the Armenian Genocide],” Sargsyan said.

France 24 stated that on April 24, Armenia is set to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian genocide, which saw the deportation and deaths of up to 1.5 million Armenians during World War I. Also, it states that Turkey has long denied the Armenian Genocide, claiming instead that they were the consequences of violence inflamed during wartime.

Among other things, Presidnet Sargsyan noted: “Our intention was to commemorate the centennial together with the Turkish people.” Armenia’s President added that it was the reason of inviting the Turkish President to come to Armenia for April 24.

France 24 website states that instead, Erdogan chose the same day to invite his Armenian counterpart to the centennial of the Gallipoli campaign, which marked a major World War I victory for the Ottoman forces against Allied troops, mostly from Australian and New Zealand. The date of their landing -- known as “Anzac Day” -- is marked on April 25 every year.

In addition, France 24 reminded that the April 24 ceremonies in Armenia’s capital Yerevan will be attended by a number of world leaders, including French President François Hollande and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The video of the interview is available below.