RAJAB TAYYIP ERDOGAN: I OPENLY SEND A CHALLENGE TO KOCHARYAN; IF HE IS COURAGEOUS ENOUGH LET HIM MAKE ARCHIVES AVAILABLE
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 4 2006
"If Kocharyan is courageous enough let him make Armenian archives
available. Let the specialists analyze them and find out truth.
Turkey makes available his archives to anyone, but Armenia refuses
to do it," Rajab Tayyip Erdogan answered the question of Armenian
journalist Greghan Manukyan in the News Xchange-2006 conference, APA
Turkey bureau reports. 155 media groups and over 500 journalists from
55 countries took part in the conference. Armenian journalist said that
Armenian s played a great role in the formation of Istanbul culture,
but thousands of our compatriots were killed there in 1914.
His statement made the minister angry.
"I openly send a challenge to Kocharyan. If he is self-confident, let
him open Armenian archives to anyone. I have copies of Ottoman pashas’
aids to Armenian hospitals in my office. Armenians living in Turkey
have no problem; the only problem is Armenian Diaspora," he said.
The minister also answered the questions about the meeting with Pope
Benedict XVI Erdogan said that he will be in the meeting of NATO
member states’ ministers in Poland at that time.
"Our President and Re3ligious Affairs Minister will meet the Pope,"
the minister said.