November 14, 2008 - 17:04 AMT
Erdogan's statements can hardly help Turkish-Armenian reconciliation
It is unbecoming of Prime Minister of an important regional actor to speak in such a way about the Diaspora of the nation, which scattered all over the world owing to Turkey's atrocities, director of Caucasus Institute, Prof. Ruben Safrastyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter when commenting on Erdogan's statement that the Armenian Diaspora is carrying out "cheap political lobbying" activities.
"Such statements can hardly help the Turkish-Armenian reconciliation," he said.
Commenting on Turkish government's reaction regarding U.S. president-elect Barack Obama and his team's stand on the Armenian Genocide, Erdogan said the campaign carried out by the Armenian Diaspora in the United States is not fair.
"I hope the new U.S. administration would take into account Turkey's efforts. It is not fair to make a judgment upon such cheap political lobbying," Erdogan told a conference in Columbia University in New York.