BUSH AGAIN FAILS TO USE TERM ‘GENOCIDE’ IN HIS ANNUAL APRIL 24 STATEMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.04.2008 21:50 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. President George W. Bush issued annual April
24 statement on the Armenian Remembrance Day.
The statement reads,
"On this day of remembrance, we honor the memory of the victims of one
of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, the mass killings and
forced exile of as many as 1.5 million Armenians at the end of the
Ottoman Empire. I join the Armenian community in America and around
the world in commemorating this tragedy and mourning the loss of so
many innocent lives.
As we reflect on this epic human tragedy, we must resolve to redouble
our efforts to promote peace, tolerance, and respect for the dignity
of human life.
The Armenian people’s unalterable determination to triumph over
tragedy and flourish is a testament to their strength of character
and spirit. We are grateful for the many contributions Americans of
Armenian heritage have made to our Nation.
We welcome the efforts by individuals in Armenia and Turkey to
foster reconciliation and peace, and support joint efforts for an
open examination of the past in search of a shared understanding of
these tragic events. We look forward to the realization of a fully
normalized Armenia-Turkey relationship.
The United States is committed to a strong relationship with Armenia
based on shared values. We call on the Government of Armenia to
take decisive steps to promote democracy, and will continue our
support for Armenia to this end. We remain committed to serving as
an honest broker in pursuit of a lasting and peaceful settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
On this solemn day of remembrance, Laura and I express our deepest
condolences to Armenian people around the world."