Anadolu Agency, Turkey
May 1 2010
Turkey committed to continue talks with Armenia – premier
Ankara, 30 April: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on
Friday [30 April] said his country maintained its willingness to
settle problems with Armenia, despite the coalition government in
Yerevan has decided to suspend the ratification process of two
protocols the two countries had signed to normalize relations and
restore diplomatic ties.
"We have kept our positive stance and remained loyal to the word and
the spirit of the protocols from the very beginning and we will
continue to do so," Erdogan told a televised address to the nation.
Erdogan said US President Barack Obama voiced in his remarks on 24
April "allegations which cannot be accepted by our nation although he
has taken into account part of our sensitivities."
The Turkish premier was referring to Obama’s annual speech on April
24, the date accepted by Armenians as the anniversary of the incidents
of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire.
In his speech, Obama described the incidents of 1915 as "one of the
worst atrocities" of the 20th century and "a devastating chapter" in
history.
Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s proposal to leave the issue to historians,
criticizing "third parties of trying to forge domestic political
clout."
A US House panel and the Swedish parliament have earlier approved two
separate bills that affirmed Armenian allegations on the incidents of
1915.
"Turkey is very much disturbed from such insincere attitude of
countries which we see as our friends, whoever they might be," Erdogan
said.
The two protocols between Ankara and Yerevan aims to normalize
relations, reopen their border and restore diplomatic ties which broke
down in 1994 following the Armenian occupation of Karabakh region in
Azerbaijan.