TORGUT OZAL: WOULDN’T IT BE BETTER TO RECOGNIZE THE GENOCIDE

Azg/arm
10 March 05

It turned out that the 8th president of Turkish Republic, late Torgut
Ozal, during his Washington visit in 1991 expressed readiness to
recognize the Armenian Genocide, March 7 issue of Hurriet wrote
quoting former Turkish ambassador to US, Nushet Qandemir, as saying.
The latter is now the vice-president of True Path Party.

“Ozal told me once at the Madison Hotel entrance during his stay in
Washington: â~@~XWouldnâ~@~Yt it be better if Turkey recognized the
genocide and put an end to this issue?â~@~Y There were journalists
around us, and they heard Ozalâ~@~Ys words. I immediately responded
saying: â~@~XDear President, such issues are not to be solved on
feet. We have to weigh everything and be carefulâ~@~Y. Everybody,
including the journalists and representatives of the Foreign
Ministry, were looking at us in horror and couldnâ~@~Yt find words.
As you know, Ozal liked putting forward such issues for wide
discussion. We talked him out of that idea and he agreed”, Qandemir
told Hurriet.

According to Hurriet, former foreign minister, Ilter Turkmen,
confirmed Qandemirâ~@~Ys words. He reminded about Ozalâ~@~Ys habit of
offering surprising issues to discuss and added: “He wanted to show
that even indisputable issues need to be discussed”.

By Hakob Chakrian

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