Turkey Rejects Greek Genocide Remembrance Statements
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis paid tribute, writing, “I wish to pay homage on today’s Day of Remembrance of the Genocide of the Greeks of Asia Minor by the Turkish state.”
Asharp diplomatic exchange unfolded on Thursday as Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to messages from Greek political leaders marking the annual Day of Remembrance of the Genocide of the Greeks of Asia Minor, observed on September 14.
In a strongly worded statement, the Turkish ministry described the Greek claims as “unfounded and outrageous,” emphasizing that such references contradict “historical facts.” It urged Greece to avoid actions that could “incite hostility between the two nations.”
Earlier in the day, Greek President Konstantinos Tasoulas commemorated the National Day of Remembrance, stating, “Today we remember the genocide of the Greeks of Asia Minor, following a historical presence of over 3,000 years. We honor the memory of the thousands of Greeks who were killed.”
He added, “We remember, respect, and honor the memory of those who were violently expelled from their ancestral homes, only to resettle in Greece, carrying with them all their creative spirit.”
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also paid tribute, writing, “I wish to pay homage on today’s Day of Remembrance of the Genocide of the Greeks of Asia Minor by the Turkish state. September reminds us of the tragedy of an entire nation—a memory that, as the Smyrna-born poet George Seferis wrote, ‘wherever you touch it, it hurts,’ and calls on us never to forget. A people who forget their history are doomed to relive it.”
Socratis Famellos, leader of the minor opposition, also weighed in, noting, “September 14 is dedicated to the memory of the Greeks of Asia Minor who suffered the horrors of genocide.”
He added, “We honor the victims of a plan orchestrated by the Young Turks and Kemalists to eradicate Christian populations, including Greeks, Pontians, Armenians, and Assyrians. We also recognize the contribution of refugees to the Greek state and their role in enriching Greek society. We call for the recognition of the Genocide of the Greeks of Asia Minor and the restoration of historical memory.”
Famellos concluded by urging the international community to recognize the genocide without delay.
