Provoking Turkish Anger

"Turkey Recalls Ambassador Over Pope's Armenia Genocide Words"
Source: NY Times
By: The Associated Press
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/04/12/world/europe/ap-eu-rel-vatican-armenians.html?_r=0

"In the past century, our human family has lived through three massive and unprecedented tragedies," the Pope said at a Mass at St. Peter's Basilica to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian massacres. By using these words, Pope Francis risked and succeeded at angering the Turks. "Francis issued the pronouncement during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica commemorating the centenary that was attended by Armenian church leaders and President Serge Sarkisian, who praised the pope for calling a spade a spade and "delivering a powerful message to the international community," says the reporter for the Associated Press. As Armenians, we all have learned about the tragedies that have occurred during the years of 1915 and even before that. A total estimate of 1.5 million Armenians have lost their lives. Francis defended his words by saying "it was his duty to honor the memory of the innocent men, women and children who were "senselessly" murdered by Ottoman Turks." His use of the term genocide, even though he was quoting from a declaration, upset Turkey. The nation summoned it's ambassador to the Vatican for "consultations" just hours after Francis' comments, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. "Since this is a situation that we do not approve of, as a first reaction, (the ambassador) is summoned to get consultation," Gursoy said, adding that the Pope's use of the word "genocide" was "a one-sided evaluation." "A one-sided evaluation" is the new excuse and it is how the deniers justify their actions and their continuation of denial.