PHILIP GORDON DEFENDS ERDOGAN’S DEPORTATION THREAT

Asbarez
Mar 19th, 2010

WASHINGTON-US Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon on Wednesday
defended Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threats earlier
this week of deporting alleged illegal Armenian workers in Turkey if
a Congressional resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide were to
be approved.

"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," rationalized Gordon, at a press conference preceding
a conference on US-Turkish relations at the Brookings Institute.

"Every country has an issue with illegal immigrants and approaches
it according to its laws. That has no relation whatsoever 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 would like Erdogan to attend
a nuclear security summit next month in Washington.

"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 told the BBC’s Turkish language service on Tuesday that if
necessary, Turkish 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," Erdogan was reported as saying.

During the actual Brooking Institute conference, Gordon reiterated
Washington’s call for Armenia and Turkey to unconditionally adhere
to the protocols process.

Gordon said President Barack Obama conveyed the same message to his
Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, in a phone conversation earlier
this month.

"We appreciate the effort that has been made so far and urge both
countries to ratify the protocols without preconditions and as soon
as possible, a point President Obama made on the phone to President
Gul just two weeks ago," he said.

Gordon also reaffirmed the Obama administration’s opposition to the
Genocide resolution approved by U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee on
March 4. However, he denied earlier claims of a deal between Democratic
Congressional leaders and the White House to block the measure.

"Congress is an independent body and they are going to do what they
decide to do," he said, according to The Associated Press.