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Al-Arabiya (press release) , Dubai
May 30 2010
Turkish PM cancels Argentina visit over monument row
Erdogan skips Argentina after Ataturk snub
ANKARA (AFP)
Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan cancelled a visit to
Argentina after authorities there scrapped a plan to unveil a monument
of Turkey's founder, bowing to pressure by ethnic Armenians.
The Turkish prime minister had been scheduled to travel to Argentina
after wrapping up a visit to Brazil, and meet with Argentine President
Cristina Kirchner on Monday.
He had a change of heart after the autonomous authorities at Buenos
Aires withdrew permission for the inauguration of a monument of
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, "as a result of
interference by Armenian circles hostile to Turkey," a foreign
ministry statement said. "This attitude is unacceptable, whatever the
reason is "
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan Kirchner called Erdogan to say that
"our reaction is rightful" but explained that under Argentine law, the
central government was unable to reverse the decision of the local
authorities.
Erdogan responded that "this attitude is unacceptable, whatever the
reason is, and cancelled the visit," the statement added. Turkey
expects Argentina "to take steps as soon as possible to make up for
the shadow that has been cast on bilateral relations'.
Turkey-Argentina ties sour again
Argentina is home to a community of ethnic Armenians, descendants of
immigrants who escaped mass killings under the Ottoman Empire,
Turkey's predecessor, during World War I.
Turkish-Armenian ties have been sour for decades over Armenian
allegations that up to 1.5 million of their kin were killed at the
hands of their Ottoman rulers in what was a genocide.
Turkey fiercely rejects the genocide label and says between 300,000
and 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks perished in civil
strife when Armenians rose up for independence and sided with invading
Russian forces.
Argentina is among a number of countries that have recognized the
killings as genocide.
Erdogan is now scheduled to travel from Brazil to Chile, the last stop
in his Latin America tour.
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/05/30/109986.html
From: A. Papazian
May 30 2010
Turkish PM cancels Argentina visit over monument row
Erdogan skips Argentina after Ataturk snub
ANKARA (AFP)
Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan cancelled a visit to
Argentina after authorities there scrapped a plan to unveil a monument
of Turkey's founder, bowing to pressure by ethnic Armenians.
The Turkish prime minister had been scheduled to travel to Argentina
after wrapping up a visit to Brazil, and meet with Argentine President
Cristina Kirchner on Monday.
He had a change of heart after the autonomous authorities at Buenos
Aires withdrew permission for the inauguration of a monument of
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, "as a result of
interference by Armenian circles hostile to Turkey," a foreign
ministry statement said. "This attitude is unacceptable, whatever the
reason is "
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan Kirchner called Erdogan to say that
"our reaction is rightful" but explained that under Argentine law, the
central government was unable to reverse the decision of the local
authorities.
Erdogan responded that "this attitude is unacceptable, whatever the
reason is, and cancelled the visit," the statement added. Turkey
expects Argentina "to take steps as soon as possible to make up for
the shadow that has been cast on bilateral relations'.
Turkey-Argentina ties sour again
Argentina is home to a community of ethnic Armenians, descendants of
immigrants who escaped mass killings under the Ottoman Empire,
Turkey's predecessor, during World War I.
Turkish-Armenian ties have been sour for decades over Armenian
allegations that up to 1.5 million of their kin were killed at the
hands of their Ottoman rulers in what was a genocide.
Turkey fiercely rejects the genocide label and says between 300,000
and 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks perished in civil
strife when Armenians rose up for independence and sided with invading
Russian forces.
Argentina is among a number of countries that have recognized the
killings as genocide.
Erdogan is now scheduled to travel from Brazil to Chile, the last stop
in his Latin America tour.
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/05/30/109986.html
From: A. Papazian