PRESIDENT OF TURKEY CRITICIZES DECISION OF PARLIAMENT OF POLAND
CONCERNING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

ANKARA, JANUARY 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Turkish President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer expressed his country’s anxiety on the occasion
of the fact of recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Poland to
President of that country Lech Kaczynski arrived on an official
visit to Ankara. He criticized the decision made by the Parliament of
Poland in 2005 and stated: "Our wish is that the two people know and
understand one another better for what it is necessary to get rid of
prejudices what is a result of not enough awareness."

According to the "Turkish Daily News," Kaczyski protected his country’s
position in that issue and mentioned that the Genocide issue is rather
delicate in Poland and it is very difficult for politicians of Poland
not to respond issues concerning the genocide: "in 2005 the Parliament
of Poland recognized the Armenian Genocide. That decision was made
not because of sympathy we have towards Armenia," the President of
Poland mentioned.

The President of Poland at the same time expressed readiness to become
a mediator in the issue of improvement of relations of Turkey with
its neighboring states, particularly with Armenia.

Kaczysnki, according to Radikal, attached importance to the membership
of Turkey to the European Union and mentioned that the membership
of Ankara "will enrich" the European bloc from both economic and
military viewpoint.