MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
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PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext. 202
Fax: +37410. 565601
Email: press@mfa.am

PRESS RELEASE

01-02-2008

Minister Oskanian participates in in the 44th Munich Security Conference

Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian participated in the
44th Munich Security Conference on Saturday and Sunday February 9 and 10.

Former German Defense National Security Advisor Horst Teltschik, who heads
the conference, presided over the two days during which several heads of
state as well as more than 40 foreign and defense ministers, and 500-plus
members of the media and international policy makers participated in open
dialogue about current and future security challenges.

Under the general conference topic of "The World in Disarray – Shifting
Powers – Lack of Strategies," Turkish Prime Minister Regep Tayip Erdogan
spoke on Turkey’s Foreign Policy and Security Interests.

Following the Prime Minister’s statement, Minister Oskanian took the floor,
responded to Erdogan’s articulation of his vision as a democratic and major
strategic player in the region and beyond, contributing to peace and
stability.

Minister Oskanian began by acknowledging that the Prime Minister takes pride
in Turkey’s democratization and "its geostrategic role in our region and
beyond, to achieve peace and stability." Minister Oskanian continued by
saying, "Mr. Prime Minister, you also reiterated your firm commitment to
becoming a full member of the European Union, which we in Armenia support.
This is precisely the kind of neighbor we would like to have. But as you
know, today the border between our two countries is closed. By Turkey. We’ve
often raised this issue, stating that we would like to have normal ties with
Turkey, open borders and diplomatic relations. Armenians would like to be
the beneficiaries of the vision you projected here today. But we have heard
you, loud and clear, repeating two main reasons, or excuses, for keeping
that border closed. One of your reasons is Armenia’s engagement in the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the second is our pursuit of genocide
recognition. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict is between Armenians and Azeris.
Genocide recognition is our moral, historic obligation. Our countries are
not at war, Mr. Prime Minister, and I wonder whether short of being at war,
the reasons you always offer are sufficient to justify maintaining closed
borders between our two countries. You can help us, by your positive
engagement, to resolve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Having normal
relations, open borders and diplomatic relations, will allow us together to
address our differences on the genocide issue. There are important processes
going on and Turkey can be a natural bridge for the Caucasus, with EU and
NATO. So I wonder whether you think that with Turkey’s positive engagement
in our region, with equal, neutral relations with all, Turkey wouldn’t play
a more positive role in addressing those very issues that you consider to be
obstacles for normalization of our relations."

Turkey’s Prime Minister did not respond to Minister Oskanian’s questions
about the geopolitical situation and prospects for normalization. Instead,
he repeated the offer to convene historians, spoke about "1915 massacres
being not proven historically" and on the one hand offered historians,
archaeologists and others to study the matter, and on the other hand
rejected the possibility of genocide being part of Turkish culture.

During the conference, Minister Oskanian held meetings with Lithuania’s
Foreign Minister, and the German Foreign Ministry’s Political Director, Dr.
Volker Stanzel.-0-