ARMENIAN INTERESTS WILL NOT BE DAMAGED IF GUL WATCHES FOOTBALL IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.08.2008 17:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Union of Armenians of Russia supports the
initiative of RA President Serzh Sargsyan to invite his Turkish
counterpart Abdullah Gul to Yerevan.

"The Armenian Diaspora numbers 8 million people and all have different
opinions. We rate President Sargsyan’s invitation as a good will
gesture. Armenian interests will not be damaged if Gul watches football
in Yerevan," said Gegham Khalatyan, UAR Vice President.

"Armenia will benefit anyway. As to the United States and
Russia… Over 100 of U.S. Congressmen and presidential candidate
Barack Obama stand for recognition of the Armenian Genocide. At the
same time, Turkey is an important ally for the U.S. and it’s natural
that each initiative for normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations is welcomed," he said. "To achieve serious results,
Turkey should first of all openly face the dark pages of its
history. Otherwise, all efforts will be useless."

"Russia pursues a pragmatic policy in the region, although it often
doesn’t meet long-term strategic interests. However, presence of
the border guards and a military base in Armenia is a restraint for
Turkey," Khalatyan said, ANF news agency reports.