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26 avril 2005

Communiqué du Comité de Coordination des Organisations Turques d’Amérique (CDCT - ATAA)

PRESIDENT BUSH CALLS ON ARMENIA AND TURKEY TO "EXAMINE THE HISTORICAL EVENTS OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY WITH HONESTY AND SENSITIVITY"

In his annual April 24 address President Bush called on both Armenia and Turkey to examine the historical events behind the "human tragedy" of the early 20th century. He pointed out that the recent analysis by the International Center for Transitional Justice "did not provide the final word" but was a "significant step towards reconciliation". President Bush characterized Prime Minister Erdogan’s recent proposal for a joint Turkish-Armenian commission as advancing "future of freedom, peace, and prosperity in Armenia and Turkey."

ATAA joins President Bush in his calls for a scientific analysis of the human tragedy that claimed lives of millions of Muslims, Armenians, and Jews. We welcome Mr. Bush’s support for Prime Minister Erdogan’s proposal for a scholarly commission to examine this issue and agree that the analysis by the International Center for Transitional Justice, while inconclusive, is a positive development in as far as it facilitates a dialog between the affected communities.

President Bush’s statement demonstrates his commitment to the US-Turkish relations and appreciation for the complexity and sensitivity of this difficult historical and legal matter.

The full text of President Bush’s statement is provided below.

April 24, 2005

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

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.