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Turkish premier says no link between US base request, Armenian genocide issue
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
31 Mar 05
Rabat, 31 March: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on
Thursday [31 March] that there was political will to further improve
relations between Turkey and Morocco. [Passage omitted]
Erdogan said, "Turkey does not accept the accusation of so-called
Armenian genocide. Documents refutes such slanders".
When asked, "what does the United States want from Turkey about the
Incirlik Air Base? Some circles have connected the United States'
request for use of the Air Base with approval of a resolution about
so-called Armenian genocide by the US congress. What do you think
about it?" Prime Minister Erdogan said, "as a democratic, secular and
social state of law, Turkey will continue supporting its ally under
the structure of NATO and under the United Nations humanitarian relief
efforts. However, it is impossible to meet all requests every time.
We do not have any problem about principles. In the meantime, we will
regret any attempts to relate it to so-called Armenian genocide.
The US parliament has never done such a thing, and I believe that it
will not do so in the future".
Recalling that Turkey had opened its state archives in an effort to
enlighten the facts, Prime Minister Erdogan told reporters, "the
United States should also take action by charging historians and
jurists to make a detailed research. Because, decisions we make do not
concern only one country. These decisions should not affect the other
countries".
"Turkey has never cherished any resentment or hatred against
Armenia. We declared that we have opened our state archives, and
called for a research. However, they rejected our proposal. Their
baseless slanders are totally unacceptable. Turkey does not accept the
accusation of so-called Armenian genocide since documents refutes such
slanders. Turkey will make a decision soon, and inform all countries
approving resolutions to recognize so-called Armenian genocide," he
said.
[Passage omitted]
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
31 Mar 05
Rabat, 31 March: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on
Thursday [31 March] that there was political will to further improve
relations between Turkey and Morocco. [Passage omitted]
Erdogan said, "Turkey does not accept the accusation of so-called
Armenian genocide. Documents refutes such slanders".
When asked, "what does the United States want from Turkey about the
Incirlik Air Base? Some circles have connected the United States'
request for use of the Air Base with approval of a resolution about
so-called Armenian genocide by the US congress. What do you think
about it?" Prime Minister Erdogan said, "as a democratic, secular and
social state of law, Turkey will continue supporting its ally under
the structure of NATO and under the United Nations humanitarian relief
efforts. However, it is impossible to meet all requests every time.
We do not have any problem about principles. In the meantime, we will
regret any attempts to relate it to so-called Armenian genocide.
The US parliament has never done such a thing, and I believe that it
will not do so in the future".
Recalling that Turkey had opened its state archives in an effort to
enlighten the facts, Prime Minister Erdogan told reporters, "the
United States should also take action by charging historians and
jurists to make a detailed research. Because, decisions we make do not
concern only one country. These decisions should not affect the other
countries".
"Turkey has never cherished any resentment or hatred against
Armenia. We declared that we have opened our state archives, and
called for a research. However, they rejected our proposal. Their
baseless slanders are totally unacceptable. Turkey does not accept the
accusation of so-called Armenian genocide since documents refutes such
slanders. Turkey will make a decision soon, and inform all countries
approving resolutions to recognize so-called Armenian genocide," he
said.
[Passage omitted]