Message sent by H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the Religious Ceremony Held in the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul - 24 April 2015

"Reverend Patriarch Aram Ateşyan

Acting Patriarch of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey

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.

I fondly recall all the memories - engraved all across these lands - of the Armenian community, whose economic, social, cultural and political contributions both to the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey will always be remembered with appreciation.

Taking this opportunity, I also extend my best wishes for the recovery of Arbishop Mesrob Mutafyan, who is undergoing treatment for his illness.

My distinguished Armenian citizens,

In World War I, which ranks among humanity's major catastrophes, millions from all nations also perished within the boundaries of the Ottoman Empire.

I commemorate with compassion and respect all the Ottoman citizens, regardless of their ethnic and religious identity, who lost their lives under similar conditions during this War.

We succeeded in establishing the Republic of Turkey not by forgetting these sufferings, but by learning to cope with them.

Today, we are working and striving together with all our citizens and friends, regardless of their ethnic or religious identities, to attain a better future on the basis of peace, harmony and fraternity.

It is due to these values that we are able to enthusiastically host today in Çanakkale, the grandchildren of those who had arrived from all over the world a century ago to invade our shared homeland, so as to condemn war and promote peace and friendship,

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.

Please rest assured also that our hearts remain wide open to the grandchildren of the Ottoman Armenians all around the world.

With heartfelt salutations, I extend my best regards and wishes."