TURKEY IS NOT INDIFFERENT TO ARMENIAN PAIN, VURAL SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.09.2008 17:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey must immediately apologize to Armenians for
the "tragic events of the past," said Volkan Vural, Turkey’s former
ambassador to Armenia in 1991-1993, Taraf Turkish newspaper reported.

"Although it is difficult to imagine that Turkey would recognize
the Genocide, nevertheless, it must apologize to Armenians and other
ethnic minorities – Greeks, Assyrians, Kurds – for displacing them and
massacres, and allow them to return to the land of their ancestors
and become Turkish citizens," said Vural. "It’s important to show
that Turkey is not indifferent to the Armenian pain."

"The return of assets and financial restitution are difficult issues
to tackle. However, it would be possible to make a symbolic offer
of financial restitution," explained Vural, saying that making an
apology is an "imperative for a country like Turkey."

"The Armenian question cannot be resolved by a commission of
historians. Such a commission can only help in the resolution process
by analyzing some of the issues," said Vural, adding that the Armenian
question can be resolved only by political leaders.

"Although the establishment of Armenia-Turkey relations will not
entirely vanquish Armenians’ genocide claims, it will provide
psychological reprieve. It is imperative to differentiate rhetoric
with the realities of life," added Vural.

"Turkey must have more faith in itself and not become hostage to the
genocide issue," said Vural, adding that Turkey must have strength to
acknowledge what has happened in the past and work toward establishing
neighborly and friendly relations.

"Armenians in the Diaspora will always force the genocide recognition
issue," he said. "But if Turkey-Armenia relations are normalized,
borders are opened, trade increases and people get wealthy, their
pressures would lose effectiveness" said Vural.

Volkan Vural was the only Turkey’s ambassador to Armenia with
residence in Moscow while Yerevan wasn’t represented in Ankara
even at the level of Charge d’Affaires. Presently, Karen Mirzoyan,
Armenia’s representative to the BSEC (residence in Istanbul), is the
only Armenian diplomat in Turkey.