Çavuşoğlu showed the "grey wolves" sign to the Armenians gathered in front of the Turkish Embassy in Montevideo

The visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to Uruguay did not end without consequences. Çavuşoğlu responded to the protests of Armenians gathered in front of the Turkish Embassy in Montevideo with the sign of "gray wolves". The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay summoned the Turkish Ambassador to the Ministry for explanations in connection with that sign. The meeting is scheduled for Monday. Armenian organizations in Uruguay condemned Çavuşoğlu's actions.

Armenia’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan described Turkish FM Mevlut Cavusoglu’s "Grey Wolves" gesture at Armenian Genocide demonstrators as "disgusting, disgraceful and racist".

"Mevlut Cavusoglu’s "grey wolves" salute is disgusting, disgraceful and racist. Hitler is saluting back from his grave," Mnatsakanyan tweeted.

The former FM also addressed the normalization process between Armenia and Turkey. "Normalizing relations between neighboring nations is necessary. Sure. It implies good faith and empathy. Turkey’s denialism does not qualify as a requisite of good faith. Stop denying Armenian Genocide. And, for God’s sake, stop delegating Armenian Genocide to historians. They have done their job many times over in these past 107 years. It is still your turn to show political courage and self-worth," he said.

In a separate tweet Mnatsakanyan also touched upon the non-recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Israel and Rwanda. "The irony and affront to human dignity and justice is the refusal of Israel and Rwanda to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Come on, this is not a contest for “the best genocide”. So long as you are in denial of other peoples’ tragedy, your sentiments of justice and truth are hollow."

Chairman of the Foreign Relations Commission of the National Assembly of Armenia Eduard Aghajanyan reacted to the actions of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. The latter responded to the protests of the Armenians gathered in front of the Turkish Embassy in Montevideo with the sign of "gray wolves".

"On the eve of the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the nationalist gesture of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, demonstrated in front of the representatives of the Armenian community in Montevideo, is a reprehensible act and does not contribute to the formation of an atmosphere of mutual understanding and dialogue between the two people. We welcome the immediate response of the Uruguayan side to the Turkish Ambassador's call to Foreign Ministry for explanations," Eduard Aghajanyan wrote.

Turkey called Biden's message on occasion of 107th anniversary of Armenian Genocide "incompatible" 

United States President Joe Biden released a statement on the 107^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

"On April 24, 1915, Ottoman authorities arrested Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople. Thus began the Armenian genocide—one of the worst mass atrocities of the 20th century. Today, we remember the one and a half million Armenians who were deported, massacred, or marched to their deaths in a campaign of extermination, and mourn the tragic loss of so many lives. As we reflect on the Armenian genocide, we renew our pledge to remain vigilant against the corrosive influence of hate in all its forms. We recommit ourselves to speaking out and stopping atrocities that leave lasting scars on the world. And, as we mourn what was lost during the Meds Yeghern, let us redouble our efforts toward healing and building the better, more peaceful world that we wish for our children. A world where human rights are respected, where the evils of bigotry and intolerance do not mark our daily lives, and where people everywhere are free to pursue their lives in dignity and security. This is also a moment to reflect on the strength and resiliency of the Armenian people. After enduring a genocide, the Armenian people were determined to rebuild their community and their culture, so often in new homes and new lands, including the United States. Armenian Americans are a vital part of the fabric of the United States. They make our nation stronger and more dynamic, even as they continue to carry with them the tragic knowledge of what their ancestors endured. We recognize their pain and honor their story. Today, 107 years later, the American people continue to honor all Armenians who perished in the genocide," President Biden said in the statement published by the White House.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement on April 24 on the statements made by the authorities of a number of countries on the occasion of the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

"Statements that are incompatible with historical facts and international law regarding the events of 1915 are not valid. This includes the unfortunate statement made by US President Biden today, which is the repetition of the mistake he had made in 2021. We reject such statements and decisions, which distort historical facts with political motives, and condemn those who insist on this mistake. One-sided and selective approaches that serve no purpose other than to draw enmity from history are morally problematic and politically ill-intentioned. A humanitarian and conscientious stance requires commemorating all sufferings experienced at that period, without ethnic or religious discrimination. Turkey respectfully commemorates the sufferings of all the Ottoman population, including the Armenians. We reject the attempts to exploit this pain for political purposes. Turkey is of the opinion that controversial episodes in history such as the events of 1915 should be studied without prejudice by respecting the scientific and legal principles in order to reach a just memory. With this understanding, Turkey proposed the establishment of a Joint History Commission and opened its archives. Turkey strives for peace and stability in its region and in the world, and the spirit of cooperation to prevail. The normalization initiative with Armenia is another manifestation of this understanding," Turkish Foreign Ministry’s statement reads.

An Armenian serviceman is on the Azerbaijani side. RA MoD

On April 23, on the way from the military unit to the combat base, the connection with the serviceman Eduard Martirosov was lost, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia reports. It's noted that search and rescue operations immediately began.

As a result of the work carried out with the mediation of the Russian side with representatives of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, according to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, it turned out that Martirosov crossed the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on the same day under unknown circumstances and is on the Azerbaijani side. The Defense Ministry reports that the necessary steps are being taken to return Martirosov to the Armenian side.

Earlier today the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia denied the message spread by Azerbaijani State Border Service.

The message spread by the State Border Service of Azerbaijan on the alleged sabotage actions of the RA Armed Forces units on the evening of April 23, in particular, an attempt to enter the territory under the control of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in the south-eastern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, has nothing to do with reality, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia reports.

Other News

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• We are obliged to defend Armenia's independence and territorial integrity: Mayor of Paris 

• Armenians are still threatened today because they are Armenians: Jonathan Lacôte 

• Armenia never linked normalization of relations with Turkey with preconditions - Ambassador-at-Large