Turkish President: Armenian Citizens are Indispensable Part of Turkish Society

JTW
8 April 2005

ISTANBUL (JTW) Addressing a conference at the Turkish War Academy
in Istanbul, Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said scientific
objectivity should be used when assessing historical events. Sezer
said the Armenian accusations are baseless and biased. “Research
should be conducted into the allegations by making use of documents
that were objective and unbiased”, the President said.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had called the Armenian side
to open its archives and to organize scientific meetings between
Turkish and Armenian historians. Armenia rejected Turkish invitation
and Armenian Foreign Minister Hovanisyan said “there is nothing to
be discussed”.

Sezer further added Turkish citizens of Armenian origin were and
indispensable part of Turkish society who have equal rights and
responsibilities in the modern Turkish Republic, said Sezer. There
are more than 50,000 Turkish Armenians, and about 45,000 Armenians
from Armenia work in Istanbul. Turkish Armenians publish three weekly
newspapers and have many schools and churches.