ANKARA — Turkey's Orthodox Armenian Co-Patriarch Aram Ateşyan expressed his pleasure with Prime Minister Erdoğan's unprecedented condolence message on the incidents of 1915. The two met in the prime ministry's official residence for over 1.5 hours. Prior to the meeting they exchanged gifts in a gesture of goodwill form both sides.

Co-Patriarch Ateşyan said, "I believe that this first step our esteemed Prime Minister took, has been appreciated by the majority of our community." Ateşyan has accepted the condolences that PM Erdoğan has sent to the bearers and witnesses of the 1915 incidents. He also reminded the people that both sides need to make sacrifices and that it is not a one sided affair.