Armenian foreign minister denounces Turkish prime minister for ordering to demolish statue in Kars
14.01.2011,
21:13
Armenian foreign affairs minister Edward Nalbandian denounced today Turkish prime minister Recep Erdogan for describing a statue in the eastern province of Kars dedicated to Turkish-Armenian friendship as a “monstrosity,” and calling for its demolition.
YEREVAN, January 14, /ARKA/. Armenian foreign affairs minister Edward Nalbandian denounced today Turkish prime minister Recep Erdogan for describing a statue in the eastern province of Kars dedicated to Turkish-Armenian friendship as a “monstrosity,” and calling for its demolition.
Speaking to journalists in Yerevan Edward Nalbandian said Erdogan’s statement damages efforts to normalize Armenian-Turkish relations.
According to reports in Turkish press, Erdogan told Kars mayor Nevzat Bozkus, who hails from his ruling Justice and Development Party, do what is necessary with the area in which the statue is located by the time of his next visit. Erdogan said he did not like the monument because of artistic grounds, saying: “They put a monstrosity there, next to the tomb of Muslim scholar Hasan Harakani. It is impossible to think that such a thing should exist next to fundamental works of art.”
‘Such statements only damage efforts to normalize our bilateral relations. The world community has not yet forgotten similar previously made statements. We can only regret about Erdogan’s statement,’ Edward Nalbandian said.
The work called the Statue of Humanity towers over the city of Kars - with two 30m-high sculptures representing a divided human. It was erected at Kars mayor’s initiative in 2008, 40 km off the border with Armenia, as a gesture of reconciliation, as Turkey and Armenia began attempts to repair relations after a century of hostility. -0-
Speaking to journalists in Yerevan Edward Nalbandian said Erdogan’s statement damages efforts to normalize Armenian-Turkish relations.
According to reports in Turkish press, Erdogan told Kars mayor Nevzat Bozkus, who hails from his ruling Justice and Development Party, do what is necessary with the area in which the statue is located by the time of his next visit. Erdogan said he did not like the monument because of artistic grounds, saying: “They put a monstrosity there, next to the tomb of Muslim scholar Hasan Harakani. It is impossible to think that such a thing should exist next to fundamental works of art.”
‘Such statements only damage efforts to normalize our bilateral relations. The world community has not yet forgotten similar previously made statements. We can only regret about Erdogan’s statement,’ Edward Nalbandian said.
The work called the Statue of Humanity towers over the city of Kars - with two 30m-high sculptures representing a divided human. It was erected at Kars mayor’s initiative in 2008, 40 km off the border with Armenia, as a gesture of reconciliation, as Turkey and Armenia began attempts to repair relations after a century of hostility. -0-
