Armenian conference issue “beyond my area of interest” – Turkish premier
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
27 May 05
ASTANA
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Greek Cypriot
administration did not fulfil its task on solution of Cyprus issue,
stating that Greek Cypriot administration was the number one reason of
not reaching a solution on Cyprus issue.
Erdogan proceeded from Astana to Almaty, Kazakhstan and talked with
journalists at the Intercontinental Hotel.
When he was reminded of the European Union’s (EU) reactions to
postponement of the conference entitled, “Ottoman Armenians in the Era
of Collapse of the Empire: Scientific Responsibility and Democracy
Problems” to be held by Istanbul’s Bogazici University, Erdogan said,
“these developments are all beyond my area of interest. Conferences
and symposiums are held. I have nothing to do with it. I am not a
person who has problem with such issues. My problem is that I think if
those who have to guard the values of this country evaluates the issue
with subjective comments without taking into all these documents on
scientific grounds, it will be disrespect to the past of our country
and nation.”
Erdogan stressed that Turkish state opened its all documents and
archives on this matter, stating that people should study these
archives and then they should held such seminars or symposiums.
[Passage omitted]