November 5, 2007 - 17:41 AMT
Nature of 1915 events not clarified yet, Turkish PM says
"The crisis between Turkey and the United States has burst out after passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution by the U.S. congressional panel. This document jeopardizes relations with our ally and is counterproductive as regards the Turkish-Armenian reconciliation," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

The nature of 1915 events has not clarified yet, according to him. "Armenians claim that the law on displacement was targeted at extermination of all Armenians. On the other hand, numerous Turkish, American and European scientists say it was not genocide. Execution of the law was a security measure. We understand that the two states have a different perception of those events. This issue is very delicate for both Armenians and Turks. That is why Turkey insists that the assessment of the events should be given by historians but not parliaments," the Turkish FM told Italian La Republica.

"I suggested the Armenian President that Armenian, Turkish and even foreign scholars study archives. However, Armenia has not responded yet. The measure of the U.S. committee was not a successful one. We are hopeful that reason will dominate and the bill will not be brought to the House floor," Erdogan said.