Turkey doesn't eye Armenia as enemy but warns U.S. against Genocide recognition
The chief foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that Turkey does not view Armenia as a threat or an enemy and that he is hopeful for reconciliation.
"We should open our hearts, minds and arms to each other," Ahmet Davutoglu told a news conference in Washington.
But speaking to Turkish reporters later, he also warned that a potential formal recognition by the United States of the Armenian Genocide would greatly damage the U.S.-Turkish relationship and hurt Turkey's efforts to reconcile with Armenia.
Turkey will renounce partnership with the U.S. in case the latter recognizes the Genocide, according to him.
Erdogan sent two foreign policy officials to meet the advisors of both U.S. presidential candidates Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain in the United States.
Ahmet Davutoglu, chief foreign policy advisor to Erdogan and Suat Kiniklioglu, deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish parliament are instructed to convey Turkey's stance on a number of crucial issues, including PKK terrorism, the Armenian Genocide issue, Cyprus and other regional problems, to the advisors of both candidates.
The officials are also expected to reiterate Turkey's aspiration to continue cooperation against the PKK and reaffirm that their country looks favorably on the territorial integrity of Iraq.
"We should open our hearts, minds and arms to each other," Ahmet Davutoglu told a news conference in Washington.
But speaking to Turkish reporters later, he also warned that a potential formal recognition by the United States of the Armenian Genocide would greatly damage the U.S.-Turkish relationship and hurt Turkey's efforts to reconcile with Armenia.
Turkey will renounce partnership with the U.S. in case the latter recognizes the Genocide, according to him.
Erdogan sent two foreign policy officials to meet the advisors of both U.S. presidential candidates Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain in the United States.
Ahmet Davutoglu, chief foreign policy advisor to Erdogan and Suat Kiniklioglu, deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish parliament are instructed to convey Turkey's stance on a number of crucial issues, including PKK terrorism, the Armenian Genocide issue, Cyprus and other regional problems, to the advisors of both candidates.
The officials are also expected to reiterate Turkey's aspiration to continue cooperation against the PKK and reaffirm that their country looks favorably on the territorial integrity of Iraq.
