[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 69 (Thursday, May 8, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        MESSAGE OF PRIME MINISTER ERDOGGAN ON THE EVENTS OF 1915

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                           HON. STEVE CHABOT

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 8, 2014

  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw the attention of my 
colleagues to a statement made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip 
Erdoggan in which he noted the importance of April 24th to Armenian 
communities around the world, and expressed his condolences to the 
descendants of those Armenians who died in the violence nearly a 
century ago. The Prime Minister renewed Turkey's offer to participate 
in a joint historical commission, where Turkish, Armenian, and 
international scholars would come together to document those terrible 
events.
  In his weekly parliamentary address to his party's legislators on 
April 23rd, Prime Minister Erdoggan stated Turkey's willingness to 
``confront'' the historical events, and again called upon Armenia and 
the Armenian diaspora to join this effort.
  I believe a process in which both parties are active participants 
will enable Turkey and Armenia to resolve many of the issues of 
conflict between them, and will allow them to move deeper into the 21st 
Century while building a constructive relationship, as neighbors 
should.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in encouraging all parties to 
engage in the process.
  The statement issued by Prime Minister Erdoggan follows:

  The Message of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, Recep 
                 Tayyip Erdoggan On the Events of 1915.

       The 24th of April carries a particular significance for our 
     Armenian citizens and for all Armenians around the world, and 
     provides a valuable opportunity to share opinions freely on a 
     historical matter.
       It is indisputable that the last years of the Ottoman 
     Empire were a difficult period, full of suffering for 
     Turkish, Kurdish, Arab, Armenian and millions of other 
     Ottoman citizens, regardless of their religion or ethnic 
     origin.
       Any conscientious, fair and humanistic approach to these 
     issues requires an understanding of all the sufferings 
     endured in this period, without discriminating as to religion 
     or ethnicity.
       Certainly, neither constructing hierarchies of pain nor 
     comparing and contrasting suffering carries any meaning for 
     those who experienced this pain themselves.
       As a Turkish proverb goes, ``fire burns the place where it 
     falls.''
       It is a duty of humanity to acknowledge that Armenians 
     remember the suffering experienced in that period, just like 
     every other citizen of the Ottoman Empire.
       In Turkey, expressing different opinions and thoughts 
     freely on the events of 1915 is the requirement of a 
     pluralistic perspective as well as of a culture of democracy 
     and modernity.
       Some may perceive this climate of freedom in Turkey as an 
     opportunity to express accusatory, offensive and even 
     provocative assertions and allegations.
       Even so, if this will enable us to better understand 
     historical issues with their legal aspects and to transform 
     resentment to friendship again, it is natural to approach 
     different discourses with empathy and tolerance and expect a 
     similar attitude from all sides.
       The Republic of Turkey will continue to approach every idea 
     with dignity in line with the universal values of law.
       Nevertheless, using the events of 1915 as an excuse for 
     hostility against Turkey and turning this issue into a matter 
     of political conflict is inadmissible.
       The incidents of the First World War are our shared pain. 
     To evaluate this painful period of history through a 
     perspective of just memory is a humane and scholarly 
     responsibility.
       Millions of people of all religions and ethnicities lost 
     their lives in the First World War. Having experienced events 
     which had inhumane consequences--such as relocation--during 
     the First World War, should not prevent Turks and Armenians 
     from establishing compassion and mutually humane attitudes 
     among towards one another.
       In today's world, deriving enmity from history and creating 
     new antagonisms are neither acceptable nor useful for 
     building a common future.
       The spirit of the age necessitates dialogue despite 
     differences, understanding by heeding others, evaluating 
     means for compromise, denouncing hatred, and praising respect 
     and tolerance.
       With this understanding, we, as the Turkish Republic, have 
     called for the establishment of a joint historical commission 
     in order to study the events of 1915 in a scholarly manner. 
     This call remains valid. Scholarly research to be carried out 
     by Turkish, Armenian and international historians would play 
     a significant role in shedding light on the events of 1915 
     and an accurate understanding of history.
       It is with this understanding that we have opened our 
     archives to all researchers. Today, hundreds of thousands of 
     documents in our archives are at the service of historians.
       Looking to the future with confidence, Turkey has always 
     supported scholarly and comprehensive studies for an accurate 
     understanding of history. The people of Anatolia, who lived 
     together for centuries regardless of their different ethnic 
     and religious origins, have established common values in 
     every field from art to diplomacy, from state administration 
     to commerce. Today they continue to have the same ability to 
     create a new future.
       In is our hope and belief that the peoples of an ancient 
     and unique geography, who share similar customs and manners 
     will be able to talk to each other about the past with 
     maturity and to remember together their losses in a decent 
     manner. And it is with this hope and belief that we wish that 
     the Armenians who lost their lives in the context of the 
     early twentieth century rest in peace, and we convey our 
     condolences to their grandchildren.
       Regardless of their ethnic or religious origins, we pay 
     tribute, with compassion and respect, to all Ottoman citizens 
     who lost their lives in the same period and under similar 
     conditions.

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