Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

Turkish deputy premier advises Armenia to choose friendship, not enmity
by Anatolia news agency, ANKARA - 31 October, 2000
Posted: Friday, November 03, 2000 00:42 am CST

Igdir, 31st October: Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said on Tuesday that "Turkey might be a little hurt if the resolution on the Armenian genocide comes up again in the future but Armenia's most vital interests would suffer more serious damage".

Speaking at the opening of the Dilucu border gate facilities in Igdir, Yilmaz said societies should not be stuck in the past but they should take lessons from their history to create a better future. If historical incidents are turned into slogans and if they are used as political material, Yilmaz said, this would prevent a healthy evaluation of today and the future.

"The resolution which was presented to the US House of Representatives last week and similar efforts would not benefit the Armenian State or the people," Yilmaz went on to say. "On the contrary, such initiatives would seriously damage Turkish-Armenian relations. If this one or a similar resolution is brought to the agenda in some way, Turkey would be a little hurt, but Armenia's interests would suffer more seriously. This is also valid for other countries which carry similar intentions"

"I would like to convey a message to our neighbour Armenia and Armenian authorities. Let's stop creating hostility from the history. Enmity would harm all sides. We share more friendship than animosity in our history and let's try to develop that friendship."

Yilmaz also called on historians to study the incidents which took place in the beginning of last century and reveal the truth. "The truth should illuminate the road of both nations. We hope that such incidents would never occur again. With this proposal, we are not suggesting to forget about what happened in the past. What we want is to hold friendship over enmity."

Yilmaz also said he hoped that the problems between Armenia and Azerbaijan would be solved through peaceful methods which would satisfy both sides.

"Azerbaijan is our friend and no-one has the power to spoil this friendship. But Turkey also wants to be friends with Armenia but it has two conditions. History should not be distorted for the sake of politics. Our second condition is ending of Armenian occupation in Azeri territory in Karabakh. If all these take place, all three countries would benefit from it but Armenia would profit from it most. If Armenia accepts this proposal Turkey would be its door opening to the western world..."

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