ARMENIAN PRESIDENT: ARMENIA IS WILLING TO ESTABLISH RELATIONS WITH TURKEY, BUT WITHOUT ANY PRECONDITIONS

ArmInfo
2009-04-10 20:26:00

ArmInfo. "In establishing relations with Turkey we don’t admit any
preconditions",- Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said at today’s
press-conference in Yerevan.

According to him, the Armenian party doesn’t expect Turkey to recognize
the Armenian Genocide and at the same time expects Turkey to give
up the precondition on suspension of the process of international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Speaking of possible recognition
of the Armenian Genocide by the United States, the Armenian president
pointed out that there is no need to persuade Americans of this fact
as they had diplomats, missioners, businessmen in this region who
witnessed the tragic days for the Armenian people.

"Even in course of discussion of the relevant resolution in the US
House of Representatives, the overwhelming majority of senators didn’t
deny the given fact", – he said. If the USA considers that recognition
of the Genocide may become a factor to prevent similar crimes and
fight international terrorism, it will take this step, Sargsyan added.

At the same time, he sees no connection between normalization of
relations with Turkey and the USA’s possible decision on recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.

"We are ready to establish relations with Turkey without any
preconditions, now the ball is in Turkey’s field, but as it is
known, any football match has time limits",- the president said and
expressed hope that by the next Turkey-Armenia football match he will
have crossed the unblocked Turkish-Armenian border. Nevertheless,
he didn’t rule out new possible conditions to be laid down by
Ankara. In any case, Armenia will come out of this situation as a
stronger country. Moreover, all international structures registered
Yerevan’s desire to establish these relations. "We must establish
normal relations with Turks",- Sargsyan stressed. According to
him, now not the border should be unblocked, but relations without
preconditions should be established. "If there are relations, the
border will be opened",- he said. He thinks that opening of the border
will not result in inflow of Turkish commodities. Sargsyan advocates
competitiveness. "If the Armenian producers are unable to compete with
the Turkish ones, how can one speak about competition with European
producers?",- the president said and recalled that today one can find
in the Armenian market Turkish commodities delivered from Georgia. In
addition, the opened border and the big Turkish market may open new
opportunities for Armenian producers.