TURKISH PM: EVENTS IN KARABAKH TESTIFIED TO REAL COMMITTERS OF GENOCIDE
By Hakob Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/02/2008

Armenia-Turkey

On February 11, the leading Turkish newspapers, as well as the Turkish
version of "Euronews" thoroughly represented and commented on the
speech of the Turkish PM Recep Taipp Erdogan at the 44th Munich
Security Conference on Saturday and Sunday February 9 and 10.

Particularly, Erdogan conditioned the trans-border military actions by
the necessity to fight PKK. He also strictly criticized the European
countries for their passiveness in the anti-terrorist struggle,
as well as for the "disgraceful" status of "privileged partner"
suggested to Turkey within the framework of the European Union.

He also expressed readiness to reconsider the article #301 in the
Turkish Criminal Code, as well as condemned the UN Security Council
for delaying the discussion of the Cyprus issue for four years. As
for the nuclear program of Iran, Erdogan said that that is meant to
produce electricity. He added that Turkey also is soon to carry out
nuclear programs, and may get the label of producers of nuclear weapon.

In response to a question by RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian,
Erdogan said that becoming Turkish PM he allowed the air transportation
between Armenia and Turkey. He also reminded of the recent restoration
of the Armenian church on Aghtamar island in the Lake of Van,
emphasizing that it’s open for visiting for all tourists, including
the Armenians. He also pointed out the fact that there are 40 000
Armenians currently living in Turkey. He conditioned this fact by
Turkey’s being a country of peace. Erdogan stated that he has no
problems with his citizens of Armenian nationality.

As for the Nagorno Karabakh issue, Turkish PM said that the world
considers Armenia "an occupant" and added that we should leave the
territory to Azeris, as they are their brothers. Then he called
for the Armenians to give up the international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and added that this may help restore peace in our
relations. He added that "the events in Karabakh testified to who are
the real committers of the genocide." In the end, Erdogan emphasized
the importance of accepting one’s own history.

The speech of the Turkish PM is obviously inspired by the hopeless
situation turkey appeared in after the suggestion of the French
President to make this country a "privileged partner" for the EU and by
the evitable international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. This
very situation leads Erdogan to despair and makes him urge Armenians
leave Nagorno Karabakh.

This means that Erdogan’s problems begin when the issue of Nagorno
Karabakh is linked to that of the Armenian Genocide. Otherwise, he
wouldn’t forget about the OSCE Minsk group when urging Armenian to
leave NKR.