ARPI VARTANYAN: ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY EXPECTS OBAMA TO SAY "GENOCIDE"
Siranush Muradyan

"Radiolur"
23.04.2009 16:06

The Armenian Assembly of America expects Barack Obama to use the word
"genocide" in his April 24th address, Armenian Assembly of America
Country Director for Armenia and Karabakh Arpi Vartanian told a press
conference today.

"As a Senator Barack Obama has said that the Armenian Genocide
should be recognized. Besides, he noted during hit trip to Turkey
earlier this month that his position had not changed," Arpi Vartanian
noted. According to her, this statement made in Turkey is a historic
fact that makes us believe that the US President will utter the word
"genocide."

"Earlier or later the world will recognize the events of 1915. The
fact of the Genocide cannot be questioned. It is a reality, and we
want the US to recognize it," she noted.

Arpi Vartanian supports the normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations.

According to her, the Genocide and the Nagorno Karabakh are different
issues and should not be merged. Moreover, Azerbaijan should not
interfere with the relations between Armenia and Turkey on every
occasion.

"What does it mean having closed borders in the 21st century? It’s
nonsense. The two countries should normalize their relations without
preconditions, since it will have a positive influence on both
Armenian20 and Turkish economies," Arpi Vartanian said.

According to her, the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border will
primarily benefit the frontier villages, the commodity turnover
between the two countries will grow and new investments will follow.