Erdogan criticizes Obama's April 24 statement

Speaking at a meeting of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in Ankara over the weekend, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized US President Barack Obama's statement marking April 24, the Armenian anniversary of the "genocide" allegations, as an unacceptable interpretation of history. Calling the statement "unsatisfactory," he added, "We see the statement as an interpretation of history that does not reflect the truth and is thus unacceptable. We are saddened that the issue is being persistently exploited and many politicians are trying to win votes from the controversy over the 1915 incidents." In an apparent reference to Obama's earlier stressing Turkey's importance in regional and global peace efforts, Erdogan said, "Turkey is not a country that can be flattered and then fooled." In the message, Obama, as widely expected, avoided calling the 1915 incidents "genocide" but did characterize them as "one of the great atrocities of the 20th century," and twice used an Armenian phrase meaning "great calamity." Stressing that history should not be used as political fodder, Erdogan insisted that historical issues should be left to historians. "If countries that have nothing to do with the issue stop interfering, Turkish-Armenian relations will be normalized, historical matters will be clarified, and the road will be paved for peace," he said. Warning that there are forces in both Turkey and Azerbaijan working to derail rapprochement, Erdogan also called on Azeri leaders not to be deceived by baseless claims, and reassured them that Turkey would not do anything which would harm Azerbaijan's interests. Also commenting on the statement, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said it shows that concessions made to please outsiders are pointless. "It is unacceptable," opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said of Obama's statement. "If the US sacrifices Turkey for the sake of Armenian votes, everyone, including most notably Armenia, will have to suffer the consequences."