On the occasion of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a number of state and political leaders from different countries of the world delivered messages.

In their statements, they refer to the importance of historical justice, preservation of memory and prevention of such crimes, emphasizing that the condemnation of genocides should be a key part of international solidarity.

Tarelits is another occasion to remember the victims and rethink the responsibility facing humanity to not forget the lessons of the past and to prevent similar tragedies in the future. French President Emmanuel Macron made a post on X on the occasion of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

“Today, on April 24, the Republic commemorates the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide and bows to their memory,” it is stated in his post. The head of the Elysée Palace emphasized that this is an opportunity to remember, convey and emphasize the inseparable connection between France and Armenia, as well as the French and Armenians.

The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, also sent a message, in which it is noted that the brutal massacre of innocent people shocked the entire civilized world, and its disastrous consequences clearly showed what the incitement of religious hatred, nationalism and xenophobia leads to.
“We are convinced that the policy of mass extermination and displacement of people on national soil has no justification and cannot have, and the international community must unite efforts so that such barbarism is never repeated anywhere,” Putin said.

Turkish President Recep Erdogan also sent an April 24th message, again announcing that the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire lost their lives in the difficult conditions of the First World War.
In his letter of condolence to the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey Sahak Mashalyan, Erdogan wrote that the collapse of the Ottoman Empire was accompanied by clashes, movements of terrorist groups, terrorism, and epidemics, during which, among other peoples, Armenians also suffered deeply.
Erdogan’s message was read during the liturgy in the Armenian church in Istanbul.
“Instead of conflict, we prefer agreement,” wrote the President of Turkey. According to him, on the basis of peace, well-being and brotherhood, they continue to act and fight together with all their compatriots and friends, regardless of their national and religious affiliations.

168.amin a conversation with Russian orientalist Viktor Nadein-Raevsky said that Turkey’s current political line is formed at the point of intersection of several axes at the same time, between preserving national identity, expanding regional influence and ensuring internal political stability.

According to him, in this context, the issues of historical memory, especially the topic of the Armenian Genocide, continue to be a part of state security and ideological integrity.

He believes that although Ankara sometimes raises the topic of historians, it considers the issue outside the scope of historiography, it is a political tool.

“Denial is one of the key components of this policy, it operates at different levels, from education to diplomacy. It allows maintaining public consensus, avoiding discussions that could revise history. At the same time, denial has a preventive nature. creates a dead end for a possible agenda of legal claims, reducing the likelihood of international pressure. This logic becomes more clear and explainable when it is considered against the background of “Turan’s” ideology.

Integration processes between Turkic-speaking countries in the economic, military and cultural spheres imply the construction and expansion of common historical and value bases. The policy of 1915 was transformed and has reached our days as the “Turan” program, on which Armenia is on the way. Therefore, the control of the historical narrative is becoming a part of not only domestic but also a broad regional strategy,” the analyst said.

He believes that this whole picture shows that Turkey’s non-recognition of the Armenian Genocide is not a random or situational choice. “It is a systemic approach that combines the protection of state identity, foreign political calculations and future-oriented integration programs. It is in these layers that the stable position of Ankara is formed, which, despite the wording changing over time, remains the same in its content,” said Viktor Nadein-Raevsky.

The Russian Turkologist believes that maintaining this tough and consistent position of Turkey is also contributed to a certain extent by the policy of the current authorities of Armenia, especially in those areas where the topics of historical memory, international recognition and claim-making are pushed to the background for the sake of stability or regional de-escalation. “Therefore today it was impossible to expect a different reaction from the Turkish side, this was logical and expected,” said Viktor Nadein-Raevsky.

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