, Turkey
April 25 2010

Turkey’s envoy says Obama remarks did not help Armenia reconciliation

Obama used the Armenian expression "Meds Yeghern", meaning "great
tragedy" in Turkish, while describing the incidents of 1915, just like
he did in a similar statement last year.
Sunday, 25 April 2010 11:14

The Turkish ambassador in the U.S. capital said on Saturday that
Turkey would not accept whatever U.S. President Barack Obama said
regarding the Armenian allegations on the incidents of 1915.

Addressing members of the Turkish community at the Turkish Embassy in
Washington D.C., Ambassador Namik Tan commented on the statement
released by Obama on April 24, a date considered by Armenians as the
anniversary of the incidents of 1915.

Noting some circles were pleased with Obama’s statement as he did not
use the word "genocide", Tan said, "we do not feel that way", and
continued, "we will not accept whatever President Obama says, because
his statement has no scientific aspect and it is totally a political
discourse".

Tan said Obama’s statement or similar remarks did not help Turkey’s
efforts on the issue.

"Let us examine this matter together in a scientific way. Let
independent historians examine our history. We should not try to force
anybody to accept our memories. We may think differently about our
histories, but we should walk towards the future together," Tan said.

U.S. President Barack Obama described the incidents of 1915 as a
"great tragedy" in a presidential statement he released on April 24.

In his message, Obama used the Armenian expression "Meds Yeghern",
meaning "great tragedy" in Turkish, while describing the incidents of
1915, just like he did in a similar statement last year.

AA

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress