April 25, 2013 - 13:06 AMT
Turkey blasts Obama’s statement on Genocide Remembrance Day

Turkey has criticized the statement made by U.S. President Barack Obama on the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, as “one-sided and lacking fairness and objectivity.”

“In his statement issued on April 24, 2013, U.S. President Obama unfortunately demonstrated once again this year a one-sided approach which reflects the Armenian views regarding the dispute between the Turks and Armenians on the painful part of their common history,” a statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

“We regard this statement, which distorts historical facts, as problematic in every aspect and deeply regret it.”

“Issued under the influence of domestic political considerations and interpreting controversial historical events on the basis of one-sided information and with a selective sense of justice, such statements damage both Turkish-American relations and also render it more difficult for Turks and Armenians to reach a just memory,” the Turkish ministry said.

Ankara has expressed its expectations from the US, a critical and significant ally of Turkey, that “it should not further deepen the problem but instead contribute constructively for its resolution, and to encourage the Armenian side, which has avoided objective and scientific research of the issue, to be more realistic and conciliatory.”