“As Turkey, we reject and strongly condemn the U.S. President Biden's description of the events of 1915 as genocide. We consider this statement, which lacks any legitimacy or legal and scientific authority, as null and void,” Altun said in a written statement.
Altun underlined that Biden’s statement serving to the Armenian diaspora's rootless slanders was clearly motivated by U.S. domestic political calculations.
“It is simply a counterproductive move and does nothing to help the plight of Armenians, nor does it serve the U.S. interests,” Altun noted, adding: “It is, indeed, unfortunate for the US-Turkey relationship since the Biden administration chose to misrepresent history for domestic political purposes. The labeling of 1915 events as anything other than a tragedy is misguided and destructive.”
“Our history is one of inclusion, coexistence, and tolerance of different cultures”
Emphasizing that Turkey emerged out of the ashes of a great empire that lasted some six centuries, Altun expressed: “Our history is one of inclusion, coexistence, and tolerance of different cultures. The events of the WWI must be understood within the context of European imperialism and disintegration of an empire.”
Pointing out that their ancestors fought and died for the liberation and independence of millions from the yoke of imperialism, Altun recalled that the period in question was full of tragedies and full of sorrow for so many ethnic and religious groups that had been living under the Ottomans in peace for many centuries.
“The current U.S. administration attempts to reduce our nation's struggles to a politically loaded noun for narrow political gains”
“With this step, the current U.S. administration is failing not only to appreciate the richness and complexities of our shared history with our brothers and sisters in the region but also reducing our nation's struggles to a politically loaded noun for narrow political gains,” Altun said.
“Our President Erdoğan has shown unprecedented leadership in recognizing and coming to terms with historical tragedies and pain of our common past. But he also consistently and determinedly opposed any attempt at the weaponization of history to demean our nation. Our President Erdoğan has repeatedly called upon historians, scientists, intellectuals, and others to convene to present an informed and comprehensive perspective on the events of 1915. He has emphasized that we are not afraid of or embarrassed by the facts of our history. Our nation has stood by the oppressed throughout its history and opened its arms to millions of refugees during both world wars and in recent years as well. Political mischaracterizations of our history will not deter us from protecting those that share our common destiny.”
“We do not harbor hatred or hostility toward any nation including Armenia”
Indicating that Turks and Armenians lived together for centuries alongside many other ethnicities and religious groups, Altun emphasized that millions of Muslim and Christian Ottoman subjects experienced the horrors of imperialism and war during WWI.
Expressing that they still remembered their pain and honored their memory, Altun said, “We also do not allow these tragic events to preordain our relations with our neighbors today. We do not harbor hatred or hostility toward any nation, including Armenia. Our attempts up to now to enhance our relations with Armenia based on mutual respect are proof of this, and no diaspora group can change this reality.”
“We would have expected them to notice the big difference between the indisputable facts and malicious lobbying campaigns”
In his statement, Director of Communications Altun made the following remarks: “Once again, it is a sad day for our bilateral relationship with the U.S., as Washington is choosing to cast a shadow on our honorable history. This is unacceptable, and we categorically reject and strongly condemn the Biden administration's labeling of the 1915 events as genocide.”
“While making this statement, the U.S. authorities, unfortunately, bowed down to the demands of the lobbies. We would have expected those authorities to consider the comments by Armenian Patriarch of Turkey, Reverend Sahak Maşalyan and Head of Armenian Foundations Union Bedros Şirinoğlu, where they stressed that the suffering of the past should not be used by some countries for short-term political purposes and to notice the big difference between the indisputable facts and malicious lobbying campaigns. We will continue to engage in dialogue and cooperation with our allies, as we have always done for the interests of our people and our national security. But we will also not shy away from calling out attempts to stain our nation's history and the reputation of Turkish people.” (ILKHA)