AZG Armenian Daily #157, 03/09/2005

Armenia-Turkey

YEREVAN POSITIVELY EVALUATES RUSSIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

In the context of the Armenian-Russian strategic cooperation,
the official Yerevan positively evaluates both the Russian-Turkish
relations and the personal relations between Vladimir Putin and Recep
Tayyip Erdogan. Victor Soghomonian, Press Secretary of RA President,
said at the press conference. He said that the further development
of the Russian-Turkish relations, may serve as certain “resources for
mediator’s” in overcoming the contradictions in the Armenian-Turkish
relations. Besides, Yerevan positively accepts both Russian-Turkish
and Russian-Azeri cooperation.

Mr. Soghomonian confirmed Yerevan’s position to establish diplomatic
relations with Ankara without any pre-conditions. In response to
the question whether the demand to include the issue of the Armenian
genocide in the agenda of the foreign policy, Mr. Soghomonian cited an
extract from Robert Kocharian’s speech at the international scientific
conference dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
held in Yerevan. “We remember the past with pain, but without any
hatred,” Robert Kocharian said. Mr. Soghomonian added that such a
position explains Armenia’s readiness to unfold dialogue with Turkey,
but without forgetting the memory of the victims and calling events
of 1915 a genocide.

Mr. Soghomonian said that Mr. Kocharian is treating the current
stage of Nagorno Karabakh settlement with “careful optimism.” He
didn’t comment on the statements of the Azeri side, saying that Baku
usually denies them with the official statements of their own Azeri
officials. As for the recent anti -Armenian statements that appeared
in the Russian press, Mr. Soghomonian promised to treat them as an
attitude of a separate newspaper or an author.

Mr. Soghomonian also announced the schedule of Robert Kocharian’s
visits envisaged for the rest of 2005. Mr. President is going to
visit Slovenia, Belgium and Greece.

By Tatoul Hakobian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress