SERZH SARGSYAN: TRAGEDY IN ISTANBUL SHOULD SPUR TURKEY-ARMENIA
DIALOGUE

Yerevan, February 3. ArmInfo. An analytical article by Serzh Sargsyan,
the Secretary of the Security Council and the Armenian Defence
Minister, entitled was published in the weekly. The article comments
upon the murder of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in Istanbul.

According to the source, the article notes that the murder of the
editor of the bilingual Armenian/Turkish According to the source, the
article notes that the murder of the editor of the bilingual
Armenian/Turkish <AGOS>newspaper, has generated mass protests across
the globe. Everyone who believes in human basic freedoms was shocked
with the crime committed not only on ethnic grounds, but also due to
the erosion of democratic principles of the Turkish state propaganda
and discrimination against both Armenians and other national
minorities, the article runs. This tragedy should not only contribute
Besides, S.Sargsyan reminded that since Armenian proclaimed its
independence in 1991, Turkey has refused diplomatic relations with
it. Two years later, Turkey imposed economic blockade on Armenia,
depriving the two nations of contacts in humanitarian and trade
spheres. The murder of Hrant Dink may give a historical opportunity
for liquidating the gap in the relations and starting a civilized
dialogue between the countries. Notwithstanding the lack of diplomatic
ties, the Turkish Government invited Armenian politicians and men of
religion to participate in Hrant Dink’s funeral. These small but
essential gestures allow to discuss the Armenian Genocide of 1915, at
last. To those who insist on forgetting these tragic events S.Sargsyan
points out the importance of remembering the past in order to prevent
reoccurrence of such a crime against humanity. He adds that Armenia is
ready to establish normal diplomatic relations with Turkey without
preconditions. There may be a thousand problems between the two
countries, and the key to the settlement of these problems is
establishing diplomatic relations between the governments and
nations. Turkey’s reaction to the international community’s criticism
was aggressive, but if Turkey continues ignoring the criticism, it may
find itself in isolation and conflict with the European Union,
S.Sargsyan says. If Turkey lifts the blockade, Armenia will get closer
to Europe from the geopolitical point of view, and all the parties
will benefit from it. Armenia has already demonstrated a general
interest in EU values in a number of issues, including regional
security and democratic development. In memory of Hrant Dink, the
Minister offers to start the process of peaceful dialogue contributing
to establishing normal relations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress