OSKANIAN: GENOCIDE RECOGNITION NOT PRECONDITION TO ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.12.2006 18:20 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I have always said and will continue to say
that Genocide recognition is not a precondition to Armenian-Turkish
relations," Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian stated in an interview with
the New Anatolian. In his words, "it is our moral obligation to
pursue recognition. But that should not impede the normalization
of our relations. As long as the Armenians do not say that unless
Turkey recognizes the genocide we will not normalize our relations,
Turkey should not say the reverse, that Armenia should drop the
complaint of the Armenian Genocide. Neither side should put any
preconditions. We pursue recognition; Turkey is pursuing policies
of denialism. I really cannot see the reason why the borders cannot
be opened, so that our people would interact. That certainly would
create more favorable conditions, so that we can address those issues
in a more constructive manner," the Armenian FM underscored.