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PM: ANTI-ARMENIAN BANNERS DURING KHOJALY RALLY WORK OF 'RAVING RACISTS'
Today's Zaman
March 6 2012
Turkey
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said anti-Armenian banners
unfurled during an İstanbul rally held on Feb. 26 to mark the 20th
anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre reflect the feeling of some
"raving racists," not those of the Turkish people.
"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," Erdogan said.
A group of protesters held banners and chanted racist slogans against
Armenians during the rally, which organizers said cast a shadow over
the peaceful nature of the event. The slogans caused much outrage
among the Turkish public.
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 İstanbul Governor's Office is working to
identify these people.
Today's Zaman
March 6 2012
Turkey
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said anti-Armenian banners
unfurled during an İstanbul rally held on Feb. 26 to mark the 20th
anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre reflect the feeling of some
"raving racists," not those of the Turkish people.
"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," Erdogan said.
A group of protesters held banners and chanted racist slogans against
Armenians during the rally, which organizers said cast a shadow over
the peaceful nature of the event. The slogans caused much outrage
among the Turkish public.
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 İstanbul Governor's Office is working to
identify these people.