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Erdogan Accuses Armenian Diaspora of 'Exploiting 1915 Events'
Friday, January 30th, 2015
http://asbarez.com/131350/erdogan-accuses-armenian-diaspora-of-%E2%80%98exploiting-1915-events%E2%80%99/
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a live television
interview on Jan. 29. (Photo: Anadolu Agency)
ANKARA--In a live interview with the state-run Turkish Radio and
Television Corporation (TRT), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
said on Thursday that the Armenian diaspora is pushing for the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, but that "[the] issue needs to
be handled by the historians," Today's Zaman reported.
"We are saying, 'If you are sincere on this matter, then come, let's
leave this to historians, let historians study the issue, let's open
our archives,'" Erdogan said
"If the results reveal that we have committed a crime, if we have a
price to pay, then as Turkey we would assess it and take the required
steps."
Erdogan said the Armenian diaspora is trying to exploit the Armenian
Genocide of 1915 and "drag Turkey into a fight."
The Turkish President said Armenians have a strong lobby around the
world and it is a fact that Turkey's efforts against them are somewhat
weak, according to Today's Zaman.
Armenian leaders have stated in the past that there is no debate over
the veracity of the Armenian Genocide, accusing Turkish proposals for
a "panel of historians" of being a ploy to create a debate where there
is none; a debate which Turkey-backed historians will be free to
derail and stall, giving Turkey another excuse to avoid recognizing
the Armenian Genocide.
In another part of the interview, when asked about the latest "Freedom
in the World 2015" report of US-based watchdog Freedom House and its
heavy criticism of Turkey with regards to increasing interference in
the media and judiciary, Erdogan claimed that "no one really takes
Freedom House seriously."
Erdogan refuted Freedom House's findings and said: "Freedom House
doesn't have any dignity. Zero dignity. They think they are so
valuable. There may be others behind organizations like Freedom House.
We need to know these facts."
In other remarks, Erdogan once again criticized Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu attending a march in Paris after the attack against
French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo earlier this month. Leaders
around the world marched arm-in-arm for the victims of the Paris
attacks in a show of solidarity. Erdogan said he did not understand
how Netanyahu dared to attend the march, considering "Israel's
increasingly aggressive behavior," especially with regards to the
"violation of holy sites in Jerusalem." Erdogan himself has been
criticized by the international community for censoring Charlie Hebdo
cartoons just days after that same march in Paris.
Erdogan went on to say that Netanyahu's acts against Palestinians are
"state terror" and that Israelis "like to shed blood" and find peace
in "sucking blood."
Friday, January 30th, 2015
http://asbarez.com/131350/erdogan-accuses-armenian-diaspora-of-%E2%80%98exploiting-1915-events%E2%80%99/
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a live television
interview on Jan. 29. (Photo: Anadolu Agency)
ANKARA--In a live interview with the state-run Turkish Radio and
Television Corporation (TRT), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
said on Thursday that the Armenian diaspora is pushing for the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, but that "[the] issue needs to
be handled by the historians," Today's Zaman reported.
"We are saying, 'If you are sincere on this matter, then come, let's
leave this to historians, let historians study the issue, let's open
our archives,'" Erdogan said
"If the results reveal that we have committed a crime, if we have a
price to pay, then as Turkey we would assess it and take the required
steps."
Erdogan said the Armenian diaspora is trying to exploit the Armenian
Genocide of 1915 and "drag Turkey into a fight."
The Turkish President said Armenians have a strong lobby around the
world and it is a fact that Turkey's efforts against them are somewhat
weak, according to Today's Zaman.
Armenian leaders have stated in the past that there is no debate over
the veracity of the Armenian Genocide, accusing Turkish proposals for
a "panel of historians" of being a ploy to create a debate where there
is none; a debate which Turkey-backed historians will be free to
derail and stall, giving Turkey another excuse to avoid recognizing
the Armenian Genocide.
In another part of the interview, when asked about the latest "Freedom
in the World 2015" report of US-based watchdog Freedom House and its
heavy criticism of Turkey with regards to increasing interference in
the media and judiciary, Erdogan claimed that "no one really takes
Freedom House seriously."
Erdogan refuted Freedom House's findings and said: "Freedom House
doesn't have any dignity. Zero dignity. They think they are so
valuable. There may be others behind organizations like Freedom House.
We need to know these facts."
In other remarks, Erdogan once again criticized Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu attending a march in Paris after the attack against
French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo earlier this month. Leaders
around the world marched arm-in-arm for the victims of the Paris
attacks in a show of solidarity. Erdogan said he did not understand
how Netanyahu dared to attend the march, considering "Israel's
increasingly aggressive behavior," especially with regards to the
"violation of holy sites in Jerusalem." Erdogan himself has been
criticized by the international community for censoring Charlie Hebdo
cartoons just days after that same march in Paris.
Erdogan went on to say that Netanyahu's acts against Palestinians are
"state terror" and that Israelis "like to shed blood" and find peace
in "sucking blood."