ANKARA (AA) – Turkiye expressed concern over radical Armenian diaspora groups using hate speech to incite violent actions against Turkey, Azerbaijan and the peace process, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said, Anadolu reports.
The ministry’s announcement followed after Turkish officials were verbally and physically harassed by radical Armenian groups at a conference at the University of Southern California in the United States of America (US).
The American Security Unit and the Los Angeles Police Department intervened on campus and prevented more serious disturbances.
“It is worrisome that the hateful language of radical groups from the diaspora, who attack our country and Azerbaijan, and recently the Government of Armenia and the peace process in the region, has turned into violent acts. We will start a legal process against all those who physically attack our delegation”, the Ministry said.
This incident showed that “distortion of historical facts with narrow-minded political motives and statements made to satisfy extremist groups encourages radicalization, hate speech and violence,” the statement said.
Today, Turkish officials attended a conference on Turkish public diplomacy hosted by the Annaberg School of Journalism and the Yunus Emre Institute at the University of Southern California.
After the opening remarks, a group of Armenian students began to protest when Turkey’s ambassador to Washington, Hasan Murat Mercan, began his address. Another protester verbally abused Azerbaijan’s Consul General in Los Angeles, Ramil Gurbanov.
The group’s ten-minute protest against Turkey and Azerbaijan was interrupted by security and police, who removed it from the hall.
In continuation of the conference, the group of protesters gathered in front of the building tried to disrupt the holding of the scientific meeting by making noise.
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