PRESS RELEASE

Armenian National Committee
San Francisco – Bay Area
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: (415) 387-3433
Fax: (415) 751-0617
mail@ancsf.org

Contact: Roxanne Makasdjian (415) 641-0525

TURKISH PRIME MINISTER DEFENDS TURKEY IN SAN FRANCISCO
“Our ancestors could never have done anything like that”

San Francisco, July 7, 2005 – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan
was the guest speaker at a late-breaking World Affairs Council
program at the Fairmont Hotel. Erdogan spoke for about an hour,
addressing issues including recognition of the Armenian Genocide
and relations with Armenia, his country’s attempt to become more
democratic and accession to the European Union, the fight against
terrorism, Turkey’s alliances with the West, relations with Greece,
Cyprus and the island’s inclusion in the EU.

Among the approximately 350 people in attendance were representatives
from various countries’ embassies, Turkish government officials,
a large number of Turkish residents of the Bay Area, and others.
Armenian-Americans greeted attendees at the Fairmont Hotel with
informational flyers and picket signs outlining Erdogan’s recently
amplified denial of the Armenian Genocide. Armenian-Americans also
attended Erdogan’s speech, submitting questions to him about Armenian
Genocide recognition and Turkey’s ongoing record of human and civil
rights abuses.

Speaking through an interpreter, the Turkish Prime Minister
spoke for several minutes about the Armenian Case. He derided the
Armenian-American community for “always creating lobbies,” which he
said didn’t achieve anything, and said Armenian-Americans should stop
bringing up the issue, calling on the U.S. to help build “constructive
relationships” between the two countries.

Labelling the Armenian Genocide “unfounded propaganda,” Erdogan
remarked on resolutions passed by various nations recognizing the
Armenian Genocide. “Irrelevent countries and people are taking
decisions… I don’t really care,” he said.

“We have no feelings of hostility in ourselves,” said Erdogan, pointing
to Turkey’s opening of cargo flights to Armenia, and its step towards
reconstructing the Akhtamar church. He said his government has even
asked Armenia to provide an architect for the project, to avoid
accusations that it would be rebuilt incorrectly. Armenian-Americans
in the audience grumbled aloud at the sad irony of so many of their
historic churches having been intentionally destroyed, used as death
chambers for their ancestors during the Genocide, and as barns today.

Touching on Karabagh, Erdogan neglected to describe the origins of
the war over the Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan, saying the Council of
Europe had declared Armenians in Karabagh as the aggressors in the war.

Audience questions were submitted on index cards to the moderator, who
said hundreds of questions had been submitted and she grouped them into
categories: developments in the region/Iraq; domestic situation/economy
& religion; entry into EU; and relations with Armenia.

After lengthy answers to each, Erdogan remarked on the prospect of
Armenian Genocide recognition posing a problem for Turkey’s accession
to the EU. The Prime Minister said there was no Armenian clause in
the recent Copenhagan agreement on requirements for EU admission,
and that Europe should not add more criteria. “That phase is over.”

Erdogan received loud applause when he said, “If we need to face our
own history, we will face our own history.” He then received boos
when he added, “But we’re very proud and confident… Our ancestors
could never have done anything like that.”

Erdogan said he suggested to Armenian president Robert Kocharian
that historians and “scientists” of law and archives should bring
their findings, and then politicians should discuss it and come to
a decision. This statement also garnered strong applause.

Erdogan also spoke broadly about his government’s efforts to stem
corruption and fraud among officials, as well as the growth of Turkish
trade, tourism, and per capita income.

—
Armenian National Committee
San Francisco – Bay Area
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: (415) 387-3433
Fax: (415) 751-0617