ARMENIAN FM HOPES THAT ONE DAY ARMENIAN AND TURKISH LEADERS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TOGETHER
ARMENPRESS
April 24, 2008
YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian, who is in France on a working visit, was today Paris
municipality where a reception in the memory of the victims of the
Armenian genocide has been organized.
At the event present were French state, political and public figures,
heads of French, Jewish and Islamic organizations, French Armenians.
Armenian Foreign Ministry press service told Armenpress that expressing
gratitude to the Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe for initiating the event
which has become a tradition, the minister highly assessed the wisdom
and political courage of the European leaders which they display for
reconciling peoples of Europe.
"I hope one day Armenian and Turkish leaders will pay tribute in front
of memorial to the victims of the Armenian genocide and getting rid
of that heavy burden of the past will build a secure future together,"
Nalbandian said.
He noted that it is impossible to imagine the future without
reconciliation, and the way to it is not the oblivion but conscious
memory, "as together, turning over the black page of our history,
we can view the future with trust and belief."
"I believe in wisdom of the leaders and peoples of our two
countries. Armenia has many times stated about its readiness to
establish relations with Turkey without pre-conditions. I want to
reconfirm that Armenia is ready to exert efforts in that direction
for finding solutions to the issue and hopes that Turkey will display
same approach. All the countries of the region will benefit from it,"
the minister said.
In his speech the Paris mayor congratulated Nalbandian on his
appointment and highly assessed his 10-year activity in France
during which the relations between the two countries reached the
highest level.
He also stated that they accept the proposal of the minister to name
the park around the Komitas monument as Yerevan park and invited the
minister to open it together.
In the morning Nalbandian had a face-to-face meeting with the mayor
during which they discussed issues on boosting Armenian-French
cooperation and carrying out programs within the frameworks of
Yerevan-Paris partnership.
Today late in the evening the minister will arrive back in Yerevan.