[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 17 (Monday, May 2, 2005)]
[Page 664]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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Statement on Armenian Remembrance Day

April 24, 2005

    On Armenian Remembrance Day, we remember the forced exile and mass 
killings of as many as 1.5 million Armenians during the last days of the 
Ottoman Empire. This terrible event is what many Armenian people have 
come to call the ``Great Calamity.'' I join my fellow Americans and 
Armenian people around the world in expressing my deepest condolences 
for this horrible loss of life.
    Today, as we commemorate the 90th anniversary of this human tragedy 
and reflect on the suffering of the Armenian people, we also look toward 
a promising future for an independent Armenian state. The United States 
is grateful for Armenia's contributions to the war on terror and to 
efforts to build a democratic and peaceful Iraq. We remain committed to 
supporting the historic reforms Armenia has pursued for over a decade. 
We call on the Government of Armenia to advance democratic freedoms that 
will further advance the aspirations of the Armenian people. We remain 
committed to a lasting and peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh 
conflict. We also seek a deeper partnership with Armenia that includes 
security cooperation and is rooted in the shared values of democratic 
and market economic freedoms.
    I applaud individuals in Armenia and Turkey who have sought to 
examine the historical events of the early 20th century with honesty and 
sensitivity. The recent analysis by the International Center for 
Transitional Justice did not provide the final word, yet marked a 
significant step toward reconciliation and restoration of the spirit of 
tolerance and cultural richness that has connected the people of the 
Caucasus and Anatolia for centuries. We look to a future of freedom, 
peace, and prosperity in Armenia and Turkey and hope that Prime Minister 
Erdogan's recent proposal for a joint Turkish-Armenian commission can 
help advance these processes.
    Millions of Americans proudly trace their ancestry to Armenia. Their 
faith, traditions, and patriotism enrich the cultural, political, and 
economic life of the United States. I appreciate all individuals who 
work to promote peace, tolerance, and reconciliation.
    On this solemn day of remembrance, I send my best wishes and 
expressions of solidarity to Armenian people around the world.