The News Anatolian, Turkey
April 28 2005

Armenian issue escalates tension between Turkey, Russia
By SENEM CAGLAYAN

Despite a Foreign Ministry statement condemning and rejecting the
Russian Duma’s recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide claims,
Armenians in Russia declare that they’ve unveiled ‘genocide’
monuments, an act that escalates the tension and further damages
relations between Ankara and Moscow
The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a written announcement on Tuesday
condemning and rejecting the Russian Duma’s recognition last Friday
of the so-called Armenian genocide claims.

“Recognition of the event, which is a strained reflection of mutual
sorrows and pains of Armenians and Turks, by a state that knows the
conditions of World War I is incomprehensible,” said the Foreign
Ministry in its announcement.

The statement went on to mention that recognition of the Armenian
claims of genocide by the Duma is contrary to developing relations
between Ankara and Moscow, and added, “Turkey believes that
historians will come to a well-balanced conclusion on this
controversial problem. This is why Turkey has encouraged a
constructive and well-intentioned undertaking to gather Armenian and
Turkish historians together to investigate the events and
developments of 1915, and to examine archives in other states.”

The announcement went on to say that the Russian Duma, rather than
supporting the well-intentioned undertaking, had made an announcement
which is contrary to the need of cultivating good and friendly
feelings between the public these days and generations to come. “It’s
an ill-fated declaration that also contradicts attempts to attain
peace and stability in our region, and with good neighborhood
relations,” it added.

Armenians unveil ‘genocide’ monuments in Russia

Despite Tuesday’s Foreign Ministry statement condemning and rejecting
the Duma’s recognition, Armenians in Russia declared on Tuesday that
they’ve unveiled “genocide” monuments, an act that escalates the
tension and further damages bilateral relations between Turkey and
Russia.

Armenians living in Russia stated that they unveiled monuments in
Krasnodar and Stavropol to commemorate the so-called genocide.

According to news published on the Russian Southern Federal
District’s website, Armenians unveiled their monuments in Stavropol
and Krasnodar with the permission of Pyatigorsk’s local
administration.

The cities of Stavropol and Krasnodar are located on the Black Sea
and are known to have many people of Armenian descent living there.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress