The fact of massacres of peaceful Armenian population 96 years ago should not be challenged, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said on Monday.

Speaking during the discussion held by Knesset’s committee on education, culture and sports, Rivlin said disagreements between Ankara and Yerevan should not erase the historical facts.

He stressed that recognition of this fact has no reference to today’s Turkey, the matter is a historical event. Rivlin said he had never concealed his views on the issue, but Turkey had never thought to declare him persona non grata, IzRus reports.