DEPUTY ARMENIAN FM: WHO SAID WE DO NOT RECOGNIZE TURKISH BORDER?
By Selahattin Sevi, Yerevan

Zaman, Turkey
April 24 2006

Celebrating the anniversary of the so called genocide today, the
Yerevan administration indicated they are working for recognition of
the so-called genocide, and emphasized they have never requested land
from Turkey.

Despite this statement of Armenia, references to the eastern part of
Turkey in Armenia’s constitution and declaration of independence have
already been made. The Mount Ararat is among the state’s symbols. In
an interview with Zaman, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman
Kirakossian also evaluated this contradiction. Upon being reminded
the 1921 Treaty of Kars that determined the border between the two
countries, Kirakossian responded by asking, “Who said we do not
recognize the Treaty of Kars?” and posed for a photograph in front
of the painting of Mount Ararat hanging in his office.

Kirakossian responded: “Things I say have no importance unless
diplomatic relationships between Turkey and Armenia are established.

We can say we are respectful towards each other’s unity of territory
in reciprocal agreements” when asked, “Can you say Armenia does not
have any demand for Turkish lands?”

When reminded of Turkey’s proposal to “Have the incidents of 1915
be investigate by an independent commission made up of historians,
and accept the results,” the Armenian authority said: “Our history is
an indisputable reality,” and referred to Armenian President Robert
Kocharian’s proposal to “Establish an intergovernmental commission.

If Turkey had set up a diplomatic relationship with us in 1991,
we might be speaking at a different level now.”

The Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian responded to
the following questions Zaman posed:

You want Turkey to open its Armenian border? Does this mean you accept
the 1921 Treaty of Kars and therefore recognize the border you want
to be opened?

Who said we do not recognize the Treaty of Kars?

But there are references to the eastern regions of Turkey in your
official documents…

I want to say something officially as a representative of the Republic
of Armenia. After Armenia’s independence in 1991, Armenia has wanted
to set up relationships without preconditions with Turkey.

The Republic of Armenia has not declared that it does not recognize
the Treaty of Kars. The preconditions have always been set forth
by Turkey during this time, especially with the problems of the
Mountainous Karabag (Karabakh) and the Armenian genocide.

Can you say that Armenia has no documented evidence of its claims
over eastern Turkish provinces?

What I say will not have any value until we establish actual diplomatic
relations between Armenia and Turkey. Only after we build ties we can
claim to have respect for the territorial integrity of both countries
in mutual agreements.

Because of the ongoing Armenian efforts to prove the so-called genocide
happened, the border is closed and your country is suffering from an
economic depression. Many Armenians tend to leave the country. How
much longer can you keep this up?

Armenia does not suffer economic difficulties. A look at the traffic
in Yerevan will explain my point. Our economy adjusted itself to the
situation within the past 15 years. Of course, we would like to have
a stronger and advanced economy. The opening of borders would be of
great benefit to us. We would like to say that we are ready to have
relations with Turkey and without any prerequisites. If Turkey accepts
it, we could sit around the table and discuss our problems.

Your newspaper [Zaman] is reporting that we are in talks.

Washington will host a guest, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, for
an exchange of official contacts at a time when there is concentrated
discussion of Iran’s nuclear involvement. Are you worried about
this visit?

No, I am not, since we have excellent relations with the administration
in the United States (US). In accordance with the Millennium Challenge
Program, there has been a transfer of $235 million to Armenia, and US
President George W. Bush acknowledges this program is useful to our
economy. Azerbaijan is not eligible for this transfer of financial
aid, since the government in Azerbaijan is not eligible to be part
of the program. The Armenian president will probably be another guest
in Washington in the upcoming days, after Aliyev.

Armenia and the Diaspora carry out intense efforts regarding the
events of 1915. They have 450,000 web-sites set up for this purpose
alone. While efforts are being made regarding an event that happened 90
years ago, 800,000 refugees exiled from Azerbaijan struggle to survive
in negative conditions. Have you ever considered empathizing with them?

We do not accept the figure of 800,000. However, the number is
unimportant. We have 300,000 refugees from Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

The dialogue, which includes this issue between Azerbaijan and Armenia,
still goes on.

Turkey proposes to leave the allegations regarding the events in 1915
to the historians and accept the outcome. Will you keep rejecting it?

Right, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made such
a proposal. On the other hand, Armenian President Robert Kocharian
proposed to the formation of a commission to handle various problems
concerning politics, economy, borders and agreements.

We believe the Turkish people are not responsible for the events of
1915. The Turkish administration at that time is the responsible
party. We expect a step from Turkey akin to the one taken by the
German government. Armenia wants to have unconditional, good and
friendly relations with all its neighbors, especially with Turkey.

The future of the two countries will not be decided by the findings
of historians. Politicians will determine the fate of the two
countries. If Turkey had made diplomatic relations with us, we could
have been holding this conversation at a much different level.