Paylan on Erdogan’s April 24 remarks: 104 years have passed, but Turkey’s mentality remains unchanged
Garo Paylan, an Armenian member of the Turkey’s parliament representing the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), took to Twitter on Thursday to condemn the April 24 remarks of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the deportation of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 was “reasonable” at the time.
“In a speech at the Turkish presidency on the April 24 anniversary [of the Armenian Genocide], President Erdogan said the relocation [of Armenians] was the most reasonable action that could be taken in such a period. He took responsibility of the policy against the Armenian people implemented by Talaat, Enver and Jemal. 104 have passed, but, unfortunately, the mentality is the same,” he wrote.
In another tweet, Paylan cited the Turkish leader’s condolence message addressed to Archbishop Aram Ateshian in which he said: “I honor the memory of the Ottoman Armenians who were killed in harsh conditions during the First World War.”
“There is no perpetrator in this statement. The Armenian people were annihilated by the decision of the state. The condolence that does not open the way for justice cannot heal the wounds,” he stressed.