TURKEY DOESN’T EYE ARMENIA AS ENEMY BUT WARNS U.S. AGAINST GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.10.2008 18:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The chief foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that Turkey does not view Armenia
as a threat or an enemy and that he is hopeful for reconciliation.

"We should open our hearts, minds and arms to each other," Ahmet
Davutoglu told a news conference in Washington.

But speaking to Turkish reporters later, he also warned that a
potential formal recognition by the United States of the Armenian
Genocide would greatly damage the U.S.-Turkish relationship and hurt
Turkey’s efforts to reconcile with Armenia.

Turkey will renounce partnership with the U.S. in case the latter
recognizes the Genocide, according to him.

Erdogan sent two foreign policy officials to meet the advisors of
both U.S. presidential candidates Democrat Barack Obama and Republican
John McCain in the United States.

Ahmet Davutoglu, chief foreign policy advisor to Erdogan and Suat
Kiniklioglu, deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of
the Turkish parliament are instructed to convey Turkey’s stance on
a number of crucial issues, including PKK terrorism, the Armenian
Genocide issue, Cyprus and other regional problems, to the advisors
of both candidates.

The officials are also expected to reiterate Turkey’s aspiration to
continue cooperation against the PKK and reaffirm that their country
looks favorably on the territorial integrity of Iraq.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress