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TURKEY 'READY TO CONFRONT' SLAUGHTER
Irish Independent
April 30 2014
Associated Press - Published 30 April 2014 02:30 AM
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that his
nation was ready to "confront" the nation's history of killing ethnic
Armenians nearly a century ago, but stopped short of admitting it
was genocide.
In a weekly speech in parliament addressing his ruling party's
legislators, Mr Erdogan reiterated a call for Armenia and Armenians
living abroad to participate in research with Turkey to document
precisely what happened.
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by
Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, an event widely viewed by
scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey, however,
denies that the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been
inflated, and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.
"We are saying, let's wipe away the tears, push prejudices to one
side, and reveal historic truths . . . in an objective manner,"
Mr Erdogan said.
"I hope that Armenia and the Armenian diaspora recognise our courageous
step and reciprocate," he said.
http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/turkey-ready-to-confront-slaughter-30230081.html
Irish Independent
April 30 2014
Associated Press - Published 30 April 2014 02:30 AM
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that his
nation was ready to "confront" the nation's history of killing ethnic
Armenians nearly a century ago, but stopped short of admitting it
was genocide.
In a weekly speech in parliament addressing his ruling party's
legislators, Mr Erdogan reiterated a call for Armenia and Armenians
living abroad to participate in research with Turkey to document
precisely what happened.
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by
Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, an event widely viewed by
scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey, however,
denies that the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been
inflated, and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.
"We are saying, let's wipe away the tears, push prejudices to one
side, and reveal historic truths . . . in an objective manner,"
Mr Erdogan said.
"I hope that Armenia and the Armenian diaspora recognise our courageous
step and reciprocate," he said.
http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/turkey-ready-to-confront-slaughter-30230081.html