Erdogan challenges Armenian diaspora at joint forum in Baku

Erdogan's remarks came as he was delivering a keynote speech at the First Forum of the World Azerbaijani and Turkish Diasporas Organizations, in order to counter the intensifying attacks from the Armenian diaspora, which has been striving for international recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide. The congress also intended to prompt Turks and Azeris abroad to take action.

Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat also participated in the forum, which was hosted by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev -- a clear sign of Baku's support for easing international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC).

In his speech, Erdogan called the Nagorno Karabakh dispute "a bleeding wound for the Turkish people," and referred to a December 2006 referendum in the region by Armenia. Ankara has already announced that it will not recognize the outcome of the referendum backing independence in the Nagorno Karabakh region, saying the referendum was held while "ignoring international law."

"Did the world recognize [the outcome of the referendum]?" asked Erdogan.

"It didn't, because what was exercised there was fake, wrong, a lie and fabricated. Sooner or later, justice will prevail. We believe this," Erdogan said.

The border gate between Turkey and Armenia has been closed for more than a decade. Turkey shut the gate and severed diplomatic relations with Armenia after Armenian troops occupied the Azeri territory of Nagorno Karabakh.

"This is a common characteristic of Armenia, -- unfortunately -- a large portion of Armenians and the diaspora. Now there are Armenian genocide campaigns all around the world ... alleged Armenian genocide ... nobody will fall for this trick. Turkey and the Turks will never fall for this trick," Erdogan said.

Turkey vehemently denies that Armenian allegations of a genocide under its predecessor the Ottoman Empire. Facing a mounting Armenian campaign to get international recognition for the alleged genocide, Turkey called for a joint committee of Turkish and Armenian experts in 2005 to study the allegations.

At the time, Erdogan sent a letter to Armenian President Robert Kocharian proposing the establishment of such a committee. Nevertheless, Yerevan hasn't given a positive answer to Ankara's proposal up to date, instead arguing that such a committee should be inter-governmental.

Armenian fear of facing Hojaly

In Baku, Erdogan brought to mind his call to Yerevan and reiterated that conducting historical research was not an issue for politicians. "Let historians, political scientists, archeologists, lawyers and historians of art study this issue. If it is eventually understood that there is a grievance, then we will do what we're supposed to do," he said.

"There is still no answer, because then they will have to face the Hojaly massacre," he added.

The city of Hojaly in Nagorno Karabakh, which is still under Armenian occupation, was seized by Armenian armed forces and Russian troops based in the region on Feb. 25, 1992. About 2,500 civilians, the majority of whom were women, children and the elderly, were bombarded before military forces seized the city. People in the city, which was largely burnt down, had fled for Agdam, the only open direction allowed by the occupying powers, but after a short while it was reported that this way was blocked, too, and those who had started to flee were ambushed.

A total of 613 Azerbaijanis, including 106 women and 63 children, were massacred by Armenian and Russian forces, in addition to earlier attacks in Hojaly. Armenian forces occupying the city captured 1,275 people and 150 were reported missing.

Meanwhile, Erdogan thanked Aliyev for inviting Talat to a meeting, saying this "meant a lot" for Turkey. State ministers Besir Atalay and Mehmet Aydin accompanied Erdosan at the Baku meeting, which was also attended by representatives from Australia, Iraq, the KKTC and the US as well as from European and Central Asian countries. Today's Zaman