Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
April 14 2005

Yerevan Rejects Turkish PM Erdogan’s Dialogue Letter

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul revealed in Ankara that Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote to Armenian President Robert
Kocharian recently, proposing the creation of a joint
Turkish-Armenian commission

ANKARA (JTW) Turkish Grand National Parliament first time in its
history made a general session to discuss the Armenian issue. Turkish
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said in the session that Prime Minister
Erdogan sent a letter to Armenian President Robert Kocharian. Turkish
PM Erdogan called Armenian President to establish a joint dialogue
commission. However, Gul said, Yerevan rejected the offer.

Abdullah Gul further added:

“We informed them that if our proposal is accepted, we are ready to
negotiate with Armenia on how the commission will be established and
how it will work and that such an initiative will serve to normalize
relations between the two countries,’ Gul told a special session of
the Turkish parliament… I repeat this appeal once again… Turkey is
ready to face its history, Turkey has no problem with its history.”

Turkish PM Erdogan had declared on Wednesday that Ankara is prepared
for an “open discussion” on the highly sensitive subject as he met
members of his Justice and Development Party (AKP). Erdogan said `we
have nothing to be afraid. We have no problem with our history’.
Erdogan further called the Armenian groups to open their archives to
all researchers.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, however rejected all
dialogue calls and accused Turkey of playing a game.

JTW