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Turkish PM calls for promoting confidence, cooperation with Armenia

Xinhua, January 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Tuesday called on Armenians to leave prejudices behind and invited those "who believe in Turkish-Armenian friendship to contribute to a new beginning."

Davutoglu released a written statement to commemorate Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, on the eighth anniversary of his killing.

Dink, the former editor-in-chief of weekly Agos, was shot dead in front of his newspaper building by a 17-year-old nationalist in 2007.

"Turkey, which earlier stated that imperative shuffle policies in conditions of war in 1915 has created inhuman results, is making determined efforts to reestablish sympathy between two nations," Davutoglu said referring victims of Armenians died under Ottoman rule in World War I.

This trauma can only be abolished through breaking taboos, he stated.

Turkey and Armenia should develop confidence and cooperation, the prime minister said, calling on Armenians to visit Turkey more often in order to free prejudices.

In 2014, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan conveyed condolences over the killing of Armenians under the Ottoman rule during World War I.

His statement, a first ever condolence by a Turkish leader over the killings, came on the eve of the 99th anniversary of the start of mass deportations of Armenians in 1915. Endit