Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc held a meeting with the representatives of Turkey’s ethnic and religious minority groups to mark iftar, evening meal when Muslims break their fast during Ramadan.

Armenian community was represented by Petros Sirinoglu, Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Armenian Surb Prkich (Holy Savior) hospital in Istanbul, IHA agency reported.

Duringthe meeting Bulent Arinc called on all those who left Turkey because of tragic events to come back. He stressed they are concerned over reducing number of ethnic minority groups.

Speaking about the 1915 events, he said it was the time of collapse of empire when World War I broke out and both Turks and Armenians were killed.

“1915 is our tragedy. We do not want to relive those events,” he emphasized.