Zaman, Turkey
June 12 2005
‘I will Defend the Opening of the Border and You will Say There is No
So-Called Genocide’
By Fatih Ugur, Tuncay Kayaoglu, Zaman, Cihan News Agency
Published: Sunday 12, 2005
zaman.com
The meeting in Armenian between Justice and Development Party (AKP)
deputy Turhan Comez and his Armenian collegue Khachatur Sukiasyan has
produced an interesting dialogue.
Comez proposed to Sukiasyan, one of the most important businessmen of
the country, ‘Let us go to our parliaments and make a statement about
the opening of the borders and leaving the Armenian genocide claims
aside’. However, the Armenian deputy did not welcome the idea. While
both of the deputies agreed that the problems should be left aside
and they should think about the future, Sukiasyan said that the
Turkish-Armenian border remaining closed was something
incomprehensible. Upon Comez’s suggestion to prepare a list of the
existing problems and work on them, the Armenian deputy said he did
not want to talk about the problems and repeated that all the
problems should be put aside. Upon this, Comez said, ‘Let’s work
together. When I make a speech about the opening of Armenian border
gate in the Turkish Parliament, you, in your parliament, explain that
the events taking place in 1915 were not a genocide, that this issue
should be examined by the historians and explain your respect for
Turkey’s territorial integrity. This will be a small step but it will
be an important start.”
Saying that they should not trivialize these kinds of problems,
Sukiasyan said the relations should start without any pre-conditions.
Indicating that the events taking place in 1915 were very painful,
Sukiasyan said: “Even if you step on somebody’s foot, you apologize.’
Upon this, the AKP Deputy reminded of what the Armenian gangs did in
1915 and the diplomats assassinated by the Armenian organization
ASALA. Upon these remarks, the Armenian deputy told: “These things
are in the past now. We should not give damage to each other.” Comez
replied, “By establishing civil bridges, we can cope with many
problems. It is very important even to talk about these problems.”
Saying that the closing of border gates is meaningless, Sukiasyan
emphasized that the public should be taken into consideration and
added: ” The events of 1915 made us hostile to each other. After the
opening of the border gates, we may have an opportunity for joint
growth and development. Armenia has a great and bright future. Let us
act together to make this region grow. There are problems even
between the brothers. The most important problem between us is the
opening of borders. We are neighbors, let us act as neighbors.”