Erdogan accuses Sarkozy of making "election investment"

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's Prime Minister on Tuesday, October 11, urged "honesty" in politics and slammed French President Nicolas Sarkozy's call for Ankara to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Today’s Zaman reports that speaking in Turkish parliament, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Sarkozy for “using different languages when he spoke in Turkey, France and Armenia.”

"This is not political leadership. Politics, first of all, requires honesty," said Erdogan.

When in Yerevan last week, Sarkozy urged Ankara to recognize, within a "very brief" period, the 1915 Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. "From 1915 to 2011, it seems to be enough (time) for reflection," Sarkozy said.

Erdogan accused the French leader of making "election investment," linked to French presidential elections next year. "There are 600,000 Armenians in your country but also 500,000 Turks. You have relations with Turkey," he threatened.

"Bearing the title of statesman requires thinking about next generations, not next elections," Erdogan said.