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ERDOGAN CLAIMS ANTI-ARMENIAN RALLY WORK OF 'RAVING RACISTS'
asbarez
Tuesday, March 6th, 2012
Banners read "Armenians are Bastards" during Feb. 26 anti-Armenian
rallies in Istanbul
ANKARA--Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said anti-Armenian
banners unfurled during an Istanbul rally held on Feb. 26 reflect the
feeling of some "raving racists," not those of the Turkish people,
reported Today's Zaman on Tuesday.
"These banners do not reflect the feelings of Turkey but those of a few
raving racists. ... Necessary [legal] action has already been taken.
But it is unjust to overshadow the rally marking the massacre by a
few worthless banners. Nobody has the right to damage the image of
Turkey based on these exceptional scenes," Erdošan said.
Some 20,000 to 50,000 people participated in the anti-Armenian
protests on Februaru 26, with professionally printed signs that read,
"You are all Armenians, You are all bastards," and "Today Taksim,
Tomorrow Yerevan: We will descend upon you suddenly in the night."
Among the speakers at the demonstration in Turkey's famous Taksim
Square was Turkish Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin, among other
leaders of Erdogan's AK Party.
According to statements issued by the protest organizers, similar
demonstrations have been planned in more than 50 cities in Turkey.
The Armenian National Committee of America, sharply criticizing the
government-sanctioned anti-Armenian demonstrations held throughout
Turkey on Feb. 26, called on U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis
Ricciardone to forcefully condemn this latest attempt by Ankara to
foment hatred and violence against Armenians.
"Today's anti-Armenian demonstrations in the streets of Istanbul--with
the interior minister and prominent political parties at the helm--were
clearly aimed at inciting increased racism and renewed violence against
Turkey's own Armenian citizens and neighboring Armenia," stated ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "These are not simply the violent
echoes of a post-genocidal state, but the determined actions of a
pre-genocidal Turkish society that is angrily lashing out at its
imagined enemies and seeking out its next target. We urge U.S.
Ambassador Ricciardone to immediately, forcefully, and publicly
condemn this government-sanctioned incitement to violence."
A statement released by the Turkish Interior Ministry on Wednesday
said it is impossible to justify "some slogans and banners" during
the rally, referring to the offensive banners. The statement added
that legal proceedings have been launched to find these people and
groups, adding that the Istanbul Governor's Office is working to
identify these people, reported Today's Zaman.
From: Baghdasarian
asbarez
Tuesday, March 6th, 2012
Banners read "Armenians are Bastards" during Feb. 26 anti-Armenian
rallies in Istanbul
ANKARA--Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said anti-Armenian
banners unfurled during an Istanbul rally held on Feb. 26 reflect the
feeling of some "raving racists," not those of the Turkish people,
reported Today's Zaman on Tuesday.
"These banners do not reflect the feelings of Turkey but those of a few
raving racists. ... Necessary [legal] action has already been taken.
But it is unjust to overshadow the rally marking the massacre by a
few worthless banners. Nobody has the right to damage the image of
Turkey based on these exceptional scenes," Erdošan said.
Some 20,000 to 50,000 people participated in the anti-Armenian
protests on Februaru 26, with professionally printed signs that read,
"You are all Armenians, You are all bastards," and "Today Taksim,
Tomorrow Yerevan: We will descend upon you suddenly in the night."
Among the speakers at the demonstration in Turkey's famous Taksim
Square was Turkish Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin, among other
leaders of Erdogan's AK Party.
According to statements issued by the protest organizers, similar
demonstrations have been planned in more than 50 cities in Turkey.
The Armenian National Committee of America, sharply criticizing the
government-sanctioned anti-Armenian demonstrations held throughout
Turkey on Feb. 26, called on U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis
Ricciardone to forcefully condemn this latest attempt by Ankara to
foment hatred and violence against Armenians.
"Today's anti-Armenian demonstrations in the streets of Istanbul--with
the interior minister and prominent political parties at the helm--were
clearly aimed at inciting increased racism and renewed violence against
Turkey's own Armenian citizens and neighboring Armenia," stated ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "These are not simply the violent
echoes of a post-genocidal state, but the determined actions of a
pre-genocidal Turkish society that is angrily lashing out at its
imagined enemies and seeking out its next target. We urge U.S.
Ambassador Ricciardone to immediately, forcefully, and publicly
condemn this government-sanctioned incitement to violence."
A statement released by the Turkish Interior Ministry on Wednesday
said it is impossible to justify "some slogans and banners" during
the rally, referring to the offensive banners. The statement added
that legal proceedings have been launched to find these people and
groups, adding that the Istanbul Governor's Office is working to
identify these people, reported Today's Zaman.
From: Baghdasarian