TURKISH PM DOWNPLAYS THREAT TO EXPEL ARMENIANS
YNet News
March 19 2010
Israel
Erdogan seeks to reassure Armenians after threatening to expel
thousands of illegal immigrants
The Turkish prime minister, facing widespread anger after threatening
to expel thousands of Armenian illegal immigrants, is seeking to
reassure Turkey’s minority Armenian community they were not the target.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted Friday his government has championed
minority rights.
Erdogan had said Tuesday in an interview with the BBC Turkish service
that illegal immigrants from Armenia would be expelled, sparking
outrage among the opposition and media.
He made the threat after US and Swedish lawmakers approved measures
to recognize the Ottoman-era killings of Armenians as genocide.
Erdogan’s government complains its efforts to reconcile with Armenia
and reopen their border have not been reciprocated.