MOSCOW (RFE/RL)–Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the 1915 Armenian massacres in Ottoman Turkey as genocide ahead of his participation in Friday’s official ceremonies in Yerevan to mark the 100th anniversary of the tragedy.
“April 24, 1915 is a sad date connected with one of the most appalling and dramatic events in the history of humankind: the genocide of the Armenian people,” Putin said Wednesday in a written message to participants of an event in Moscow dedicated to the genocide centennial.
“One century on, we bow our heads in memory of all victims of this tragedy which our country has always perceived as its own pain and calamity,” he said.
“The position of Russia has been and remains objective and consistent: there can be no justifications for an ethnically motivated mass extermination. The international community is obliged to do everything to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated anywhere.”
“New generations of Armenians and other peoples of the region must live in peace and accord without knowing the horrors that result from provocation of religious enmity, aggressive nationalism and xenophobia,” added the message posted on the Kremlin’s website.
Putin is one of the four foreign heads of state — along with the presidents of France, Serbia and Cyprus — who have accepted official Armenian invitations to take part in the April 24 remembrance ceremonies in Yerevan. Russia and France are among two dozen countries that have officially recognized the World War One-era slaughter of some 1.5 million Armenians as genocide.
In what may have been an attempt to prevent Putin’s April 24 visit to Armenia, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan phoned his Russian counterpart and discussed the genocide issue with him on March 17. Erdogan told Putin that the issue should be tackled from a “fair perspective.”
The Moscow event saluted by Putin was organized by the pro-Kremlin Union of Armenians of Russia (SAR) with what the latter described as the “support” of the Russian presidential administration and other government bodies.
Thank you President Putin for maintaining human dignity despite foreign denialist pressures. It would be nice if our leaders here in the US could speak so bluntly and honestly regarding such matters. Vladimir Putin will go do in the annals of history as one if the most pragmatic, far sighted, and brilliant leaders of the 21st century. The Russian people have a right to be proud of this amazing leader. Bravo!
I Agree completely and sure God’s Son and Holy Martyrs were not politically correct(corrupt), as the spoiled little west talks, but The martyrs were Real and True to God, that is why even after 100 years of denial and denials pressure, God appointed His True servant Paus Francis to complete the half truth about the Horrible Genocide 1915 against 2 Million Armenian Christians,(1915 is the forefather of second genocide in 1941).So we have to Thank God for Good Leaders and Gods curse is with the wrong ones.
Now I have no doubt that Putin is friend of Armenia. Yes, I said it. Putin is our friend. We must appreciate and honor Putin. Hayer!!, consider Putin as our friend. Russia is our ally. Armenia must improve it’s relation with Russia even more.
Stop selling arms to the Genocidal Azerbaijan and Turkey. Shame on Obama and Putin.
Hayastanekentron. Nothing else. Do not trust anybody.
Thank you Mr. Putin and God bless you and your great nation.
Our lands from Turkey.
Thank you Mr Putin! May God bless you and the Russian Federation!
MR. PUTIN’S MESSAGE TO TURKEY IS THAT WE HAVE MUTUAL(30 BILLION IN TRADE) INTERESTS BUT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SHARED VALUES BUT WE DEFINITELY HAVE SHARED VALUES WITH ARMENIA OUR CHRISTIAN ALLY.WE DO RECOGNIZE THE GENOCIDE AND WE WILL DEFEND ARMENIA. THIS IS ALSO A VERY STRONG MESSAGE TO AZERBAIJAN. I FEEL SORRY FOR THE COUNTRY OF GEORGIA IT HAS SOLD IT’S SOUL TO THE DEVIL TRADE AND MONEY! I HOPE SOON IT WILL RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH AND RECOGNIZE THE GENOCIDE.
soon is already late, even if georgia will condemn and realize what a bad brother he has been, it is late. the trial, that should come on the world has come and has tried, 2000 years, but specially the 20th century was a real trial of who is who. so let obama not talk about slavery and see who they have been, barbarianfrom the tree and real mokeys, that should were not able to become human even after having so many benefits from God and also I am sure they understand how bad they have been (can you imagine the slave, who gets freedom and has a chance to give freedom to another slave, but does vice verse, goes and lies and inslaves the other slave, and tries to sell the other slave, while God patiently looks at him and his deeds and all who were happy for him). Got cha.you all already know the end of this slave, who was creul and without compassin. so may we be happy and also Thank God for all good slaves freed and never let anyone to enslave us, never let anyone tohesitate in TRUE GOD. He is Back to Judge. As Promised.