The prime minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu has offered his deep respect to Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives during what he described as “the relocation in 1915”. <br /><br /> His statement comes as tens of thousands get ready to mark the 100th anniversary of the World War I massacre of up to one and a half million Armenians. <br /><br /> Turkish government spokesman Bulent Arinc said: “We commemorate Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives and we extend our sympathies to their grandchildren. It is a historical and humanitarian duty for Turkey to embrace the memory and cultural heritage of Ottoman Armenians.”<br /><br /> Earlier this month, Pope Francis prompted a row with Ankara when he publicly called the killings “genocide,” a term rejected by Turkey. <br /><br /> The head of the country’s religious affairs directorate said the pope’s statement was immoral and irreconcilable with basic Christian values.<br /><br /> “Religious leaders of this century should leave the pains of one hundred years ago behind, they can pay attenti
