Hurriyet, Turkey
March 26 2010

Armenian leader presents challenge to diaspora after meeting with PM

Friday, March 26, 2010
ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

A leader of the Armenian community in Turkey has rebuffed diaspora
claims of an Armenian `genocide’ and urged that the focus instead be
placed on restoring relations between the two countries.

Bedros Å?irinoÄ?lu made his remarks in a statement following a meeting
that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an hosted in his residence
Friday within the scope of his party’s "democratic initiative."

The leader of Turkey’s Syriac community, Kenan AltınıÅ?ık, also met
with ErdoÄ?an in a seperate meeting.

`The 1915 events were the disruption of two close friends,’ Å?irinoÄ?lu
said. `As a result of seeds of discord, these two friends fought each
other. It was a fight that ended tragically.’

The Armenian leader urged both groups to focus on the future.

`There is lack of trust. This fight was 100 years ago. We need to
forget it and look to the future,’ Å?irinoÄ?lu said. `That is also what
[Armenian President Serge] Sarkisian suggested, looking to Armenians’
future and the happiness of the people.’

`Both Turkish and Armenian people suffered,’ he added. `I don’t say
nothing happened, but digging up the dark will not enlighten our
future.’

Noting that his grandfather died during the events of 1915, Å?irinoÄ?lu
said: `I don’t think we need to describe it as `genocide.’ Two close
friends believed in a dissension and afflicted each other. There is no
need to keep up the hatred.’