SERZH SARGSYAN: ARMENIA READY TO HAVE TALKS WITH NEW TURKISH GOVERNMENT
Regnum
Aug 3 2007
Russia
1 August 2007 – Armenia ready to have talks with the new Turkish
government after more than 90-year breach in relations, Armenian
Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan told in an interview to Al Jazeera TV.
"We can’t stay in a situation without having communication and talks
with our neighbor because the easiest way of resolving this issue
is dialogue and negotiations," Sargsyan said. "We didn’t choose
the location of where we live and whatever happens we will have to
be neighbours for a very long time. I think it would be better if
Armenians and Turks come to an understanding," the prime minister
noted.
Al Jazeera reminds that the row over the mass killings of Armenians
by Ottoman Turks during First World War is at the heart of the issue.
"Turkey says they were casualties of war, but the people of Armenia
want what happened to be recognized as genocide. The continuing closure
of the border has isolated Armenia, which is a landlocked country,
hitting the economy hard. … It has stopped the economy from moving
forward hundreds of millions of dollars of trade are lost every
year. It is no surprise that Sargsyan wants change," says the channel.