ARMENIA GAVE TURKEY TIME

A1+
08:23 pm | April 23, 2009 | Politics

"The joint statement was the best way of giving Turkey time. The
Armenian side signed the statement without realizing that one of the
expectations and goals of Turkey was to pass the April 24 deadline,"
told "A1+" NA Deputy, member of the "Heritage" faction Stepan Safaryan
in regard to the joint statement made by the Armenian and Turkish
Foreign Affairs Ministries and the Swiss Foreign Affairs Federative
Department.

"Instead of using the Turks fear of April 24 and Obama’s address for
serious promises and steps, Armenian diplomats did the opposite. After
the unacceptable statements, the Armenian side agreed to simply give
time to Turkey without responding to the statements and demanding
explications," said Stepan Safaryan and clarified that the sides
will convince the international community that the international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide should not interfere in the
process that has begun with new agreements and the comprehensive
framework which the sides are working on.

"Two days ago Ali Babacan made Turkey’s strategy almost clear and
said that Turkey is discussing all issues that need to be discussed or
expects to be discussed. That is definitely a lie because historic and
modern issues are circumvented and are put aside for future committees
to solve in the best case scenario," says Stepan Safaryan. He went on
to say that the discussion of those issues will require a lot of time.

"Even if the Turkish side includes those issues in its agenda,
they will take years to solve and Turkey will use the time given
by Armenia and flaws to prevent pressure that could have seriously
promoted improvement of Turkish-Armenian relations."

According to Stepan Safaryan, the important thing now is for Armenian
diplomats to be very careful when it comes to such negotiations.

"The U.S. and the international community must understand that not
recognizing the Armenian Genocide and not using the term genocide does
not help solve the issues; rather, it allows Turkey to show a more
unserious approach to these relations. The U.S. will stimulate the
process if the president pronounces the word genocide and the fact of
genocide is recognized through a resolution. The U.S. administration
will always use that against Turkey, while recognition of genocide
will encourage Turkey to enter the process of normalization without
preconditions, not bargaining Turkish-Armenian relations and showing
that it has revised its policy on Armenia."