July 28, 2005 - 08:42 AMT
S. TAFAN: TURKEY WILL RECOGNIZE RESPONSIBILITY IF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS PROVED BY FACTS
In the course of his meeting with members of the Foreign Relations Commission of the Uruguayan Parliament Turkish Ambassador to Uruguay Sukru Tafan stated, «Turkey is ready to recognize its responsibility, if the Armenian Genocide is proved by facts.» «After a meeting held behind closed doors the Turkish diplomat refused to report the details of the session. Uruguayan MPs assessed the meeting as a very useful and even historical one. National Party representative, MP Hayme Drobo noted «the Turkish representative visited the legislative body for the first time to discuss the events of 1915.» In his words, in the course of the meeting Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan's proposal on forming an international commission to investigate the Armenian Genocide was discussed during the meeting and Turkey asked Uruguay to take part in the work of the commission. Uruguayan MP, ethnic Armenian Lilian Kechijian stated Uruguay can assist the commission or directly participate in its work. She added the Uruguayan Parliamentary Commission can make public a statement addressed at the Armenian and Turkish Parliaments. Armenian Ambassador to Uruguay Ara Ayvazyan expressed concern over the developments and asked for a similar meeting. As the matter concerns Armenia the Ambassador proposed not making public any statements before familiarization with Armenia's posture. The Ambassador's proposal was accepted, RFE/RL reported.