The ruling Justice and Development Party’s deputy chairman Suat Kinikoglu said that he may meet with Armenian diaspora representatives in Washington during his visit to United States in April. Kinikoglu said, "We need to work on fair "honest recollections". Armenian resolutions that are passed from the parliaments of some countries weakens the will for normalization of relations." Kinikoglu said that United States understands Turkey's concerns.
Giving an interview to Star newspaper, The ruling Justice and Development Party’s deputy chairman Suat Kinikoglu said that the process of normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia has not died but there is need for confirmation of trust between two countries through cultural activities.
Stating that he supports opinion of Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that Turkey should establish contact with Armenian diaspora, Kinikoglu said, "I am thinking of meeting with Armenian diaspora in United States during my visit to Washington. In the end, they are the sons of our lands too. We have many things in common."
Kinikoglu said, "Talking face to face is important even if we cannot reach to an agreement. They do not understand what is honest recollections. They evaluate April 24 as Armenian genocide remembrance day. But they do not remember that tens of thousand Anzac soldiers landed on Gallipoli and Ottoman Empire directed its whole energy to that frontline. The most important part of "honest recollections" concept is to fit 1915 incidents to that historical frame. Armenians do not understand Ottoman Empire's struggle for continuing its existence."
Reacting to the claims of Armenian officials that Nagorno-Karabakh problem was set as a precondition after the protocols are signed, Kinikoglu said that resolution of the conflicts in South Caucasus by peaceful methods is mentioned in the text of protocols. "Are there any other conflict in the region other than Nagorno-Karabakh," asked he.
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