The New Anatolian, Turkey
June 17 2005

In Lebanon, Erdogan Pushes for Mideast Democratization
The New Anatolian / Beirut

In Lebanon yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan worked
to keep his promise to U.S. President George W. Bush by pushing for
further democratization in the Middle East.

Erdogan promised Bush, during their meeting in Washington last week,
to encourage democratization in the Middle East and to become a “key
player” in the Greater Middle East Initiative (GME). His Lebanon
visit is his first following his meetings in the U.S.

During his talks with Lebanese counterpart Najib Mikati, Erdogan
said that in this globalized and increasingly democratized world,
it is apparent that Middle Eastern states need to reform. “Turkey
and Lebanon are good examples forother regional states in this
democratization process,” Erdogan added.

Armenian protesters waiting for PM

Erdogan was met by Armenians protesting his visit at his arrival
in Lebanon on Wednesday. Demonstrators burned the Turkish flag and
called on Lebanon to recognize the so-called Armenian genocide claims.

Shortly before his arrival in Beirut, some 1,500 Armenians demonstrated
in the northern Beirut district of Bourj Hammoud against Turkey’s
refusal to recognize the Armenians’ claims of genocide.

Lebanese protesters burned a Turkish flag and closed their shops for
an hour in Bourj Hammoud, which has a large Armenian community. Some
100,000 Armenians live in Lebanon.

A newly elected Armenian member of Parliament, Hagob Pakradounian,
recently said that Lebanon must follow 18 other countries in officially
recognizing the so-called Armenian genocide claims.