'Shared hurt absent in Obama remarks on 1915'

Serdar Kilic made the comments to Anadolu Agency during an interview regarding the Turkish American community’s rally Sunday to mark the anniversary of the 1915 events. 

“It is important to look into the sufferings of that time objectively and howsoever it should be handled with a just memory,” Kilic said. “I regret that President Barack Obama’s statement lacked the emphasis on common suffering.” 

Obama described the events as "Meds Yeghern," an Armenian term meaning "great calamity" noting Armenians sufferings during the relocation.

The American president also called for an acknowledgement of the events.

For more than a hundred years, what exactly unfolded in 1915, continues to be a contentious issue between Turkey and Armenia that has proven to be a spoiler in relations between the two neighboring states.

While Armenia and the diaspora claim nothing short of “genocide” occurred at the hands of Ottoman authorities under a relocation order of some ethnic Armenians, Turkey says Turks and Armenians died during clashes between Ottoman forces and armed Armenian gangs backed by Russia.

Armenia is trying to place pressure on governments to describe the events as “genocide” and do not support looking into the archives as the Turkish government has suggested for almost two years. 

Kilic noted Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last year said that the 1915 events should be handled with a consideration about how to develop relations between Turkey and Armenia rather than deepening differences.

"Historians shall handle this issue with a just memory and parties shall take their positions in accordance with historical facts. Without these step being taken first any statement of this kind has no way to contribute either to the relations between Turkey and the U.S. nor Turkey and Armenia,” he added.

The Turkish diplomat also noted his support for the Turkish rally that will call for peace and solidarity between the Turkish and Armenian communities, saying Washington is a special place to deliver that message to the world.

The Peace and Solidarity Walk organized by the Turkish American Steering Committee (TASC) -- an umbrella organization of 155 Turkish American organizations -- will set off on a 5-mile march from the White House to the Turkish Embassy.

An estimated 10,000 Turkish Americans from different states are expected to participate. 

“This walk should not only think within the context of 1915 anniversary,” Kilic said. “It will also echo the appreciations from Turks in the U.S., as well as other Muslim minorities, to Turkey for its efforts such as hosting 3 million refugees, trying to settle peace in the Middle East and standing against Islamophobia.”

As the march takes place in the U.S. capital, supporters from around the world are expected to take to social media to lend their voices to the event by using the hashtag #letthehistorydecide – a demand for historical research into the events.

Anadolu Agency