    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 17 (Monday, April 30, 2007)]
    [Page 522]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Message on Armenian Remembrance Day

    April 24, 2007

        Each year on this day, we pause to remember the victims of one of
    the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, when as many as 1.5 million
    Armenians lost their lives in the final years of the Ottoman Empire,
    many of them victims of mass killings and forced exile. I join my fellow
    Americans and Armenian people around the world in commemorating this
    tragedy and honoring the memory of the innocent lives that were taken.
    The world must never forget this painful chapter of its history.
        All who cherish freedom and value the sanctity of human life look
    back on these horrific events in sorrow and disbelief. Many of those who
    survived were forced from their ancestral home and spread across the
    globe. Yet, in the midst of this terrible struggle, the world witnessed
    the indomitable spirit and character of the Armenian people. Many of the
    brave survivors came to America, where they have preserved a deep
    connection with their history and culture. Generations of Armenians in
    the United States have enriched our country and inspired us with their
    courage and conviction.
        Today, we remember the past and also look forward to a brighter
    future. We commend the individuals in Armenia and Turkey who are working
    to normalize the relationship between their two counties [countries].* A
    sincere and open examination of the historic events of the late-Ottoman
    period is an essential part of this process. The United States supports
    and encourages those in both countries who are working to build a shared
    understanding of history as a basis for a more hopeful future.
        * White House correction.
        We value the strong and vibrant ties between the United States and
    Armenia. Our Nation is grateful for Armenia's contributions to the war
    on terror, particularly for its efforts to help build a peaceful and
    democratic Iraq. The United States remains committed to working with
    Armenia and Azerbaijan to promote a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-
    Karabakh conflict. We are also working to promote democratic and
    economic reform in Armenia that will advance the cause of freedom and
    justice.
        Laura and I express our deepest condolences to Armenian people
    around the world on this solemn day of remembrance. We stand together in
    our determination to build a more peaceful, more prosperous, and more
    just world.
                                                    George W. Bush

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