Erdogan – Mikati Joint News Conference

Turkish Press
June 16 2005

BEIRUT – Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in
Lebanon, held a joint news conference with Lebanese Prime Minister
Najib Mikati on Thursday.

Mikati said that they discussed Middle East peace process,
Israeli-Palestinian dispute and recent developments in Iraq. He said,
“we also took up economic cooperation between Turkey and Lebanon
and agreed to increase mutual investments and collaboration in
international areas.”

On the other hand, Erdogan said, “Lebanon supports Turkey’s point
of view in Cyprus issue. We also share the same views as regards
Iraq. I conveyed that Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative
is a democratization and freedom process as well as an initiative to
establish a joint program to fight terrorism and to increase prosperity
in the region.”

Replying a question on the Armenians allegations, Erdogan said,
“Turkey urged Armenian authorities to open their archives because
Turkey has already done so. Other countries can open their archives
too. It is impossible to accept a genocide claim which is not based
on documents and sound information. We have a positive approach, but
Armenia is still busy with the past. Future cannot be established on
hatred,” noted Erdogan.

Yesterday, nearly 1,500 Armenians who are living in Lebanon held a
demonstration to protest the visit of Erdogan to Lebanon.