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Today's Zaman, Turkey
April 26 2008
Ankara condemns disrespect for its flag in Armenia commemoration
The Turkish capital has harshly reacted against a Turkish flag being
trod upon during an official demonstration in Yerevan on Thursday
commemorating tragic World War I-era events that Armenians claim
amount to genocide.
News reports showed pictures of the demonstration during which a
Turkish flag was laid on the ground and participants of the
commemoration stamped on it, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday in a
written statement. There were also reports that a Turkish flag was
burned during an earlier demonstration on Wednesday, also in Yerevan,
the statement said, stressing that the same reports noted the acts of
disrespect were also committed by Armenian officials.
"With the meaning that it carries, the Turkish flag symbolizes freedom
and all the fundamental values and beliefs of the lofty Turkish
nation, which have come from, the history to date. In regards to this
aspect, it is in a way accepted as synonymous with our nation's
existence. The importance attributed by the Turkish nation to these
values and its flag, which reflects them is closely known by
everybody. In this regard, the related news reports led to great
sadness, reaction and indignation in our society," the Foreign
Ministry spokesperson said in the statement. "We harshly condemn those
manners and actions," the statement concluded.
Turkey categorically rejects the Armenian claims of genocide and says
equal numbers of Turks were killed when the Armenians took up arms
against the Ottoman Empire in collaboration with the invading Russian
army.
April 26 2008
Ankara condemns disrespect for its flag in Armenia commemoration
The Turkish capital has harshly reacted against a Turkish flag being
trod upon during an official demonstration in Yerevan on Thursday
commemorating tragic World War I-era events that Armenians claim
amount to genocide.
News reports showed pictures of the demonstration during which a
Turkish flag was laid on the ground and participants of the
commemoration stamped on it, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday in a
written statement. There were also reports that a Turkish flag was
burned during an earlier demonstration on Wednesday, also in Yerevan,
the statement said, stressing that the same reports noted the acts of
disrespect were also committed by Armenian officials.
"With the meaning that it carries, the Turkish flag symbolizes freedom
and all the fundamental values and beliefs of the lofty Turkish
nation, which have come from, the history to date. In regards to this
aspect, it is in a way accepted as synonymous with our nation's
existence. The importance attributed by the Turkish nation to these
values and its flag, which reflects them is closely known by
everybody. In this regard, the related news reports led to great
sadness, reaction and indignation in our society," the Foreign
Ministry spokesperson said in the statement. "We harshly condemn those
manners and actions," the statement concluded.
Turkey categorically rejects the Armenian claims of genocide and says
equal numbers of Turks were killed when the Armenians took up arms
against the Ottoman Empire in collaboration with the invading Russian
army.