PM ERDOGAN TO SUE STATES RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

AZG Armenian Daily #090, 20/05/2005

Armenia-Turkey

First response of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Armenian
President Robert Kocharian’s speech during the Council of Europe summit in
Warsaw came on May 16 “unscheduled” press conference and the second one on
May 17. Upon his return from Warsaw, PM Erdogan gave his third response on
May 18, this time at the sitting of Justice and Prosperity Party.

In all of 3 retorts Erdogan repeats himself resisting Kocharian’s speech and
meanwhile threatening to sue the 15 states whose parliaments have taken
decision of recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Being asked by his party
members why he didn’t immediately come back at the Armenian President,
Erdogan said, “I was absent from the hall because of a bilateral meeting”.

Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister indirectly confirmed that the rumors about
Armenia’s readiness to withdraw from “7 regions of Nagorno Karabakh” are
false. “The borders are closed. Azerbaijan has problems with Armenia. There
are seven [occupied] territories. It’s uncertain which one of the 7 regions
they are going to leave”, he said.

Turkish Yeni Safaq newspaper informs in May 19 issue about the threats
Erdogan made to European states. According to the paper, Erdogan said,
“There are hitherto 15 parliaments that have taken decisions [on
recognition]. We will put those countries on the scale. There are countries
among them that have perpetuated genocides. We will counter those states
with facts but not basing on lobbyists’ activities and undercover talks and
we will take appropriate decisions in our parliament. Why? Because Turkey
has never been misled into committing a genocide. There is no way for it to
be accepted. There may possible be death cases during the deportation.
That’s true. But why were they deported? Documents give clear answer:
because a group of Armenians provoked by others revolted against the
Ottomans who were waging war at 3 fronts”.

Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul confirms the fact of Erdogan’s
threats. As Milliyet informs in May 19 issue, Gul was asked during a program
on Turkish private TV whether they are going to file a lawsuit against the
states that recognized the Genocide. Gul Answered, “Yes, we will take that
step against those countries. We are working in that direction. They should
give an answer why they cast slurs upon us and whether they have grounds for
that”.

Being asked whether there is such a court to apply, Gul said, “We have means
for that. I don’t want to go into details but scrupulous work is in
progress”.

It’s hard to say what the expectations of Turkish Prime Minister from
accusing the Genocide recognizing states of having carried out genocides,
moreover, from filing a lawsuit against them are. But it’s clear that RA
President Robert Kocharian left no chance for Erdogan to remove the issue of
Armenian Genocide from Turkey’s agenda by correspondence and by readiness
for a meeting.

By Hakob Chakrian