Taboos concerning injustice against Armenians and Kurds in Turkey have been lifted, said German President Joachim Gauck during a conference in Ankara on Monday.
Gauck spoke at the Middle East Technical University during his Turkey visit, noting that the influence of the military in politics have been pushed back in the country.
‘’Turkey began the process of dialogue with the Kurds, and reduced the number of violent conflict,’’ Gauck said. ‘’For example the injustice taboos against the Turkish Armenians or Kurds began to be lifted.’’
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s expressed condolences to the descendants of Armenians who lost their lives in the incidents of 1915 are positive developments in Turkey, according to Gauck.
He also said Turkey’s humanitarian aid service to Syrian refugees is ‘impressive’.
“Turkey assumed many Syrians refugees without any conditions and established refugee camps, schools, supplied humanitarian aid and service health assistances,’’ Gauck said. ‘’In fact, the government also provides medical assistance to around 500 thousand people who do not live in the refugee camps.’’
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