US STATE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO ERDOGAN’S STATEMENT ON DEPORTING ARMENIANS

Tert.am
10:27 ~U 18.03.10

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement on deporting
Armenians living illegally in Turkey is not a threat, said US Assistant
Secretary of State Philip Gordon.

"In my opinion, Prime Minister Erdogan only wanted to highlight
that there are 100,000 Armenians living in Turkey illegally. I
don’t believe he threatened to deport them from the country. Those
are separate issues. Every country has an issue with illegal
immigrants and approaches it according to its laws. That has no
relation whatsover with any vote in the United States or the House
or Representatives. Let’s not search for a connection between the
Congress’ activities and that issue," said Gordon, adding that the US
administration would very much like that Turkey’s PM not turn down
its invitation to attend the nuclear security summit in Washington
in April.

"Erdogan is invited. We have not yet received a formal reply as to
who is going to represent Turkey. I would very much like for him to
participate," said Gordon.

Erdogan had told the BBC’s Turkish language service on Tuesday that
if necessary, Turkey’s authorities could deport Armenians living
illegally in Turkey.

"There are 170,000 Armenians in my country, of which 70,000 are my
citizens. We’re turning a blind eye to the other 100,000. However,
tomorrow, if it becomes necessary, I would say to those 100,000,
go back to your country. Why? Because they’re not my citizens; I’m
not obliged to keep them in my country," he was reported as saying.

According to The Wall Street Journal, this is not the first time
that Erdogan and other Turkish officials have hinted they could take
action against the thousands of Armenians who do mostly menial labor
in Turkey without work visas. Officials from the prime minister’s
ruling Justice and Development party were quick to say Wednesday that
no expulsion is imminent.