YEREVAN. – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s message in connection with April 24 is another unsuccessful manifestation of denialism, an apparent attempt at putting on the Armenians the blame for the genocide, which the Ottoman Empire authorities had perpetrated against the Armenians.

Shavarsh Kocharyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, stated the aforementioned.

“Turkey continues exerting efforts to put on an equal plane the war victims and those who became victims to the genocide that was planned and executed at state level,” Kocharyan stressed. “Turkey’s denialist stance further increases the existing abyss between the Armenian and Turkish peoples, the best way to eradicating of which is confronting history and repentance.”

Erdoğan had released a statement in connection with April 24, which is the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

“We will never give up working for amity and peace against those who try to politicize history through a bitter rhetoric of hate and enmity and strive to alienate the two neighboring nations, who are bound with their common history and their similar traditions,” the statement specifically reads. “With this in mind, I once again commemorate the Ottoman Armenians who passed away and extend my condolences to their children and grandchildren.”

Erdoğan went on to pay tribute to all Ottoman citizens, “regardless of their ethnic or religious origins,” who lost their lives.

“I would like to reiterate that we share this common pain,” the Turkish president added.