Erdogan: All Sectors in Turkey are Essential
Zaman, Turkey
Dec 7 2004
While the critical December 17th European Union (EU) summit quickly
approaches, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a
message to Europe about Turkey’s provisions toward minorities.
Yesterday, Erdogan spoke at the opening ceremony of the Yedikule Surp
Pirgic Armenian Hospital Foundation Museum in Istanbul. “In my heart,
this museum is a humanity museum.”
After voicing that all sectors living in Turkey are essential
elements of Turkey, the Prime Minister added: “We, as being the
children of this country, have lived together in confidence and peace
for centuries. We protect our law with civic consciousness in a
friendship. It will be like that for all eternity.” The Director of
the Hospital, Setrat Tokat, revealed his support for Turkey’s
membership bid to the EU during his remarks.
While commenting about the art the hospital displays, Erdogan said
that no eye surveying the works should look at the history of the two
cultures with crossed eyes.
Erdogan stressed: “We have in our culture, in the words of Yunus
Emre, ‘we love the created because we love the Creator’. Loving all
created things is a task common to both of our beliefs. I am here
because of this.”
After remarking that all around, Anatolian people say, “I have an
Armenian master” Erdogan said, “We cannot separate our trade,
architecture, folk music, and cuisine from each other.”
Erdogan reminded the audience that Sultan II commissioned the
Armenian hospital 172 years ago. Erdogan said that the paintings in
the museum documented a harmonious past while mass information and
speculations distort present attitudes.
12.06.2004
Baran Tas
Istanbul