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In a December 15, 2019 interview that aired on A Haber TV (Turkey), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan responded to the U.S. Senate's passing of a bill recognizing what he referred to as the “so-called Armenian genocide” by inviting historians to examine Turkey’s historical documentation on the matter. He also answered a question on the possibility of closing the Incirlik Airbase and Kürecik Radar Station, two U.S. military bases in Turkey. He said: "If measures such as sanctions are taken against us, we will give the necessary answer within the framework of reciprocity.”
Following are excerpts:
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: When I explain the so-called Armenian genocide, which has to do with the Armenian issue, to the [American] officials, I see that some of them do not have a grasp of the subject. We are now opening the archive of one million documents that our armed forces have. Let historians and lawyers come and examine them. Are there [such documents] in America? It is said that in America there are some such documents only at Harvard. They should make them available, too. It is said that there are some such documents in France. They should make them available, too. Are there any in Armenia? No. Let everyone open their archives, and let these archives be examined by committees made up of historians. Let them be examined by lawyers. Let them be examined by archeologists. After that, if necessary, we politicians can get involved, because this decision is not for politicians to make.
[…]
Interviewer: Is it possible for the [U.S.-run] Kürecik Radar Station and Incirlik Airbase to be shut down?
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: All of these decisions are in our hands. At the moment that it is necessary to make such a decision, the authority to make this decision belongs to us. At that time, we will sit down with all of our committees. If it needs to be shut down, we will shut down Incirlik [Airbase]. If it needs to be shut down, we will shut down Kürecik [Radar Station]. The whole issue is: If measures such as sanctions are taken against us, we will give the necessary answer within the framework of reciprocity. In our relations with the America, it is very important for both sides that nobody does something that cannot be undone.
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