Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian issued the following comment regarding Turkish Prime Minister Davutoglu's public remarks on the "deportation in 1915."
"Facing a global wave of Armenian Genocide recognition - from the Pope to the European Parliament - Turkey's leaders are defiantly doubling down on denial. Prime Minister Davutoglu's fake apology today grants no recognition, accepts no responsibility, expresses no regret, and offers no reparations."
"On April 24th, President Obama has a historic opportunity to reject Turkey's gag-rule, ending a shameful chapter of U.S. complicity in Ankara's denial, and moving Turkey, Armenia, and the region toward a better future based upon a truthful and just resolution of this crime." In his conciliatory message released days ahead of the April 24 centenary commemorations, Davutoglu however, stopped short of the calling the killings a genocide and criticized efforts to press Turkey to recognize the slaughter as such.
"To reduce everything to a single word, to load all of the responsibility on the Turkish nation ... and to combine this with a discourse of hatred is legally and morally problematic," Davutoglu said. "
We once again respectfully remember Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives during the deportation of 1915 and share the pain of their children and grandchildren," Davutoglu said in his message. Davutoglu said a service would be held at the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul.