IN MUNICH ERDOGHAN DEMANDED THAT TURKEY IS INTEGRATED INTO THE EU

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.02.2008 GMT+04:00

Turkey vigorously rejects the compromise in the form of the status
of a privileged partner, which was suggested particularly by Germany.

During the 44th conference on security policy issues held in Munich
the problems of NATO’s functioning and the prospect of its expansion,
the issues of disarmament, nonproliferation of nuclear weapons,
the calls of the European security, the situation in Afghanistan
and prospective of its resolution, the basic course of development
of Russia, and the issues of security in Asia were discussed. Much
attention was focused particularly to the discussion of the Kosovo
issue, Iranian nuclear program, Turkey’s European course, and its
policy in the field of security.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The conference was opened by the Prime Minister
of Turkey Recep Erdoghan, who said in his speech that his country is
actively involved in many processes and events in different parts of
the world. In this regard he also mentioned that Turkey has always
been and will remain a reliable for NATO, and the main message to the
participants of the conference was the demand to integrate Turkey in
the European Union.

According to Erdoghan, Turkey vigorously rejects the compromise in the
form of the status of a privileged partner, suggested particularly by
Germany. But the most interesting things happened during the debate. An
example was brought by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
Vartan Oskanyan. "You confirmed the decision of your country to become
the full member of the EU. Armenia is also for Turkey’s integration
into the EU, this is the neighbor we need. But you know that at present
the border between the two countries are closed from Turkey’s side,"
said the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs in answer to Erdoghan’s speech.

Vartan Oskanyan mentioned that the Turkish side has two main reasons
for closing the borders. "The first reason is RA’s participation in
Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, and the second reason is Armenia’s foreign
policy, directed towards the international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide committed in the Ottoman Empire in 1915. I must say that the
parties of the Karabakh conflict are the Armenians and the Azeri,
and the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is the historical and
moral imperative of the Armenian Nation. Mr. Prime Minister, now our
countries are not at a war with each other and are your arguments
enough to preserve the blockade of the Armenian-Turkish border in
this situation?" asked Oskanyan to Recep Erdoghan.

However, the Turkish Prime Minister left Oskanyan’s questions
unanswered and once again repeated the sentence about establishing the
Armenian-Turkish historical commission, declaring that the slaughter
of 1915 has not historically been proven and that it is the issue to
be discussed by the historians. The notion of Genocide doesn’t exist
in Turkish culture," said Erdoghan.

Erdoghan also touched upon the Kurdish problem.

According to him, the Turkish Army has concentrated around 100.000
soldiers on the border with Iraq, but hasn’t started any serious
operations against them yet, only confining to short term raids,
and bombardment of the positions of Kurdish terrorists.

"Turkey’s struggle against the Kurdish separatists will continue till
the final victory is obtained. It is the part of the fight of the
World Community against terrorism. It should be clear to everyone
that we are going to fight till the last minute," said the Turkish
Prime Minister. Recep Erdoghan also publicly denied the Kremlin’s
affirmation, which said that Chechen terrorists have found shelter
in Turkey.

"There are people of Chechen origins in Turkey, but let’s not call
them terrorists," he said.