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TURKISH PM SEEKS APOLOGY FROM ARMENIAN PRESIDENT
AK Group
Hudson New York
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=pm-seeks-armenian-apology-after-israel-2011-07-27
http://www.hudson-ny.org/2307/turkish-pm-seeks-apology-from-armenian-president
July 29, 2011
Recent remarks by the Armenian leader about "Western Armenia," an
area now in Turkey, were not suitable for a statesman and president,
the Turkish prime minister said Wednesday, demanding an apology.
"The statements of the Armenian president are not an expression or
an approach that suits a president. Equipping the next generations
with hatred and enmity does not suit statesmanship," Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said while visiting Azerbaijan.
Over the weekend, Armenian President Serge Sarkisian called on Armenian
youth to enable the return of "historic territories in Western Armenia"
that are currently found in eastern Turkey, as his generation had done
with the contested territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, sparking outrage
from the Turkish side.
"How will the future of Armenian youth be? Possibly dark in this
course. They will look at the incidents with these dark glasses,"
Erdogan said. "They should definitely know that there is an occupation
in [Nagorno-Karabakh] and the occupiers are evident. Not only we say
this, the United Nations also says this. This needs to be resolved."
Erdogan's visit to Azerbaijan took place upon an invitation from
President Ilham Aliyev. During his trip to Baku, the Turkish prime
minister was accompanied by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Energy
and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız and Economy Minister
Zafer Caglayan.
A flashpoint of the Caucasus, the region known as Nagorno-Karabakh is
a constituent part of Azerbaijan, occupied by Armenia since the end
of 1994. While internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory,
the enclave has declared itself an independent republic, but is
administered as a de facto part of Armenia.
"It is the Armenian side whose approach has been unfavorable up until
this moment. Azerbaijan has consistently put forth a constructive
approach. [Saying] 'Now that you have taken over Karabakh from us,
you will handle [Western Armenia] yourselves when we die.' What kind
of reasoning is this?" Erdogan said. "How could one transmit such a
mentality, such a direction, such horizons to the youth? What does
this mean? 'Behold, our youngsters! From now on, Armenia can enter
war with Turkey as it sees fit.' We reject all this. There is no such
statesmanship, no such diplomacy."
"Sarkisian has committed a very serious mistake here. He has
highlighted and affirmed a historic mistake. He must apologize and
backtrack from his mistake," Erdogan added.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Tuesday also condemned Sarkisian's
remarks, which the Armenian president made during a contest on
Armenian literature and language. Erdogan held a two-hour one-on-one
meeting with Aliyev in Zagulba Palace to dicuss bilateral relations,
particularly military, commercial, economic, social and cultural
issues, as well as regional problems.
"We had the opportunity to discuss what kind of steps we can take
in the future," Erdogan said after the meetings, underlining the
importance of the Turkey-Azerbaijan High-Level Strategic Council,
which he said would hold its first meeting in Turkey. Referring to
an agreement related to the shipping of natural gas between the two
countries, Erdogan said relevant officials would convene Thursday
and work on some articles.
AK Group
Hudson New York
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=pm-seeks-armenian-apology-after-israel-2011-07-27
http://www.hudson-ny.org/2307/turkish-pm-seeks-apology-from-armenian-president
July 29, 2011
Recent remarks by the Armenian leader about "Western Armenia," an
area now in Turkey, were not suitable for a statesman and president,
the Turkish prime minister said Wednesday, demanding an apology.
"The statements of the Armenian president are not an expression or
an approach that suits a president. Equipping the next generations
with hatred and enmity does not suit statesmanship," Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said while visiting Azerbaijan.
Over the weekend, Armenian President Serge Sarkisian called on Armenian
youth to enable the return of "historic territories in Western Armenia"
that are currently found in eastern Turkey, as his generation had done
with the contested territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, sparking outrage
from the Turkish side.
"How will the future of Armenian youth be? Possibly dark in this
course. They will look at the incidents with these dark glasses,"
Erdogan said. "They should definitely know that there is an occupation
in [Nagorno-Karabakh] and the occupiers are evident. Not only we say
this, the United Nations also says this. This needs to be resolved."
Erdogan's visit to Azerbaijan took place upon an invitation from
President Ilham Aliyev. During his trip to Baku, the Turkish prime
minister was accompanied by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Energy
and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız and Economy Minister
Zafer Caglayan.
A flashpoint of the Caucasus, the region known as Nagorno-Karabakh is
a constituent part of Azerbaijan, occupied by Armenia since the end
of 1994. While internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory,
the enclave has declared itself an independent republic, but is
administered as a de facto part of Armenia.
"It is the Armenian side whose approach has been unfavorable up until
this moment. Azerbaijan has consistently put forth a constructive
approach. [Saying] 'Now that you have taken over Karabakh from us,
you will handle [Western Armenia] yourselves when we die.' What kind
of reasoning is this?" Erdogan said. "How could one transmit such a
mentality, such a direction, such horizons to the youth? What does
this mean? 'Behold, our youngsters! From now on, Armenia can enter
war with Turkey as it sees fit.' We reject all this. There is no such
statesmanship, no such diplomacy."
"Sarkisian has committed a very serious mistake here. He has
highlighted and affirmed a historic mistake. He must apologize and
backtrack from his mistake," Erdogan added.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Tuesday also condemned Sarkisian's
remarks, which the Armenian president made during a contest on
Armenian literature and language. Erdogan held a two-hour one-on-one
meeting with Aliyev in Zagulba Palace to dicuss bilateral relations,
particularly military, commercial, economic, social and cultural
issues, as well as regional problems.
"We had the opportunity to discuss what kind of steps we can take
in the future," Erdogan said after the meetings, underlining the
importance of the Turkey-Azerbaijan High-Level Strategic Council,
which he said would hold its first meeting in Turkey. Referring to
an agreement related to the shipping of natural gas between the two
countries, Erdogan said relevant officials would convene Thursday
and work on some articles.