Foreign

Foreign

Turkish minister: â€œArmenian genocide issue is closedâ€

18 March 2011 10:33 (UTC +04:00)

Turkish Diaspora Organizations have jointly launched the first â€œTurkish American National Leadership Conference, Empowering Turkish Americansâ€, wth participation of top US and Turkish officials and analysts on March 17th addressing such issues as the rise of the Turkish Government, Turkish-European relations and South Caucasusâ€™ role.
Among the main speakers are Egemen Bagis, Minister for EU Affairs of Turkey, Bruce Fein, Turkish American Legal Defense Fund Defending the Constitutional Rights of Turkish Americans, as well as Turkish and Azeri Diaspora leaders.

According to Bagis, beside the conference the Turkish side has informed US officials during bilateral conversations about Ankaraâ€™s policy on the region.

â€œThere is a dispute of some misunderstanding between Turkey and the United States on their policies in the regionâ€ he says, â€œbut the two sides at least listen to each otherâ€™s positions and opinionsâ€.

Although April 24 is approaching, Bakhish said he didnâ€™t feel any Armenian genocide issues during the negotiations with Congress members this year. â€œThis issue is closedâ€, he said.

Noticing that both Turkey and US play an important role as mediators in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the conference attendees also stressed the importance of closer co-operation between South Caucasus and Turkey. Speaking about the Turkey-Armenia relations, the speakers mentioned that, if the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh was solved some time ago, then it would be easier to hold the Ankara-Yerevan processes.

Another conference to address the US-Turkish relations will be held March 18, Turkish American Solidarity Day, will be dedicated to civic engagement education and training.

On March 23rd, The George Mason University and Azerbaijani Student Union are holding Azerbaijani and Turkish Night at Marvin Centerâ€™s Continental Ballroom. There will be presentation of Azerbaijan and Turkish culture, music, and cuisine.