Today we commemorate the Meds Yeghern and honor those who perished in
one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. We recall the horror of what
happened ninety-nine years ago, when 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or
marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire, and we grieve
for the lives lost and the suffering endured by those men, women, and children.
We are joined in solemn commemoration by millions in the United States
and across the world. In so doing, we remind ourselves of our shared commitment
to ensure that such dark chapters of human history are never again repeated. I
have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view has
not changed.
A full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all of our
interests. Peoples and nations grow stronger, and build a foundation for a more
just and tolerant future, by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements
of the past. We continue to learn this lesson in the United States, as we
strive to reconcile some of the darkest moments in our own history. We
recognize and commend the growing number of courageous Armenians and Turks who
have already taken this path, and encourage more to do so, with the backing of
their governments, and mine.
And we recall with pride the humanitarian efforts undertaken by the
American Committee for Syrian and Armenian Relief, funded by donations from
Americans, which saved the lives of countless Armenians and others from
vulnerable communities displaced in 1915. As we honor through remembrance those
Armenian lives that were unjustly taken in 1915, we are inspired by the
extraordinary courage and great resiliency of the Armenian people in the face
of such tremendous adversity and suffering. I applaud the countless
contributions that Armenian-Americans have made to American society, culture,
and communities.
We share a common commitment to supporting the Armenian people as they
work to build a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous nation. Today, our
thoughts and prayers are with Armenians everywhere, as we recall the horror of
the Meds Yeghern, honor the memory of those lost, and reaffirm our enduring
commitment to the people of Armenia and to the principle that such atrocities
must always be remembered if we are to prevent them from occurring ever again.