ARMENIAN PRESIDENT DENIES TERRITORIAL CLAIMS AGAINST TURKEY
Milliyet
21 Sep 2008
Turkey
[Interview with President Serzh Sarksyan by Cenk Baslamis in Yerevan;
date not given: "Yerevan: We Do Not Have Territorial Claims."
[Baslamis] Does Armenia have territorial claims against Turkey?
[Sarksyan] I am surprised by the claims that Armenia demands a part of
Turkey’s territory. Somehow, that is a widespread conviction. However,
have you heard any Armenian official say that Armenia demands a part
of Turkey’s territory? A statement has definitely not been made to
that effect. But, there are those who link the question of genocide
with territorial claims. I do not know why that is done.
Serzh Sarksyan Cenk Baslamis
[1] 21 September2008
[Baslamis] You have disclosed that you would not object to Turkey and
Armenia setting up a committee of historians to carry out a research
on the Armenian genocide claims. Considering that you are not opposed
to the establishment of such a committee, would you be prepared to
accept the outcome of its work?
[Sarksyan] I said that I am generally not opposed to the establishment
of committees between the two countries. I also said that the
two countries establishing diplomatic relations before they set up
committees will be more useful. First, let us open our common border
and establish diplomatic relations. We can then move to establish
committees and subcommittee on every issue. You asked whether or
not we would accept the decision to be made by the committee of
historians. That is a rather strange question because a group of
historians will decide on the matter in the end. Sarksyan is in
power in Armenia at the present time. Let us say that I accepted the
committee’s decision. What will happen if the person who will replace
me says "I do not accept the decision?" In other words, the decision to
be made by the committee cannot be a determining factor. It can only
be a recommendation for those who make decisions. It can only be a
recommendation for the government. You might recall the establishment
of a similar committee as a result of US initiatives in the past. It
concluded that an act of genocide was committed. What happened? Did
it change anything? Was it accepted by anyone? No, it was not. No
one accepted its decision.
[Baslamis] You will visit Turkey to watch the return match between
the Turkish and Armenian national football teams. Do you plan to hold
talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan when you are in Turkey
or at a later date?
[Sarksyan] I will be happy to find an opportunity to meet esteemed
Erdogan.
Recognition of Karabag [Nagorno-Karabakh] is the Last Alternative
[Baslamis] Can you comment on the situation that has been created
by Georgia’s attack on South Ossetia? Why have you not recognized
Karabag’s independence after Russia recognized South Ossetia?
[Sarksyan] The developments showed how dangerous an effort to solve
an ethnic problem through the use of arms can be. Recognizing the
independence of Karabag is not on our agenda at the present time
because talks are being held on the problem. The recognition of
Karabag is the last alternative we have. However, I must note that
the Armenians will move out of Karabag if the area is miraculously
placed under Azerbaijan’s rule.
A Question That Made Sarksyan Laugh
[Baslamis] Were you able to discuss issues other than political
problems when you held talks with President Abdullah Gul? For example,
did Gul inform you on his impressions in Yerevan? Did he utter a word
in Armenian or did you say something to him in Turkish?
[Sarksyan] (After laughing for some time) No, we did not find an
opportunity to discuss other matters with His Excellency Abdullah
Gul. I believe that esteemed Gul does not know Armenian. I am said to
be able to speak Azeri. Yes, I was able to speak Azeri in a simple
way in the past. I know that the Turkish and Azeri languages are
close. But, I have not spoken Azeri for 20 years now. That is to say, I
am not able construct a logical sentence at the present time. Regarding
esteemed Gul, my impressions are very positive. He is a very nice
person. We discussed what we can do to bring prosperity to our people.