Turkish, Lebanon premiers hold joint news conference in Beirut

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
16 Jun 05

Beirut, 16 June: Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently
in Lebanon, held a joint news conference with Lebanese Prime Minister
Najib Miqati on Thursday [16 June].

Miqati 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 programme to fight terrorism and to increase
prosperity in the region.”

Replying to a question on the Armenian 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.