Erdogan Issues Another April 24 Message Denying Historical Facts of 1915

On April 24, the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople and the Armenian community. According to Armenpress, Erdogan once again avoided giving a true assessment of the atrocities committed, claiming that "Armenians, as citizens of the Ottoman Empire, died due to the harsh conditions that emerged during World War I."

He added, "The devastation left by World War I on Ottoman lands has left deep scars in our memory. The continuation of the atmosphere of peace and tranquility inherited from our ancestors is only possible through our joint efforts."

Despite the ongoing discrimination against Armenians in Turkey and the continuous hate speech from nationalist circles, Erdogan assured that they "will not allow any Armenian citizen in Turkey to feel alienated or like a second-class person."

The leader of a state that refuses to acknowledge the genocide committed against its own citizens in the early 20th century stated in his message that, "The way to protect future generations from the cycle of violence and war surrounding the world is to build our future together in light of the lessons we will learn from our shared pain."