TURKISH PM DISCUSSES 1915 "INCIDENTS", MIDEAST WITH JEWISH LEADERS IN NEW YORK
Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Sept 27 2007
"ERDOGAN RECEIVES REPRESENTATIVES OF JEWISH COMMUNITY"
NEW YORK (A.A) -27.09.2007 -"Incidents of 1915 were discussed during
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s meeting with the representatives
of Jewish Community in the USA. Prime Minister said the allegations
were baseless and do not have any scientific or historical ground,"
a Prime Ministry statement said on Thursday.
According to the statement, Erdogan met representatives of 20 Jewish
communities including Conference of Presidents, Appeal of Conscience,
Foundation, Aipac, ADL, American Jewish Committee, American Jewish
Congress, Bnai Brith International and UJA Federation in Turkish
Centre in NYC.
"Prime Minister also reminded Turkey’s call to Armenia to establish
a joint commission to study historical facts, and stated that Turkey
expected the Jewish community to confirm its support against the
baseless allegations," the statement added.
The statement also noted that representatives of the Jewish community
asked PM Erdogan to comment on the regional matters and exchanged
views on various issues.
[Anatolia in English at 0738 gmt on 27 Sep 07 reports: "NEW YORK
(A.A) – 27.09.2007 – ‘There may be disagreement between friends
from time to time. This does not change friendship or deference,’
Abraham Foxman, the National Director of the Anti-Defamation League
(ADL) said on Thursday.
"Foxman replied to the questions of reporters following Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s meeting with representatives of Jewish
community in New York.
"Asked what was the matter of disagreement, Foxman said the
disagreement was some words describing Turkish-Armenian history.
"He also said historical and current Turkish-Jewish relations were
discussed at the meeting. ‘We have expressed gratitude for the support,
deference and tolerance shown to Jews in Turkey. We also discussed
Turkish-U.S. relations. Iran, Syria and Middle East process as well
as Turkish- Israeli relations were handled at the meeting,’ he noted.
"Asked to comment on the Armenian draft in the U.S. Congress, Foxman
said, ‘we believe that a matter between Turkey and Armenia related
to history should be tackled between the two parties, not in U.S.
Congress or parliament of any other country. This is not a political
matter and those in the Congress are not historians.’
""I believe that we should focus on the future, not the past. If the
Jewish community, the United States and the Congress are willing
to assist they should bring together Turkey and Armenia for the
grandchildren of the two parties,’ Foxman said.
"Indicating that the matter should not be tackled in the French
parliament or any other place, Foxman said he expected Armenians
to respond affirmatively to the proposal to discuss the matter in a
committee of historians.
"Abraham Foxman, the National Director of ADL, said earlier in a
statement that his organization had come to share the view that the
incidents of 1915 ‘were indeed tantamount to genocide,’ but added
that the organization maintained its opposition against bringing the
issue to Congressional floor."]