V.OSKANIAN: RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS NOT A PRECONDITION FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Dec 04 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. "I have always said
and will say that the issue of Genocide does not play a leading part in
Armenia-Turkey relations." RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian declared
this in his interview to the New Anatolian Turkish periodical. In
the Minister’s words, the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is
not a precondition for establishment of bilateral relations. "The
recognition of the Armenian Genocide is a moral obligation, but it
should not be an obstacle for improvement of relations between the
two countries. As the Armenian side does not present the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide as a precondition, Turkey should not demand
that Armenia give up demands on this issue," the Minister added. In
Oskanian’s words, neither Turkey nor Armenia should put forward
demands. "We carry on policy of recognition of the Genocide, Turkey
of its denial. I really do not see the reasons, because of which the
borders cannot be opened and the peoples cannot cooperate. This would
create more positive conditions for more constructive settlement of
existing problems," RA Foreign Minister emphasized.