NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE HAS TO BE SETTLED WITHIN MINSK GROUP AND TURKEY HAS TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Tamar Minasian

AZG Armenian Daily
04/10/2006

President of the French Republic Is Sure

The official visit to Armenia of president Jacques Chirac of France
ended on Sunday. During the 3-day stay the French delegation headed
by Mr. Chirac met RA president Robert Kocharian, visited the Memorial
of Armenian Genocide and Genocide Museum. The French delegation also
was received by the Catholicos of All Armenians.

Right after the meeting of presidents a joint press conference
was held. In president Kocharian’s words, the volume and content
of bilateral relations are on a rather high level. He particularly
highlighted economic cooperation saying that more than 100 companies
operate in Armenia by the French capital.

Both countries have more than 20 sister-cities and that, the president
said, adds to the level of bilateral relations.

Robert Kocharian informed that he discussed with Mr. Chirac the present
stage of Nagorno Karabakh regulation process. "I would particularly
like to emphasize that the French president has an experts awareness
on this issue," Mr. Kocharian said. Both presidents touched upon
the proposal to transfer Karabakh regulation process from the OSCE
Minsk Group to UN. Mr. Chirac said: "This is a misplaced proposal
and will sooner complicate settlement process than make it easier,"
as the Minsk Group experts are working superbly for the
solution of this complicated issue and they have made very serious
proposals. Mr. Kocharian added that shifting the format will not bring
solution, and if one of the sides strive for that we are suspicious
that it wants to see the conflict settled.

Touching upon the Socialist party proposal to criminalize denial of
the Armenian Genocide, Jacques Chirac said that France recognized the
Genocide by a law in 2001 and as in a lawful state "every manifestation
of racism" is punishable. "I want to remind again that France has
recognized the Armenian Genocide and the rest is a dispute rather
than legal issue."

Asked by Le Monde correspondent whether Turkey’s membership to EU
is stipulated by recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Mr. Chirac
answered: "If the question is whether Turkey has to recognize the
Armenian Genocide to get access to the EU, then I sincerely believe
that a country will become more mature by recognizing its past. Has
Germany, which recognizes the Holocaust, lost its greatness and
trustworthiness? Just the contrary, a country, a nation always becomes
mature by recognizing the mistakes of its past. I believe that Turkey
should think thoroughly and it would be good if it recognizes and
discusses its past."

Asked by a representative of Turkish Hurriyet newspaper why he did not
answer Turkish prime minister’s proposal to set a joint commission of
Armenian and Turkish historians, Robert Kocharian said that it pains
him that the journalist does not know about his reply and added that
he believes that leaders of neighboring states should communicate
not via mass media but diplomatic relations that unfortunately lack
between Armenia and Turkey. Mr. Kocharian said that in his reply he
suggested creating an intergovernmental commission for discussion of
all issues but there was no reply from Mr. Erdogan.

At the meeting with Catholicos Karekin II, French president expressed
satisfaction with the economic and political relations between the two
countries. His Holiness told the president that an Armenian diocese
that the Armenia Church and the Armenian community has long cherished
will be opened in France soon.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress