Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu addressed Armenians on the eighth anniversary of the murder of Hrant Dink.

In his message, Davutoglu called Dink an “Anatolian intellectual” who sought ways for both Turks and Armenians to build a common future, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

In this context, he invited “everyone believing in Turkish-Armenian friendship to contribute to a new beginning”.

“It’s possible for two ancient people to have the maturity to understand each other and to look to the future together. Turks and Armenians, sharing the same geography and long history, can only talk to each other about their problems and seek together ways to resolve them. It is a necessity for us to develop mutual trust and cooperation, to know each other again in light of our 800 years of common history, and to engage in a humane relationship,” Davutoglu said in a written statement.

“It’s our candid wish to re-establish friendships, heal wounds and share sufferings. Our vision is of friendship and peace,” he stated.

Davutoglu stressed that Turkey shares the suffering of Armenians and makes efforts to once again establish sympathy between the two people with patience and commitment.

“The way to leave the great tragedy that had frozen history in 1915 is to break taboos. Turkey, for its part, has moved beyond this point and left stereotypical rhetoric and generalizations in the past,” Davutoğlu stated.