ANKARA’S REFUSAL TO RECOGNIZE THE GENOCIDE IS NOT A HINDRANCE TO ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH TURKEY

PanArmenian News
April 24 2009
Armenia

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ankara’s refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide
is not a hindrance to establishment of diplomatic relations with
Turkey, RA President Serzh Sargsyan told when interviewed by Russia
Today RF TV Channel. "The Armenian Genocide is a proven fact, but we
support normalization of Armenian -Turkish ties without preconditions,"
RA President noted. According to RA President, before Abdullah
Gul’s visit, Turkey set two preconditions to Armenia, which were the
Genocide and NKR conflict settlement issues."During negotiations we
were guided by the following principle – establishment of relations
without preconditions, and further discussion of any issues that the
two parties might find of interest, RA President noted. I will accept
Abdullah Gul’s invitation to visit Turkey, if the border was opened
before, or the parties will be on the threshold of opening the border,
RA President stated.

"Until recently, we were confident that we made a significant progress
in negotiations and a historic situation change could be expected.

But Turkish Prime Minister’s recent statement that Armenian Turkish
relations can’t be normalized unless Armenia makes concessions in
NKR issue, was viewed as a deviation from agreement reached and
setting of preconditions," Serzh Sargsyan noted. According to him,
the football is now on Turkish side of the field. "And if we speak
in terms of "football diplomacy" we have to note that the match is
restricted by certain time," Serzh Sargsyan emphazised.