Turkey ready to discuss Genocide issue with Armenia but not diaspora

PanArmenian News
March 4 2005

TURKEY READY TO DISCUSS GENOCIDE ISSUE WITH ARMENIA BUT NOT DIASPORA

04.03.2005 13:48

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey cannot carry on pursuing the policy of the
Armenian Genocide denial, head of the parliamentary faction of the
Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Socialist Union of
Germany Wolfgang Bosbach during the event with the subject `How will
the dialogue with Turkey proceed?’ organized in Koln by the Union of
Turkish Democrats. The declaration by the leader of the German
opposition aroused indignation of the Turkish Prime Minister’s
Adviser on Foreign Affairs Cuneyd Zapsu. He stated that Turkey is
ready to discuss these issues with the representatives of Armenia but
not of the Armenian Diaspora. He also noted that there are many other
issues to be discussed thus trying to distract attention from the
topic of the Armenian Genocide. In response Mr. Bosbach asked, `What
other issues besides the Genocide can arouse during the dialogue with
Armenians? I wonder about the facts you can furnish for this
discussion. Do you think Germany would become an EU member and one of
the leading states without having recognized the Holocaust and
denying the fact of its history. In this case no single state would
maintain relations with us. If Germany acknowledges its history so
why cannot Turkey do that?’ Mr. Bosbach stated. After these words the
Turkish Prime Minister’s Adviser preferred to finish up the
discussion saying, `If our ancestors were so blood-thirsty, there
would not be any Christian left in Europe.’