Turkish PM: There was no Armenian genocide

MICHAL LANDO, Jerusalem Post correspondent
THE JERUSALEM POST
Sep. 29, 2007

In a meeting with representatives of the Jewish community, Turkey’s
prime minister rejected allegations that the massacre of Armenians
during WWI was an act of genocide.

Speaking with officials from the Conference of Presidents of Major
Jewish American Organizations, the Anti-Defamation League, the
American Jewish Congress and other groups, Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan said the genocide claims were not supported by any scientific
or historical documentation.

Erdogan also reiterated Turkey’s call to Armenia to establish a joint
commission to study historical facts, and asked the Jewish
representatives to continue to support good relations between Turkey
and the US Jewish community, according to a statement released
following the meeting.

After disagreement between its New England chapter and national
headquarters, the ADL in August recognized the massacres of Armenians
as "tantamount to genocide," reversing the organization’s longstanding
refusal to do so. ADL’s recognition stopped short of supporting two
congressional resolutions that would call on the US to formally
recognize the genocide.

ADL national director Abraham Foxman reiterated Wednesday that the
issue should not be the subject of congressional resolution, according
to MSNBC.

"We believe that a matter between Turkey and Armenia related to
history should be tackled between the two parties, not in the US
Congress or the parliament of any other country," he said. "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 [sake of
the] grandchildren of the two parties," Foxman said.

ADL’s national policy-making body is expected to discuss the
congressional resolutions at its annual meeting on November 1.

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