ISTANBUL - "We don't expect a negative decision to be adopted regarding the draft on so-called Armenian genocide at U.S. House of Representatives in April. However, I am concerned that a contrary decision may overshadow our strategical partnership," said Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan who attended the dinner of the American Business Forum in Turkey (ABFT) at Istanbul Hilton Hotel on Saturday.
"We are getting close to a very sensitive period. April is closing and so-called Armenian genocide allegations will be brought onto agenda again. We are tired of it. But, Armenian diaspora is not. We say that this is historians' job. I wrote a letter to Armenian Prime Minister. I proposed this issue to be examined by historians, political scientists, lawyers, archeologists and art historians. Then, we--politicians-- shall assess the reports on these examinations. Turkey opened its archives. More than 1 million documents have been examined so far. If you (Armenia) have archives too, you shall open them. If third countries have archives, they shall open and we examine. But we cannot accept to be stained without making these examinations," Erdogan said.
He noted, "currently, there are nearly 40-50,000 Armenians who living as illegal migrants in Turkey. But, we don't send them back to Armenia. Why these Armenians are living in Turkey? Because they do not have the appropriate living conditions in Armenia. They came Turkey, and we do not send them away."
Noting that Turkish FM Abdullah Gul as well as Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit held meetings in the United States regarding the draft on so-called Armenian genocide, Erdogan called on businessmen to exert efforts too. He expressed belief that economic, political, military, commercial and cultural solidarity between Turkey and the United States will continue from now on too.
"It is very meaningful that the economic and commercial relations with the United States are developing in parallel with comprehensive cooperation on political and security areas," said Erdogan.
"This development will have important contributions to all dimensions of strategic partnership," he added.
"We attach importance to evaluate the existing potential in economic relations on maximum level. It is pleasing that the bilateral trade volume between Turkey and the United States nearly reached 12 billion USD by the end of 2006. But this is not enough. Last year, U.S. investments in Turkey was 5 billion USD. But these figures do not reflect the real potential," noted Erdogan.
Noting that Turkey is the country which fulfilled the highest number of privatization in Europe last year, Erdogan said that direct international investment worth of 20 billion USD was made in Turkey in 2006.
Erdogan said that Turkey is the 19th biggest economy of the world, and it has become an attraction center for international investments with its 200 billion USD of foreign trade.
Erdogan noted that Turkish contracting companies have completed projects worth of 100 billion USD abroad so far. "We wish these companies to make more cooperation with U.S. private sector. This cooperation will yield very successful results especially in reconstruction projects in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon," he added.