Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Jan 14 2008

Turkish premier says Armenian Diaspora seeking indemnity over 1915
events

MADRID (A.A) – 14.01.2008 – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan said Monday, "(Armenian) Diaspora continues to muddle.
Following their demarches in various countries they try to obtain
relevant or irrelevant judgments."

Turkish PM Erdogan made comments on Armenian allegations regarding
1915 incidents while speaking at a breakfast organized by Europa
Press in Madrid.

Erdogan said, "the matter (regarding the bill on Armenian allegations
submitted to the US Congress) seems to be postponed, particularly
thanks to the sensitivity of the US administration. US President
George Bush and other executives have exerted intensive efforts.
However, I would like to express very clearly that there are very
serious prejudices regarding this issue."

"I wrote a letter to [Armenian President Robert] Kocharyan in 2005
and said this (the allegations) should be assessed by historians.
Turkey has opened its archives. There are more than one million
classified documents. Turkey has also asked Armenia to open its
archives. Kocharyan has not yet responded to my suggestion," Turkish
PM remarked.

Erdogan said, "the Armenian Diaspora is in an effort to get indemnity
(from Turkey)."

"Turkey’s cause is rightful. Turkish government opened air corridors
to Yerevan and restored Armenian Orthodox church in Akdamar Island in
Van Lake. There are currently 40,000 Armenians living in Turkey who
escaped from Armenia. We have not extradited them. Armenian citizens
living in Turkey do not have problems," Erdogan said.

Responding to a question on headscarf issue, Erdogan said, "people
wearing headscarves can get education in universities in Europe and
the United States. Unfortunately, this is a problem in our country.
Overcoming this problem will also help to solve the problem of the
right to education."