ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that those who saw the artifacts in the Surp Pirgic Armenian Hospital Museum would see that everybody had been co-existing in peace in Turkey.

Erdogan, who inaugurated the Yedikule Surp Pirgic Armenian Hospital Museum which was renovated by the Armenian Foundation, said that the hospital was established by the Armenians upon the statement of Sultan Mahmud II 172 years ago, and continued to serve patients since then.

“As the children of this country, we have co-existed in peace for centuries. Our literature, architecture, humanitarian values, trade, songs and cuisines have intermingled,” Erdogan said.

Erdogan said that he read statements of hospital`s executive board chairman and deputy chairman Bedros Sirinoglu, who said that they were faithful to Turkey and were living in prosperity with their 33 churches and 13 schools. They also asked why they should be minority in a country of which they were a citizen.

“These statements are explaining not only Turkey but also the Armenian citizens who are an indispensable part of us. Every artifact in this museum clearly shows co-existence,” Erdogan stated.

Thanking the Armenian citizens for their contributions to Turkey, Erdogan said, “let’s see how the message given here will be reflected to the world? We will continue developing humanitarian values in the light of universal criteria. Long live our unity in these territories’.”

(BRC)