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European Jewish Press, Belgium
Aug 25 2007
US Jewish group retracts stance on Armenian genocide
AFP and EJP Updated: 25/Aug/2007 18:39
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's Prime Minister:"With this statement,
they have retracted their previous erroneous step."
ANKARA (AFP-EJP)---A prominent US Jewish advocacy group has retracted
its decision to call the mass killings of Armenians under the Ottoman
Empire a genocide, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said
Friday.
"The ADL (Anti-Defamation League) has sent us a statement sharing our
sensitivity on this issue," Erdogan was quoted by the Anatolia news
agency as saying.
"With this statement, they have retracted their previous erroneous
step."
The ADL unleashed anger in Turkey this week when it said in a written
statement that it had changed its position on the Armenian massacres
after consultations with experts.
But in a separate statement on Thursday the group was more
circumspect on the World War I events.
"Although independent scholars may have reached a consensus about the
genocide, in an effort to help accomplish the reconciliation (between
Turkey and Armenia) there is room for further dispassionate scholarly
examination of the details of those dark and terrible days," the
second statement read.
The ADL move sparked concerns here that Ankara may be losing the
support of the powerful Jewish lobby in the United States against
efforts there to have the killings recognised as genocide and pass a
resolution to that effect from the Congress.
Israel, Turkey's main regional ally, was quick to respond to prevent
a fallout in bilateral ties.
Israeli President Shimon Peres phoned Erdogan on Thursday to assure
him of Israel's desire to maintain close bilateral ties.
On Wednesday, the Israeli embassy in Ankara said the Jewish state
acknowledges the "horrible events" and the "terrible suffering" the
Armenians endured, but urged Jews not to take sides.
The Jewish community in Turkey expressed regret over the position
adopted by a US Jewish group., endorsing Turkey's position that this
question should be debated at academic level with full access to the
archives of all concerned parties and that parliaments are not the
appropriate platforms for finding the truth about historical events.
The Turkish press said Turkey had asked Israel to convince the Jewish
lobby in the United States to support Turkey in its efforts to block
congressional moves to recognise the killings as genocide.
Turkey categorically rejects claims that 1.5 million of their kinsmen
died in systematic deportations and killings during 1915-1918 as the
Ottoman Empire was breaking up.
Aug 25 2007
US Jewish group retracts stance on Armenian genocide
AFP and EJP Updated: 25/Aug/2007 18:39
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's Prime Minister:"With this statement,
they have retracted their previous erroneous step."
ANKARA (AFP-EJP)---A prominent US Jewish advocacy group has retracted
its decision to call the mass killings of Armenians under the Ottoman
Empire a genocide, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said
Friday.
"The ADL (Anti-Defamation League) has sent us a statement sharing our
sensitivity on this issue," Erdogan was quoted by the Anatolia news
agency as saying.
"With this statement, they have retracted their previous erroneous
step."
The ADL unleashed anger in Turkey this week when it said in a written
statement that it had changed its position on the Armenian massacres
after consultations with experts.
But in a separate statement on Thursday the group was more
circumspect on the World War I events.
"Although independent scholars may have reached a consensus about the
genocide, in an effort to help accomplish the reconciliation (between
Turkey and Armenia) there is room for further dispassionate scholarly
examination of the details of those dark and terrible days," the
second statement read.
The ADL move sparked concerns here that Ankara may be losing the
support of the powerful Jewish lobby in the United States against
efforts there to have the killings recognised as genocide and pass a
resolution to that effect from the Congress.
Israel, Turkey's main regional ally, was quick to respond to prevent
a fallout in bilateral ties.
Israeli President Shimon Peres phoned Erdogan on Thursday to assure
him of Israel's desire to maintain close bilateral ties.
On Wednesday, the Israeli embassy in Ankara said the Jewish state
acknowledges the "horrible events" and the "terrible suffering" the
Armenians endured, but urged Jews not to take sides.
The Jewish community in Turkey expressed regret over the position
adopted by a US Jewish group., endorsing Turkey's position that this
question should be debated at academic level with full access to the
archives of all concerned parties and that parliaments are not the
appropriate platforms for finding the truth about historical events.
The Turkish press said Turkey had asked Israel to convince the Jewish
lobby in the United States to support Turkey in its efforts to block
congressional moves to recognise the killings as genocide.
Turkey categorically rejects claims that 1.5 million of their kinsmen
died in systematic deportations and killings during 1915-1918 as the
Ottoman Empire was breaking up.