‘IF IT’S BANNED TO UTTER ‘GENOCIDE’ IN TURKEY, HOW WILL TURKISH HISTORIANS REMAIN IMPARTIAL IN THEIR CONCLUSIONS?’
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily
31/03/2006

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian Stated in Washington

On March 27, Armenian minister of finance and economy Vartan
Khachatrian and chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenges
Corporation John Danilovich signed a $235.65 million Compact between
MCC and the Republic of Armenia. US state secretary Condoleezza Rice
and Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian held speeches after
the signing ceremony.

The same day minister Oskanian answered the questions of Sefa Kaplan
from Hurriyet Turkish newspaper. “There would be no Armenian Diaspora
if not the events of 1915. Armenia and Diaspora demand international
recognition and condemnation of the Genocide of 1915.

The absence of relations between Turkey and Armenia and the closed
Armenian-Turkish border make people angry and deepen the gap between
the two states.

Diaspora certainly wants the best for Armenia, and the best thing is
good neighborly relations with all neighbors. We are hopeful that
the Turkish people also wants good relations with its neighbors,”
Mr. Oskanian told the journalists.

Hurriyet published this interview in March 27 issue under the title
“Today’s Turkey Is Not Responsible for 1915”. On march 29, CNN-Turk
touched on Vartan Oskanian’s press conference.

CNN-Turk writes: “Vartan Oskanian who is currently negotiating
in Washington spoke in favor of establishing diplomatic relations
with Turkey stating: ‘The Armenian-Turkish border is the only one
in Europe that is closed. We put forward no precondition for its
opening. We think Turkey will have to open the border in the process
of EU membership talks.’

“Then he emphasized that the issue of the Armenian Genocide needs no
discussion, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s proposal was made to impress
Europe.”

“Firstly, there is no need to reexamine historic truth that is already
proven by facts. Secondly, if it is banned in Turkey to utter the
word ‘genocide’, then no commission will ever arrive at the idea of
Armenian Genocide,” Vartan Oskanian added.