MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
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PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext. 202
Fax: +37410. 565601
Email: press@mfa.am

PRESS RELEASE

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s answer to the question
of "Interfax" News Agency

Question: Minister, recently some Turkish officials have been making
statements to the effect that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations is conditioned by other issues like the resolution of
Nagorno Karabakh problem and the process of international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide. Could you comment on that?

Answer: The normalization of Armenian – Turkish relations should have
no preconditions and it is with this mutual understanding that we have
been negotiating with the Turkish side.

Normalization of the relations has no linkage to the resolution of
Nagorno Karabakh problem and has never been a subject of negotiations
towards the normalization of Armenian – Turkish relations.

It has been said many times, and I want to stress it again, that the
normalization of Armenian – Turkish relations can never question the
reality of Armenian Genocide.

Today, dozens of states and international organizations have
recognized the Armenian Genocide, which Armenia has welcomed.

I believe, that the statements, which put forth preconditions for the
normalization of Armenian Turkish relations may be regarded as an
attempt to impede the progress reached in the negotiations.