Greece commemorates 104th anniversary

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis both marked the 104th anniversary of the Pontian Genocide in statements issued on Pontian Greek Genocide Remembrance Day on Friday. Responding to a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgios Arnaoutis said: “All countries are proud of their history and they are all evaluated based on their contribution to global civilization. Greece is one of them. But history also hides dark moments that should neither be forgotten nor written off or distorted.” He added: “The Pontic Genocide is undoubtedly one of them. Only by confronting the historical truth and acknowledging their mistakes can countries work together to create a better future. Extremism has no place in such a context.” Turkey’s Foreign Ministry accused “certain politicians in Greece” of “distorting historical data” in making references to the Pontian Genocide. In a statement addressing those “who target Turkey with unrealistic claims and statements,” the ministry noted “Greece’s responsibility, and the fact that it was ordered to pay compensation for the atrocities committed by the invading Greek army, in violation of the laws of war, during the bloody invasion of Anatolia, were recorded in the Treaty of Lausanne.” It claimed there were “politicians who continue to manipulate, deceive, distort and fabricate lies and invert reality” and called on them to “face their own dark history and rid themselves of the hysteria that stems from hostility towards Turkey.”