Tweet
Turkish premier arrives in Lebanon, angering Armenians
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
June 15, 2005, Wednesday
17:05:18 Central European Time
Beirut
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, heading a large political and
economic delegation, arrived in Beirut on Wednesday on a two-day
visit which has angered Lebanon's Armenian community.
Greeted by his Lebanese counterpart Nagib Mikati at Beirut Airport,
Erdogen headed from the airport to pay his respects at the grave of
assassinated former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri.
Earlier Wednesday, around 300 Armenians demonstrated in Burj Hammoud
east of the capital Beirut, torching the Turkish flag and denouncing
the Erdogan's presence.
The demonstrators called earlier on the Lebanese government to
"remind their guest of the 1915 massacres which were committed by
Turkey against Armenians and to call on his country to admit that
the killings were genocide".
On April 12, Lebanon's well-integrated Armenian community commemorated
the anniversary of the massacre of their ancestors by the Ottoman
Turks between 1915-1917.
Lebanon hosts the Arab world's largest Armenian community, descendants
of survivors of the massacres who are now leading a global campaign
to declare the mass killings an act of genocide.
The massacres have so far been acknowledged as genocide by a number
of countries, including France, Canada and Switzerland.
During his visit, Erdogan is to hold talks with his Lebanese
counterpart focusing on improving bilateral ties.
On Thursday the Turkish premier will attend a large economic
conference grouping Arab ministers and economic figures, the first
economic conference to be held in the country since Rafik Hariri's
assassination on February 14. dpa wh mga
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
June 15, 2005, Wednesday
17:05:18 Central European Time
Beirut
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, heading a large political and
economic delegation, arrived in Beirut on Wednesday on a two-day
visit which has angered Lebanon's Armenian community.
Greeted by his Lebanese counterpart Nagib Mikati at Beirut Airport,
Erdogen headed from the airport to pay his respects at the grave of
assassinated former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri.
Earlier Wednesday, around 300 Armenians demonstrated in Burj Hammoud
east of the capital Beirut, torching the Turkish flag and denouncing
the Erdogan's presence.
The demonstrators called earlier on the Lebanese government to
"remind their guest of the 1915 massacres which were committed by
Turkey against Armenians and to call on his country to admit that
the killings were genocide".
On April 12, Lebanon's well-integrated Armenian community commemorated
the anniversary of the massacre of their ancestors by the Ottoman
Turks between 1915-1917.
Lebanon hosts the Arab world's largest Armenian community, descendants
of survivors of the massacres who are now leading a global campaign
to declare the mass killings an act of genocide.
The massacres have so far been acknowledged as genocide by a number
of countries, including France, Canada and Switzerland.
During his visit, Erdogan is to hold talks with his Lebanese
counterpart focusing on improving bilateral ties.
On Thursday the Turkish premier will attend a large economic
conference grouping Arab ministers and economic figures, the first
economic conference to be held in the country since Rafik Hariri's
assassination on February 14. dpa wh mga