Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 30 2005

ARMENIAN POLITICIANS ARE OF SAME OPINION ON TURKEY’S NOT BEING
DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The September
30 discussion with the participation of representative of different
political forces and organized by the National Press-Club was
dedicated to discussion of issues on Turkey’s membership to the
European Union, the current stage of mutual relations between Turkey
and Europe as well as possible perspectives of the Armenian-Turkish
relations. Representatives of the Republican, Democratic,
Christian-Democratic Parties of Armenia as well as of the ARF and
“Orinats Yerkir” (Country of Law) participated in the discussion.

The politicians were of the same opinion that Turkey isn’t a
democratic country yet.

According to Kiro Manoyan, the head of the Hai Dat (Armenian Cause)
ARF Bureau, the issue of Turkey’s membership to the EU should reach a
positive solution only after its recognition of the Armenian
Genocide: “Turkey should change itself, and here we see both its
recognition of its past and establishment of normal relations with
Armenia.” Manoyan pointed out the necessity of using all possible
levers of influence on Turkey with the goal of reaching those aims.

According to Aram Sargsian, the representative of the Democratic
Party of Armenia, surely, the issue of recognition of the Armenian
Genocide is the most important one and should always be on agenda, at
the same time, the Armenian-Turkish relations should be studied in a
wider context. So, it’s necessary to take into account that the
Armenian-Turkish relations are a component part of the national
security of Armenia: “Doesn’t the fact that Turkey doesn’t recognize
the Genocide and keep the border close prove that it is dangerous for
us just as it was before?” According to A.Sargsian, unsuccessfully,
the RA hasn’t worked out a conception of relations with Turkey by
now.”

“Germany’s recognition of the Holocaust was first necessary for the
German society but the Turkish public opinion isn’t ready for
recognition of the Armenian Genocide yet,” Khosrov Haroutiunian, the
Chairman of the Christian-Democratic party of Armenia stated.
According to him, in the case of relations established between the EU
and Turkey today, Armenia should attempt to use the European
political idea for its interests.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress