BEIRUT - Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in Lebanon, held a joint news conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday.
Mikati said that they discussed Middle East peace process, Israeli-Palestinian dispute and recent developments in Iraq. He said, ''we also took up economic cooperation between Turkey and Lebanon and agreed to increase mutual investments and collaboration in international areas.''
On the other hand, Erdogan said, ''Lebanon supports Turkey's point of view in Cyprus issue. We also share the same views as regards Iraq. I conveyed that Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative is a democratization and freedom process as well as an initiative to establish a joint program to fight terrorism and to increase prosperity in the region.''
Replying a question on the Armenians allegations, Erdogan said, ''Turkey urged Armenian authorities to open their archives because Turkey has already done so. Other countries can open their archives too. It is impossible to accept a genocide claim which is not based on documents and sound information. We have a positive approach, but Armenia is still busy with the past. Future cannot be established on hatred,'' noted Erdogan.
Yesterday, nearly 1,500 Armenians who are living in Lebanon held a demonstration to protest the visit of Erdogan to Lebanon.