news.am, Armenia
March 19 2010

Turkish Premier smoothing over his statement

16:24 / 03/19/2010At a conference attended by the heads of regional
chapters of the Justice and Development Party, Turkish Premier Recep
Erdogan, the party leader, addressed his statements about the
deportation of 100,000 illegal Armenian immigrants, which evoked a
violent response both in Turkey and worldwide. Premier Erdogan
severely criticized the journalists slating him.

He said that Turkey’s first step to resuming air communication with
Armenia. The Turkish Premier called on some journalists `teaching
humanity’ to Turkey to perform their `functions as advocates’
properly. `First of all, you are advocates of the Turkish people. Let
them look in the mirror first and then write. We have renovated the
church on Akhtamar Island without receiving anyone’s order. They do
not see. There has not been any problem with Armenian citizens in our
country. We are now trying to get the Syrians that left our country to
return to Turkey. They do not see that either,’ the Turkish Premier
said. He stated that he by `deporting Armenians from the country’ he
meant illegal immigrants. Erdogan expressed his regret that mass media
misinterpreted his words. He reminded the attendees that he is the
first Turkish Premier that has clearly stated Turkey’s attitude to
national minorities. Addressing those urging him to apologize, the
Turkish Premier stated that the Turkish leaders know very well who
they should apologize to. `It is most important for me that my nation
have what is becoming to it,’ Erdogan said.

The Turkish Premier is well aware that the word `illegal’ in the
phrase `deporting 100,000 illegal Armenian migrants’ does not matter.
What matters is the word `deporting.’ `Deporting,’ which is close to
the Turkish spirit, `mass deportation,’ as one of his fathers, Talaat
would say. As regards media outlets, most of them accurately quoted
Mr. Erdogan. As to the third-rate mass media, their reports by no
means justify the Turkish Premier.

T.P.