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YOU ARE THE ONES PERPETRATING GENOCIDE; GET OUT OF KARABAKH
by Turan Yilmaz
Hurriyet
Feb 10 2008
Turkey
"Sharp exchange" reported between Turkish premier, Armenian minister
The sharp exchange between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan has put its stamp on the
Security Summit [ 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy] that
began in Munich yesterday. Erdogan accused Armenia of perpetrating
"genocide" against Azeris in Karabakh.
Erdogan is attending the summit, which is being held in the Hotel
Bayerischer Hof under tight security measures, as an honorary guest
and delivered the opening address. Erdogan also answered questions
at the summit, which is attended by more than 250 participants,
including the foreign and defence ministers and military officials
of 47 countries. When Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanyan referred to
Erdogan's remarks that [Turkey] "is ahead of its time" and asked why
diplomatic relations have not yet been established [between Turkey
and Armenia], Erdogan responded with the following sharp comments:
'Your Citizens Are Running'
"There was no air cargo transportation between Turkey and
Armenia. I opened the gates when I took office. Today, there is cargo
transportation between Turkey and Armenia. The Armenian church on the
island of Akdamar [in Van] was in ruins. We restored it and opened
it to serve our Armenian citizens as a gesture. Furthermore, today,
in my country, there are more than 40,000 Armenians who are not
our citizens. Why do these people run and come to my country? We do
not have any problems with Armenians who are our citizens. However,
you should ask yourself why Armenians run from Armenia and from many
other places in the world and come to Turkey. [They do so] because
Turkey is a country of peace."
'Genocide in Karabakh'
"The resolution of the Minsk Summit [as published] in connection with
Nagorno Karabakh has not yet been implemented. The world considers
Armenia an occupier. Leave that place - get out so that tens of
thousands, hundreds of thousands of Azeri can settle there. They are
also our kinsmen. Why do you not take a positive posture on this? The
Karabakh events clearly demonstrate who has seized whose property
and who has perpetrated genocide against whom.
'Very Unbecoming'
"Massacred Christians, Armenians. On what basis do you say these?
This is a very unbecoming approach. What information do you have in
your hands? I wrote a letter and issued my invitation. We opened our
archives. Armenia should also order its archives and open them if
it can so that archaeologists, historians, political scientists, and
legal experts can conduct research. Then we can decide as politicians.
'Prepared to Face Up'
"It is inappropriate to level accusations against Turkey with the
argument that massacres were perpetrated only in 1915. There is no
genocide in our culture or civilization. We are prepared to face up
to anything. I invite Armenia to make its own preparations. We cannot
accept attributions of genocide to us in parliaments of the world as
a result of lobbying. We will come to a reckoning with our history
if necessary."
Signed Golden Book
Prime Minister Erdogan visited Bavarian Premier Gunther Beckstein
yesterday. During the visit, Erdogan signed the Golden Book of
Bavaria. Erdogan's wife Emine and Beckstein's wife Marga were also
present during the signing ceremony and press briefing. After the
briefing, Beckstein gave a dinner in honour of Erdogan.
'We Are not at War'
Erdogan was upset with the following question from Armenian Foreign
Minister Oskanyan: "There are no diplomatic relations between us. Our
border is closed. When we ask why, you always refer to developments
related to the genocide of 1915 and Nagorno Karabakh. However, we
are not at war with you. Why can we not sit down and discuss these
matters? Why can we not establish diplomatic relations? We have no
preconditions."
by Turan Yilmaz
Hurriyet
Feb 10 2008
Turkey
"Sharp exchange" reported between Turkish premier, Armenian minister
The sharp exchange between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan has put its stamp on the
Security Summit [ 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy] that
began in Munich yesterday. Erdogan accused Armenia of perpetrating
"genocide" against Azeris in Karabakh.
Erdogan is attending the summit, which is being held in the Hotel
Bayerischer Hof under tight security measures, as an honorary guest
and delivered the opening address. Erdogan also answered questions
at the summit, which is attended by more than 250 participants,
including the foreign and defence ministers and military officials
of 47 countries. When Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanyan referred to
Erdogan's remarks that [Turkey] "is ahead of its time" and asked why
diplomatic relations have not yet been established [between Turkey
and Armenia], Erdogan responded with the following sharp comments:
'Your Citizens Are Running'
"There was no air cargo transportation between Turkey and
Armenia. I opened the gates when I took office. Today, there is cargo
transportation between Turkey and Armenia. The Armenian church on the
island of Akdamar [in Van] was in ruins. We restored it and opened
it to serve our Armenian citizens as a gesture. Furthermore, today,
in my country, there are more than 40,000 Armenians who are not
our citizens. Why do these people run and come to my country? We do
not have any problems with Armenians who are our citizens. However,
you should ask yourself why Armenians run from Armenia and from many
other places in the world and come to Turkey. [They do so] because
Turkey is a country of peace."
'Genocide in Karabakh'
"The resolution of the Minsk Summit [as published] in connection with
Nagorno Karabakh has not yet been implemented. The world considers
Armenia an occupier. Leave that place - get out so that tens of
thousands, hundreds of thousands of Azeri can settle there. They are
also our kinsmen. Why do you not take a positive posture on this? The
Karabakh events clearly demonstrate who has seized whose property
and who has perpetrated genocide against whom.
'Very Unbecoming'
"Massacred Christians, Armenians. On what basis do you say these?
This is a very unbecoming approach. What information do you have in
your hands? I wrote a letter and issued my invitation. We opened our
archives. Armenia should also order its archives and open them if
it can so that archaeologists, historians, political scientists, and
legal experts can conduct research. Then we can decide as politicians.
'Prepared to Face Up'
"It is inappropriate to level accusations against Turkey with the
argument that massacres were perpetrated only in 1915. There is no
genocide in our culture or civilization. We are prepared to face up
to anything. I invite Armenia to make its own preparations. We cannot
accept attributions of genocide to us in parliaments of the world as
a result of lobbying. We will come to a reckoning with our history
if necessary."
Signed Golden Book
Prime Minister Erdogan visited Bavarian Premier Gunther Beckstein
yesterday. During the visit, Erdogan signed the Golden Book of
Bavaria. Erdogan's wife Emine and Beckstein's wife Marga were also
present during the signing ceremony and press briefing. After the
briefing, Beckstein gave a dinner in honour of Erdogan.
'We Are not at War'
Erdogan was upset with the following question from Armenian Foreign
Minister Oskanyan: "There are no diplomatic relations between us. Our
border is closed. When we ask why, you always refer to developments
related to the genocide of 1915 and Nagorno Karabakh. However, we
are not at war with you. Why can we not sit down and discuss these
matters? Why can we not establish diplomatic relations? We have no
preconditions."