Turkish PM to To Armenians: Let Us Forget About Past

He added, “We want to remove such issues as genocide from our history books. Armenians did similar things too. We shall express ourselves. The important thing is being strong. If you are weak, they will cut many dresses for you; but if you are strong, all these claims will disappear.” Some officials stated that this call of Erdogan to Armenians was a message to Greeks and Greek Cypriots as well.

Another important message of Erdogan was about the border gate between Armenia and Turkey. Erdogan drew attention to the fact that people living in the region demanded that the border gate should be opened and implied that, if the friendly initiatives of Turkey were reciprocated, then this demand could be fulfilled. Erdogan said, “You should take steps towards us in the way we approach to you, because no one can lead to anywhere by simply lobbying any more.” Regarding the fact that the parliaments of different countries in the world from time to time attempt to recognize or simply recognize the genocide claims of Armenia, Erdogan said that those decisions meant nothing and that, “I told this to the Swiss Prime Minister in Davos. I said that the sole result of such a decision would be harming our bilateral relations. There are 100 thousand Turks and 5 thousand Armenians living in Switzerland. They act against this 100 thousand Turks for just 5 thousand Armenians.”

Apart from his messages to Armenians, Erdogan called on Turks living in U.S. to engage in politics.