Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that he hopes Armenia and the Armenian diaspora will see Turkey’s heartfelt steps and respond with the same courage. 

Erdogan spoke about his April 24 address to the Armenians, reported the Mansettv website of Turkey.

“Confronting history and historical realities is not with solely Turkey’s confronting. Every state, which keeps alive the tragedies that took place one-hundred years ago, must confront [history].

“We are breaking the walls of fear in Turkey. [But] there are no events in our history, of which we will be ashamed, fearful, or reluctant. We have confronted and we will confront any event. 

“I hope both the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian diaspora will see this heartfelt step of ours, and respond with the same heart, the same courage. We wait,” Erdogan specifically said.

For the first time in Turkey’s history, and ahead of the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan condoled with the victims of the Genocide in 1915. His respective statement, however, did not deviate from Turkey’s official policy of Genocide denial.