Ankara, (AFP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed on Tuesday to oppose “actively” in any campaign for recognition by Turkey on genocidal massacres of Armenians in 1915, whose centenary is celebrated this year.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and institutions will actively fight these allegations,” Erdogan said during a speech to the Turkish ambassadors gathered in Ankara.
One session of the annual conference of Turkish ambassadors is precisely on the definition of a strategy against Armenia’s efforts and the Armenian diaspora, who advocate that Ankara recognize genocide.
Turkey has so far always refused to admit any planned disposal, citing the massacre by the Ottoman Empire some 500,000 Armenians who had sided with his enemy Russia in fighting or because of famines .
In April, Mr Erdogan, when he was prime minister, had offered unprecedented condolences for the massacres of Armenians (1.5 million Armenians and 500,000 according as Turks), citing a “joint pain”.
Turkey and neighboring Armenia, which does not have diplomatic relations, signed in 2009 called protocols in Zurich to normalize their relations, but five years later these texts have still not been approved by their parliaments.
Armenia will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the genocide on April 24, when, in 1915, hundreds of Armenians were arrested and later massacred in Constantinople, the ancient Istanbul, marking the beginning of the massacres.
Ara © armenews.com