PM ERDOGAN: I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM ARMENIA

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Sept 12 2006

* PM Erdogan speaks about Armenia at Turkish history congress

ANKARA – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated
yesterday in the 15th Turkish History Congress in Ankara.

Speaking to congress attendees, Erdogan touched on questions
surrounding the so-called Armenian genocide, noting "It is nearly
impossible to come across a people as free of guilt as ours in
history. Still, there are those who try to blacken our history for
political reasons. This is where the accusations of a so-called
Armenian genocide come in. On this subject, as the prime minister,
I proposed to Armenia that we form a commission. I still have not
receive a positive response to this request. Still, we have hope. All
of the Ottoman archives are open to those who wish to investigate. In
fact, foreign researchers talk about how our archives are more open
than those of other countries."

Turkish PM last yaer offered to establish a joint commission to
discuss the historical issues. Armenia does not recognise Turkey’s
eastern borders and have been occupying 20 percent of Azerbaijan.

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer also sent a message to the
president of the Turkish History Foundation, Yusuf Halacoglu, noting
that "no efforts would be successful in hiding the truth about
Armenian accusations."