Let's have a double celebration on October 3
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 04, 2005 11:21
German Prime Minister Gerhard Schroeder has given his full support to Ankara's call for "the archives of both side to be opened, and let the historians do the interpreting" on the so-called Armenian genocide affair. According to sources, Schroeder has echoed Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's message that "Yerevan must take the first step" on the subject of the opening up of the Turkish-Armenian border.
Yesteday evening, PM Erdogan gave a dinner in honor of the German Prime Minister at the Ankara Prime Ministerial buildings. At the dinner, the two leaders apparently touched on many topics, including Germany's economic, political, trade, and cultural ties to Turkey, as well as the EU, Armenia, and Cyprus.
Schroeder reportedly focused on the implementation of EU reforms, as well as freedom of religion for minorities in Turkey. He also stressed that the signing of the extra protocol that would cover the Greek Cypriot relations to Turkey would be an important antecedent to the beginning of discussions on October 3. Schroeder's general message carried the theme of "Let's celebrate the reuniting of Germany as well as the beginning of Turkey's EU talks on October 3" to it.
Saying that he supported fully PM Erdogan's recommendation to Armenian President Robert Kocharian that a joint commission be formed to look into the so-called genocide, Schroeder said "We support every step taken that will further the development of relations between Turkey and Armenia."
Schroeder reportedly focused on the implementation of EU reforms, as well as freedom of religion for minorities in Turkey. He also stressed that the signing of the extra protocol that would cover the Greek Cypriot relations to Turkey would be an important antecedent to the beginning of discussions on October 3. Schroeder's general message carried the theme of "Let's celebrate the reuniting of Germany as well as the beginning of Turkey's EU talks on October 3" to it.
Saying that he supported fully PM Erdogan's recommendation to Armenian President Robert Kocharian that a joint commission be formed to look into the so-called genocide, Schroeder said "We support every step taken that will further the development of relations between Turkey and Armenia."