During a press conference at the G20 summit in Argentina, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan denied the Armenian Genocide after a question from a journalist of Armenian origin. When asked about the rights of minorities in Turkey, the journalist added: “I am one of the descendants of the families that suffered the Armenian Genocide,” according to Horizon Weekly.

“Turkey cannot be blamed of having committed a genocide against the Armenians,” said Erdogan. “On the question of genocide, please let’s leave the discussions to the Historians and let’s listen to what the Historians have to say. This is not a part of our history and I can very confidently say that and we are ready to get involved in any discussion whatsoever,” added Erdogan.

“Do you know how many Armenians live in my country right now? Hundred of thousands. About 30,000 of them are citizens and the rest are undocumented. They have fled Armenia only to settle in Turkey. And we allow them to do so. A total of 100,000 Armenians live in our country. They were never discriminated on the basis of citizenship, we have never deported any Armenians on those grounds. We are very humane in our conduct and we will keep on doing so,” said the Turkish President.
Before the arrival of the Turkish President to Argentina, the Armenian community held a demonstration in front of the residence of the Turkish Ambassador on Monday, November 26. “Erdogan is the head of a state that maintains a state policy of denial and non-recognition of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Turkish State between 1915 and 1923,” denounced the Armenian community at that time.