Contact: White House, Office of the Press Secretary, 202-456-2580

WASHINGTON, April 24 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is a statement by President Bush regarding Armenian Remembrance Day: 

On this day of remembrance, we honor the memory of the victims of one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, the mass killings and forced exile of as many as 1.5 million Armenians at the end of the Ottoman Empire.  I join the Armenian community in America and around the world in commemorating this tragedy and mourning the loss of so many innocent lives.  

As we reflect on this epic human tragedy, we must resolve to redouble our efforts to promote peace, tolerance, and respect for the dignity of human life.  The Armenian people’s unalterable determination to triumph over tragedy and flourish is a testament to their strength of character and spirit.  We are grateful for the many contributions Americans of Armenian heritage have made to our Nation.

We welcome the efforts by individuals in Armenia and Turkey to foster reconciliation and peace, and support joint efforts for an open examination of the past in search of a shared understanding of these tragic events.  We look forward to the realization of a fully normalized Armenia-Turkey relationship. 

The United States is committed to a strong relationship with Armenia based on shared values.  We call on the Government of Armenia to take decisive steps to promote democracy, and will continue our support for Armenia to this end.  We remain committed to serving as an honest broker in pursuit of a lasting and peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

On this solemn day of remembrance, Laura and I express our deepest condolences to Armenian people around the world.