Donald Trump's Message on the 105th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a statement in connection with the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Below is the full text of the message:

“Today, we join humanity in honoring the victims of the Great Armenian Genocide, one of the worst mass atrocities of the 20th century. From the final years of the Ottoman Empire beginning in 1915, one and a half million Armenians perished from deportations, massacres, and death marches. On this day of remembrance, we pay our respects to the victims who suffered on the path of struggle and lost their lives, and simultaneously affirm our commitment to a more humane and peaceful world.

Every year on April 24th, we reflect on the strong and lasting ties between the Armenian and American peoples. We take pride in the American Armenian and Syrian Relief Committee founded by Americans, which, through progressive initiatives that began in 1915, provided much-needed humanitarian aid to Armenian refugees, and we are grateful to the thousands of Americans who donated funds or volunteered to assist displaced Armenians.

On this day, we honor the strength and resilience of the Armenian people in the face of tragedy. Thankfully, many Armenians have found refuge on our shores, bringing their rich culture and contributing to our nation’s life, creating distinguished military personnel, recognized artists, renowned architects, and successful business leaders.

We commend the efforts of Armenians and Turks to acknowledge the painful past and work towards reconciliation. We are convinced that today we must commemorate the victims and reaffirm our commitment to protecting vulnerable religious and ethnic minorities around the world.”