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

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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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