Statement of President Barack Obama on Armenian Remembrance
Day
25-04-2009 01:00:00 | Armenia | Politics
YEREVAN, APRIL 25, NOYAN TAPAN. "Ninety four years ago, one
of the great atrocities of the 20th century began. Each year, we
pause to remember the 1.5 million Armenians who were
subsequently massacred or marched to their death in the final
days of the Ottoman Empire. The Meds Yeghern must live on in our
memories, just as it lives on in the hearts of the Armenian
people.
History, unresolved, can be a heavy weight. Just as the
terrible events of 1915 remind us of the dark prospect of man´s
inhumanity to man, reckoning with the past holds out the
powerful promise of reconciliation. I have consistently stated
my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that
history has not changed. My interest remains the achievement of
a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts.
The best way to advance that goal right now is for the
Armenian and Turkish people to address the facts of the past as
a part of their efforts to move forward. I strongly support
efforts by the Turkish and Armenian people to work through this
painful history in a way that is honest, open, and constructive.
To that end, there has been courageous and important dialogue
among Armenians and Turks, and within Turkey itself. I also
strongly support the efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalize
their bilateral relations. Under Swiss auspices, the two
governments have agreed on a framework and roadmap for
normalization. I commend this progress, and urge them to fulfill
its promise.
Together, Armenia and Turkey can forge a relationship that
is peaceful, productive and prosperous. And together, the
Armenian and Turkish people will be stronger as they acknowledge
their common history and recognize their common humanity.
Nothing can bring back those who were lost in the Meds
Yeghern. But the contributions that Armenians have made over the
last ninety-four years stand as a testament to the talent,
dynamism and resilience of the Armenian people, and as the
ultimate rebuke to those who tried to destroy them. The United
States of America is a far richer country because of the many
Americans of Armenian descent who have contributed to our
society, many of whom immigrated to this country in the
aftermath of 1915. Today, I stand with them and with Armenians
everywhere with a sense of friendship, solidarity, and deep
respect".