The Pope avoid using the word genocide....

[Shirag]

Pope honours victims at Armenian memorial

 

In a moving ceremony full of symbolism, the Pope has paid tribute to up to one-point-five million Armenians killed during the first world war. The pontiff led a prayer service at the memorial to what Armenia claims was genocide carried out by Ottoman Turks in nineteen-fifteen.

John Paul, who was accompanied by the head of the Armenian Apostolic church, Gagerin, steered clear of controversy by avoiding the use of the word genocide to describe the deaths.

 

Turkey disputes Armenian claims. Yet many Armenians, who are celebrating one thousand seven hundred years since their country became the first state to adopt the Christian faith, believe the Pope's visit is a recognition of genocide.

 

The Armenian-born French singer Charles Aznavour took part in the special ceremony at the imposing memorial, which since its construction in nineteen-sixty-seven has been a focal point for Armenians to remember those who have died in centuries of conflict with neighbouring Muslims.

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[MosJan]

ANKARA DISPLEASED BY THE POPE'S VISIT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS MEMORIAL

27.09.2001

 

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The visit of Pope John Paul II to the memorial of the victims of the Armenian genocide of 1915 aroused sharp resentment of official Ankara. As reported by "Arka" agency, referring to "Turkish Daily News" newspaper, an official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey stated "the Pope should not distort the Turkish history to cater to Armenians." In connection with the hullabaloo in the diplomatic circles of Vatican and Ankara caused by the visit of the Pontiff to Armenia, John Paul II addressed a letter to President of Turkey Ahmed Sezer. In his letter the Pope assured the Turkish President there was no reason for worrying.

 

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[Boghos]

It is really amazing how much time and effort official Ankara devotes to anti-Genocide activities. I would think that their cup of tea is so full of other more important issues. It sounds like Peter Seller's "The mouse that roars".

[MosJan]

PAPAL VISIT TO ARMENIA RECEIVES WIDE COVERAGE IN TURKEY

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: The Papal visit to Armenia received a wide coverage by Turkish newspapers. The subject of Armenian genocide was in their focus, especially the Pope's description of the events which took the lives of more than 1 million Armenians in 1915.

Some Turkish newspapers underlined that John Paul II did not use the word "genocide" in a bid to avoid angering Turkey, and used instead the Armenian phrase "mets yeghern," which may be translated as "big calamity, or big crime" to condemn the mass killings and deportations during a visit to Genocide Memorial in Yerevam.

The Turkish newspapers write that before the visit to Yerevan official Ankara sent a message to the Pope calling on him to be careful while wording the 1915 events, which it warned, could create new tension in relations between Turkey and Vatican.

In return message the Pope promised to be cautious while using the words relevant to 1915 events.

Another paper, the Radical recalls that relations between Turkey and Vatican aggravated after Pope John Paul II signed a joint communique with the head of Armenian Church in 2000 whereby he described systematic annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians in Turkey as a "genocide".