For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 24, 2006

Presidential Message

April 24, 2006

Today, we remember one of the horrible tragedies of the 20th century -
- the mass killings and forced exile of as many as 1.5 million
Armenians in the final days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915. This was a
tragedy for all humanity and one that we and the world must never
forget.

We mourn this terrible chapter of history and recognize that it
remains a source of pain for people in Armenia and for all those who
believe in freedom, tolerance, and the dignity and value of every
human life. It is a credit to the human spirit and generations of
Armenians who live in Armenia, America, and around the globe that
they have overcome this suffering and proudly preserved their
centuries-old culture, traditions, and religion.

We praise the individuals in Armenia and Turkey who have sought to
examine the historical events of this time with honesty and
sensitivity. The analysis by the International Center for
Transitional Justice, while not the final word, has made a
significant contribution toward deepening our understanding of these
events. We encourage dialogues, including through joint commissions,
that strive for a shared understanding of these tragic events and
move Armenia and Turkey towards normalized relations.

Today, we look with hope to a bright future for Armenia. Armenia’s
Millennium Challenge Compact reflects our confidence and the
importance we place in Armenia making progress on democratic reform
and advancement of free markets. We seek to help Armenia bolster its
security and deepen its inclusion in the Euro-Atlantic family. We
remain committed to securing a peaceful and lasting settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and hope the leaders of Armenia and
Azerbaijan will take bold steps to achieve this goal.

On this solemn day of remembrance, Laura and I express our deepest
condolences to the Armenian people. Our nations stand together,
determined to create a future of peace, prosperity, and freedom for
the citizens of our countries and the world.

GEORGE W. BUSH