DASHNAKS URGE TURKEY TO CHANGE "ARMENIA POLICY"

ArmInfo News Agency (in Russian)
Sept 10 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 10 September: The board of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation – Dashnaktsutyun [ARFD] held an emergency plenary session
today. The ARFD has made a statement on the results of the session.

According to the ARFD statement received by Arminfo, the situation
in the South Caucasus region and Armenian-Turkish relations were
discussed at the session. The statement notes that Armenia and Turkey,
which are neighbours, should make efforts to normalize bilateral
relations. "However, we are sure that relations can be established
only after the recognition of the Armenian genocide by Turkey and
the restoration of the Armenian people’s right," the statement says.

The statement also notes that the ARFD considers that the development
of relations with Turkey is absolutely unacceptable at the expense of
violations of the Armenian statehood and the national-state rights
of a generation. Turkey can count on the participation in regional
initiatives, if it changes its "Armenia policy". Turkey should not
act as a side to the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict or set conditions
to Armenia but should give up its policy of separating lines in the
South Caucasus region.

Armenia has been pursuing a foreign policy based on national-state
values since 1998 and one of its strategic directions is to universally
recognize the Armenian genocide. Armenia views this issue not only as
the restoration of the historical truth, but also in the context of
establishing an atmosphere of confidence in the region and preventing
similar crimes in the future, the statement says.