Several Armenians and Turks came together for an event in Washington, D.C. on Thursday to discuss ways for Turkish-Armenian dialogue, Today`s Zaman reports.

The event, named “Armenian-Turkish Reconciliation,” was organized by HasNa, a civil society group that promotes cross-cultural dialogue, with an emphasis on the ideas of murdered Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who said: “Dialogue is the only solution.”

Ömer Taşpınar, a member of HasNa executive board delivered a speech at the event, saying that while Armenians suffered a trauma due to the 1915 incidents, Turks suffered a trauma due to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and he called on both Turks and Armenians to avoid acts which will recall their traumas.

Taşpınar drew some negative reactions from some Armenians in the audience. One of the Armenian participants questioned why this event was organized close to April 24, when Armenians commemorate the victims of the genocide, while another Armenian participant said the Turkish state does not educate its people about these issues.

HasNa member Mary Anne Kibarian, an Armenian-American, said she supports dialogue between the peoples of Turkey and Armenia, adding that Turkey’s acceptance of Armenian claims of genocide should be a precondition for this.