Epress.am News from Armenia
Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that US President Barack Obama’s Apr. 23, 2011 statement took a one-sided approach regarding the painful page of the Turkish and Armenian peoples’ common history, according to a statement issued by Turkey’s foreign ministry, reports Anadolu Ajansi.
“The statement distorts the facts. Therefore, we find it problematic and deeply regret it,” reads the statement by Turkey’s foreign ministry.
Ankara notes that such statements serve no purpose other than making it difficult for Armenians and Turks to reach a just memory.
“We expect the US not to complicate, but to assist in accelerating the Armenia-Turkey normalization process and support the historical studies. By displaying a partisan view on historical pains, such statements cannot assist in establishing peace and the peoples’ common future.”
The foreign ministry statement adds: “Despite attempts to interfere with the writing of history, considering current political Interests, we will remain committed to our approach: to reach a just memory and to build our common future with Armenians on this basis.”
Note, Turkish foreign minister Ahmed Davutoglu personally commented on Obama’s statement, saying “such dishonest statements will further complicate efforts to recover just memories in the common history of Armenians and Turks.”
Davutoglu added that the United States shouldn’t disrupt Armenian-Turkish relations “with one-sided and politically motivated statements.”
Recall, during his address, Obama used the expression “Medz Yeghern” (meaning Great Tragedy) three times to describe the Armenian Genocide of 1915.