Turkey's Pres. says he 'sincerely' shares Armenians' pain

ISTANBUL, April 24 (KUNA) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he "sincerely" shares the pain of Turkey's Armenian community over the deaths of their ancestors in 1915.
"On this day that carries a special significance for our Armenian citizens, I once again respectfully commemorate all the Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives amid the conditions of the World War I and extend my condolences to their children and grandchildren," Erdogan said in a statement read out at the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul.
According to the Turkish Anadolu Agency, the statement was read by Tatul Anusyan, chairman of Patriarchate Assembly, at a service held to remember those who lost their lives during the relocation of the Ottoman Empire's Armenian population in 1915.
The Republic of Turkey, the successor to the Ottoman Empire, was founded "not by forgetting these sufferings but by learning to cope with them," The President said, adding that the country was working to secure a "better future on the basis of peace, harmony and fraternity." "Let me reiterate that we are cognizant of the sorrowful events experienced in the past by the Armenian community and that I sincerely share your pain," Erdogan said.
"Please rest assured also that our hearts remain wide open to the grandchildren of the Ottoman Armenians all around the world." (end) ta.msa