Ankara Again Seeks To Mislead Europe About Its Antagonistic PolicyTo

ANKARA AGAIN SEEKS TO MISLEAD EUROPE ABOUT ITS ANTAGONISTIC POLICY TOWARD ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
02.06.2006 12:18

Reports, based on sources in the Turkish government, are being
circulated by the Turkish media allege that “secret talks” are taking
place between Armenia and Turkey aimed at normalizing relations
between these two countries.

Sources close to the Turkish government quoted the government’s
spokesperson, Namik Tan, as saying that Turkey intends to continue
to make efforts to normalize relations with Armenia.

The European Armenian Federation recalls that, each year, on the
eve of the European Union’s annual assessment of Turkey’s candidacy,
Ankara revives its efforts to misinform and disorient European public
opinion about its true intentions and policies toward Armenia.

“We have no doubt that meetings between emissaries of both countries
may occur but there is a clear evidence that, as in the past, actual
progress will not be possible until Turkey undertakes a fundamental
realignment of its policies toward Armenia,” said Hilda Tchoboian,
Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

The Federation notes that Turkey continues to strangle Armenia
through blockade and a broader strategy aimed at isolating Armenia
internationally, and that it persists in escalating its political
campaign to deny the Armenian Genocide.

“Along the same lines as the notorious Erdogan proposal to establish
a ‘historians committee,’ this new effort does little to conceal
Turkey’s belligerent attitude toward Armenia or its desire to treat
Armenia as a hostage country,” continued Tchoboian.

The European Armenian Federation urges the European authorities to
condemn Turkey’s efforts to mislead and confuse the European family
of nations regarding its true posture toward Armenia.

“If Turkey truly wants to become a European nation, it needs to take
the steps that the world expects of it – including acknowledging
its state responsibility for the Armenian Genocide and lifting its
blockade of Armenia,” concluded Tchoboian.