THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
PRESS RELEASE April 24, 2009
Statement of President Barack Obama on Armenian Remembrance Day
Ninety four years ago, one of the great atrocities of the 20th century
began. Each year, we pause to remember the 1.5 million Armenians who
were subsequently massacred or marched to their death in the final days
of the Ottoman Empire. The Meds Yeghern must live on in our memories,
just as it lives on in the hearts of the Armenian people.
History, unresolved, can be a heavy weight. Just as the terrible events
of 1915 remind us of the dark prospect of man’s inhumanity to man,
reckoning with the past holds out the powerful promise of
reconciliation. I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred
in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed. My interest
remains the achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the
facts.
The best way to advance that goal right now is for the Armenian and
Turkish people to address the facts of the past as a part of their
efforts to move forward. I strongly support efforts by the Turkish and
Armenian people to work through this painful history in a way that is
honest, open, and constructive. To that end, there has been courageous
and important dialogue among Armenians and Turks, and within Turkey
itself. I also strongly support the efforts by Turkey and Armenia to
normalize their bilateral relations. Under Swiss auspices, the two
governments have agreed on a framework and roadmap for normalization. I
commend this progress, and urge them to fulfill its promise.
Together, Armenia and Turkey can forge a relationship that is peaceful,
productive and prosperous. And together, the Armenian and Turkish people
will be stronger as they acknowledge their common history and recognize
their common humanity.
Nothing can bring back those who were lost in the Meds Yeghern. But the
contributions that Armenians have made over the last ninety-four years
stand as a testament to the talent, dynamism and resilience of the
Armenian people, and as the ultimate rebuke to those who tried to
destroy them. The United States of America is a far richer country
because of the many Americans of Armenian descent who have contributed
to our society, many of whom immigrated to this country in the aftermath
of 1915. Today, I stand with them and with Armenians everywhere with a
sense of friendship, solidarity, and deep respect.
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