ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: YEREVAN, ANKARA STILL LOCKED IN DISPUTE

ANSA English Media Service
April 22, 2005

MOSCOW

(ANSA) – MOSCOW, April 22 – Relations between Turkey and
Armenia are still strained even 90 years after the so-called
Armenian genocide in which some 1.5 people were killed between
1915 and 1923 by Ottoman Turks, showing that the old wounds are
still open.

Recently Turkey proposed a new effort to shed light on the
tragic events of 1915 by setting up a joint commission to study
the claims of genocide. The categorical stance of Armenia, as
always backed by Russia, was expressed by Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan and Defence Minister Serzh Sarksyan.

“We have nothing to prove. Genocide did take place. It is an
indisputable fact,” said Margaryan.

“Turkey has to absolutely recognise the genocide and repent,”
Sarksyan said echoing the premier’s words.

At the opening of an international conference on the history
of the massacre on Thursday Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
underlined the importance of Turkey’s recognition of the
genocide for improving Turkish-Armenian relations adding that
this would allow the two countries to finally start looking
ahead.

So far the two countries have failed to give an inch as
regards their stance on the 1915-1923 massacres, seen as the
first large-scale genocide of the 20th century. The two
neighbouring countries even have no diplomatic relations today
because of the terrible events which happened at a time when
Armenia was part of the Ottoman Empire.
The border between the neighbours is closed as it was during the
time of the USSR.

Harbouring an undying animosity towards Turkey, Armenians are
gearing up to remember the 90th anniversary of the massacre on
24 April and in the capital Yerevan tens of thousands of people
will gather at the memorial complex at Tsitsernakaberd (Fortress
of Swallows) to honour the memory of the victims. On the day of
commemoration all shops will be closed and prayers will be held
in the local cathedrals.

The government in Yerevan, at the helm of a country of about
three million people living in poverty and making ends meet
mainly thanks to remittances of emigrants, has allocated three
million dollars for the commemoration cedremonies promoting a
series of round tables and symposia on the occasion in a bid to
keep the memory alive.

Prime Minister Margaryan defined Turkey’s idea of setting up
a joint commission as “senseless” as people in Armenia knew
about the genocide not from a textbook but from personal
experience, from their parents and grandparents. The genocide is
part of everyone’s life, no family has been spared from losing
close relatives and people during the events ninety years ago
when the Ottoman empire undertook the systematic extermination
of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915, he said.

Regardless of the stalemate on Turkey’s initiative, the
premier said he was ready to discuss with Ankara a possible
renewal of diplomatic ties and an eventual opening of the border.

Margaryan did not venture any guesses as to whether Turkey
could recognise the genocide in the next 50 years but he seemed
optimistic enough saying Turkey should change its stance at once
under the moutning pressure of global public opinion and the
process of Turkey’s European Union accession.

The prime minister concluded saying Armenia should boost its
efforts in a bid to convince more countries to officially
recognise the Armenian genocide in addition to the current
sixteen, among which Russia, France, Canada and Switzerland.
(ANSA) krc