Reverend Sahak Maşalyan,

Armenian Patriarch of Turkey,

Distinguished members of the Armenian community,

I salute you with affection and respect.

The solidarity among our citizens continues to grow stronger during these difficult times we are going through together with the entire world. I pray to my Lord that we will reach the future in a more united manner and with stronger feelings of unity and solidarity.

I remember with respect the Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives under harsh conditions of the First World War, which caused the world’s peoples to suffer great sorrows, and offer my sincere condolences to their grandchildren. On this occasion, I wish Allah’s mercy upon all the Ottoman citizens who passed away during that painful period.

We have, under no circumstances, allowed even a single citizen of ours to be otherized or discriminated against because of their faith or identity, and we never will.

It is the common objective of all of us to build the future all together by gaining strength from the past only for friendship and the same higher ideal of humanity.

We are all aware of the circles working to create hostility out of the past by ignoring our unity that emerged from the bosom of Anatolia. While we desire and work for a future full of unity, prosperity and tranquility, it is our most important wish that the circles that aim for the opposite are not allowed.

With these thoughts in my mind, I once again remember with respect and mercy the Ottoman Armenians whom we lost during the First World War.

Peace be upon you all!

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

President of Turkey