Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 11
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The Armenian lobby's efforts of propagandizing the events of 1915 as "Armenian genocide" will be futile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted Feb. 11 by Anadolu news agency as saying.
He said that the Armenian lobby further intensified its activity against Turkey in connection with the upcoming centenary of the so-called Armenian genocide.
President Erdogan said that Turkey has repeatedly held out the hand of friendship to Armenia, but all these attempts are unsuccessful thanks to the efforts of the Armenian lobby.
"Ankara constantly declares its readiness to open the archives to examine the events of 1915" the president said.
Erdogan also proposed Armenia to open its archives in connection with these events, if there are any.
He stressed that Turkey would like the leadership of Armenia to take part in the festive processions on the occasion of the centenary of the Battle of Canakkale, to be held on April 24, 2015.
"This could lead to the beginning of a dialogue," he said. "However, the Armenian authorities refused from participating in the festivities."
Previously, Turkish authorities have repeatedly made gestures to Armenia. Recep Tayyip Erdogan's message to the Armenian people on April 24, 2014 is one of such recent gestures.
Erdogan said in that message that the events of 1915 were a difficult time not only for Armenians, but also for Arabs, Kurds and representatives of other nations living in the country.
Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that Turkey's predecessor, the Ottoman Empire allegedly carried out "genocide" against the Armenians living in Anatolia in 1915. Turkey in turn has always denied "the genocide" took place.
While strengthening the efforts to promote the "genocide" in the world, Armenians have achieved its recognition by the parliaments of some countries.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said earlier that the emphasis on the 1915 events hinders the normalization of relations between Ankara and Yerevan.
He said that Ankara hopes for the normalization of relations with Yerevan, however, Armenia should break down its stereotypes associated with the mentioned events.
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