ERDOGAN’S DEPORT ARMENIANS STATEMENT NOT THE FIRST SUCH COMMENT FROM TURKISH OFFICIALS

Tert.am
15:09 * 18.03.10

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan’s statement on deporting
Armenians living illegally in Turkey, this time, has received worldwide
coverage: it’s become an issue of discussion not only in Turkey,
but also outside the country.

However, it’s important to note that this isn’t the first time that
Turkish officials have made such statements, using Armenians living
illegally in Turkey as a "playing card" in a game of diplomacy between
Yerevan and Ankara.

The Turkish public first heard about Armenians living illegally in
Turkey in 2000, when then-Prime Minister Tansu Ciller was opposing
a US Congress resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

After assuming the position, current Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdoðan occasionally threatened to deport "40,000 citizens of Armenia
living illegally," if necessary, from Turkey. That statement by
Erdoðan immediately gained support from Turkey’s not only ruling,
but also opposition parties.

For instance, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) MP, Turkey-EU
Joint Parliamentary Committee Co-Chair Yaþar Yakýþ has said that the
number of Armenians living illegally in Turkey was getting close to
70,000 and repeated Erdoðan’s "if necessary, we’ll send them back"
rhetoric.

On another occasion, Republican People’s Party member Þukru Elekdað,
speaking about the "70,000 illegal Armenian immigrants," said that
they need to be sent back in "columns."