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Meller proposes commission into Armenian genocide claims
The New Anatolian / Ankara
Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller late Thursday suggested the establishment of a commission composed of Turkish, Armenian and Polish historians to look into the Armenian genocide claims.
Meller said that he proposed that Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul undertake a goodwill mission in order to bring together Turkish, Armenian and Polish historians.
The Polish foreign minister's proposal came during his meeting with Turkish acting Parliament Speaker Sadik Yakut in Ankara in response to Yakut's criticism of the Polish Parliament's recognition of the Armenian claims of genocide.
"We felt very disappointed about the Polish Parliament's decision taken in April 2005 about the Armenian genocide claims," Yakut said. "This distressing development against the Turkish nation emerged after Armenia's unilateral propaganda, which distorts the realities. I believe that Poland will not allow the initiatives of marginal Armenian groups to go against the relations of the two countries. I believe such groups will not be supported by the Polish Parliament."
In a move to justify the actions of the Polish Parliament, Meller recalled that a number of Polish citizens with Armenian origin have carried out significant duties in his country and therefore Poland considers the decision a kind of moral compensation for Armenian suffering and pain stemming from the 1915 events.
Stressing that the decision did not have any binding impact on Poland's foreign policy, Meller said, "The decision doesn't reflect the view of the government and it wasn't taken against Turkey."
Meller: I apologize to Muslims for cartoon crisis
The visiting Polish foreign minister apologized to the Muslim world for the crisis earlier this year over the publication of the Prophet Muhammed cartoons in various European newspapers.
The Polish apology came following Yakut's criticism, saying, "The cartoon crisis first emerged because of Danish behavior that again brought up the clash of civilizations idea. Those who used freedom of expression irresponsibly have deeply depressed billions of Muslims. We believe that Poland's exerting efforts to end anti-Islamic winds by using its influence within the European Union will bring important consequences."
The New Anatolian / Ankara
Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller late Thursday suggested the establishment of a commission composed of Turkish, Armenian and Polish historians to look into the Armenian genocide claims.
Meller said that he proposed that Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul undertake a goodwill mission in order to bring together Turkish, Armenian and Polish historians.
The Polish foreign minister's proposal came during his meeting with Turkish acting Parliament Speaker Sadik Yakut in Ankara in response to Yakut's criticism of the Polish Parliament's recognition of the Armenian claims of genocide.
"We felt very disappointed about the Polish Parliament's decision taken in April 2005 about the Armenian genocide claims," Yakut said. "This distressing development against the Turkish nation emerged after Armenia's unilateral propaganda, which distorts the realities. I believe that Poland will not allow the initiatives of marginal Armenian groups to go against the relations of the two countries. I believe such groups will not be supported by the Polish Parliament."
In a move to justify the actions of the Polish Parliament, Meller recalled that a number of Polish citizens with Armenian origin have carried out significant duties in his country and therefore Poland considers the decision a kind of moral compensation for Armenian suffering and pain stemming from the 1915 events.
Stressing that the decision did not have any binding impact on Poland's foreign policy, Meller said, "The decision doesn't reflect the view of the government and it wasn't taken against Turkey."
Meller: I apologize to Muslims for cartoon crisis
The visiting Polish foreign minister apologized to the Muslim world for the crisis earlier this year over the publication of the Prophet Muhammed cartoons in various European newspapers.
The Polish apology came following Yakut's criticism, saying, "The cartoon crisis first emerged because of Danish behavior that again brought up the clash of civilizations idea. Those who used freedom of expression irresponsibly have deeply depressed billions of Muslims. We believe that Poland's exerting efforts to end anti-Islamic winds by using its influence within the European Union will bring important consequences."