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Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry pushed back against remarks by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday, accusing him of politicizing the 1915 events for narrow political aims and ignoring ongoing efforts toward regional reconciliation.
"The atmosphere of peace and reconciliation emerging in the South Caucasus is a strong response to those who seek to generate hostility from history," the ministry said.
It stressed that there is a clear stance among parties involved that the issue should not be turned into a political tool, adding that attempts to exploit the debate undermine constructive dialogue.
Ankara reiterated that Türkiye has opened its archives and continues to support the creation of a joint historical commission to examine the events on a fair and scientific basis.
"The culture of coexistence that has lasted for centuries in our country stands as one of the strongest examples," the statement read, adding that the proposal for a joint commission "remains valid."
The ministry also called on external actors to take a more constructive role, urging them "to support efforts aimed at reaching a common and fair memory, as well as the recently developing environment of constructive dialogue."
Mamdani shared the message on social media to mark the 111th anniversary of the 1915 events, describing them as "genocide" and urging the international community to "act to prevent history from repeating itself."
He also claimed that the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, during which Azerbaijan regained control of territories internationally recognized as its own after decades of occupation dating back to 1994, marked the next phase of what he described as a continuing process.
Türkiye has long stated that it opened its archives to researchers and proposed establishing a joint historical commission with Armenia to study the 1915 events. Ankara presents this as a basis for a fair, evidence-based assessment, while critics who describe the events as "genocide" have largely dismissed the proposal.
Türkiye and Armenia have stepped up dialogue to normalize diplomatic relations, particularly after a U.S.-backed peace framework signed by Azerbaijan and Armenia in mid-2025. The deal outlines the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP)," seen as a key component of the proposed Zangezur Corridor within the Middle Corridor linking China to Europe via Türkiye.
In line with these efforts, Türkiye and Armenia are preparing to reopen their land border and resume trade, which has been closed since 1993.
Meanwhile, Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a message marking April 24, addressing Türkiye’s Armenian community and the Armenian Patriarchate.
"I reiterate that I share the pain experienced by the Armenian community in the past and once again commemorate with respect all Ottoman citizens who lost their lives," he said.
He noted that the Republic of Türkiye was built "without forgetting these pains, but by learning how to cope with them," while emphasizing a forward-looking approach based on coexistence and social harmony.
"We give the best response to those who seek to derive hostility from history by prioritizing the language of peace, empathy, and dialogue," he added.
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