Turkish president sends letter to Armenian patriarch

ANKARA Turkey's president on Friday sent a letter to the head of the Armenian Patriarchate, assuring equal treatment regardless of belief and identity in the country. In a letter to Patriarch Sahak Mashalian, Recep Tayyip Erdogan commemorated Ottoman Armenians who died during World War I, conveying his condolences to their descendants. "On this occasion, I wish God's mercy to all Ottoman citizens who lost their lives in this painful period," Erdogan said, adding that Turkey would never allow anybody in the country to be "treated differently because of their belief and identity." Underlining that Turkey sought to establish a future of "unity, prosperity, and peace," Erdogan said that the solidarity in Turkey was strengthening during "these difficult days" amid the novel coronavirus pandemic across the globe. "With these thoughts, I once again commemorate the Ottoman Armenians that we lost in World War I with respect and mercy," he concluded. *Writing by Dilara Hamit