ARINC: TURKEY WILL NEVER RECOGNIZE SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BECAUSE SUCH A THING HAS NOT HAPPENED IN OUR HISTORY

Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 10 2006

STOCKHOLM – “Turkey will never recognize so-called Armenian genocide
because such a thing has not happened in our history,” Turkish
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Tuesday.

Arinc, who is currently paying a state visit to Sweden, responded to
questions of Swedish MPs at the parliament.

Upon a question about so-called Armenian genocide, Arinc said, “this
issue has been discussed for a long time. It is a fact that tragic
events happened during the World War I. However, there is not any
court verdict that Turks committed genocide against Armenians. Also
Turks, Arabs and Kurds died during the World War I. Therefore, it is
a serious mistake to say that only Armenians were subject to genocide.”

“Armenians had always lived freely during the Ottoman Empire era.

Last year, we proposed Armenia to set a joint independent commission
of historians to research the issue. However, Armenia turned down
Turkey’s proposal. On the other hand, Turkey’s archives are kept open
for researchers,” he stressed.

When asked whether Turkish people were ready for EU membership,
Arinc said, “Turkish people have always wanted to become a member
of the EU. Although Turkey has fulfilled the necessary criteria,
the EU asked Turkey to fulfill additional criteria. We do not want
any privileges, the EU should not discriminate Turkey. Turkish people
regret such humiliation and discrimination.”

“The EU is a 40-year process for Turkey. Our relations with the EU
are based on international agreements and mutual interests,” he said.

Replying to another question, Arinc said, “Turkey is a secular and
democratic state. Our citizens worship freely.”