During his Pontifical visit to Kuwait–His Holiness Aram I demanded that Turkey recognize the Armenian genocide–sparking a slew of denial from the Turkish government.
"How do you want relations between Armenia’s and Turks–between Armenia and Turkey to be normal? Our relations are not normal and the reason for this lies in Turkey. It is a clear historic fact that the Ottoman Empire–benefiting from the chaotic circumstances created during World War I–planned and executed a genocide against Armenia’s," said His Holiness during a press conference.
His Holiness called on Turkey to recognize this fact–given international pressure and abundant historical documentation.
The Pontiff appealed to Arab and Islamic nations to view the Genocide–not as a matter of religion–but of human rights. He spoke of the strong ties between Armenia’s and the Arab world saying that–"when Turkey massacred Armenia’s–the Arab and Islamic Worlds helped the Armenian people–welcoming the survivors."
"The existence of Armenian communities in the Islamic and Arab Worlds is expressive proof in this regard. Regardless of the political–economic–strategic–and military ties and interests of the Arab and Islamic Worlds with Turkey–I expect that they not only recognize the Armenian genocide–but also exert pressure on Turkey to recognize this crime committed by its forefathers against humanity," he said.
After learning of these commen’s–Turkey responded by repeating the same denial so often heard from its government officials.
The Turkish embassy in Kuwait published a press release on November 25–the day after the commen’s were made–"expressing its rage and protest to the fictitious–one-sided–outrageous and untrue views of Catholicos Aram I."
"How can commen’s against a state be made in the borders of another state. Such approaches do not contribute to the progress of diplomatic relations between countries," stated the embassy.
Referring to the Armenian genocide–the embassy called it a "one-sided approach by Armenia’s."
"Those who try to force Turkey to change its history through one-sided approaches–propaganda campaigns and international pressure–are completely mistaken," threatened the Turkish government.