ARMENIAN LEADER DENIES ACCORD WITH TURKEY TO STOP GENOCIDE RECOGNITION DRIVE

Public Television
April 25 2009
Armenia

[Presenter] Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan convened a session of
the Armenian National Security Council today. The main issue put
on the agenda was the latest developments in the Armenian-Turkish
relationship. Touching on a statement made by the Swiss, Armenian and
Turkish foreign ministries three days ago, Sargsyan said that the
document reflects the efforts aimed at improving relations between
Armenia and Turkey.

[Correspondent] The Armenian president said that the document which is
currently being discussed by Armenia will also be publicized in the
near future and he is convinced that the provisions of the document
will be welcomed by the public. The president said that Armenia’s
position is clear and well-defined, borders cannot be closed in
Europe in the 21st century. Expansion of transport corridors, energy
sources and the geography of economic ties is required in order to
be an efficient state.

[Sargsyan] In the recent period, it is speculated that allegedly
Armenian-Turkish relations have been made conditional on relations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, or [Armenia’s] concession in the
Karabakh issue is a precondition for normalizing Armenian-Turkish
relations. I once again reiterate that the subject of Azerbaijan
and Nagornyy Karabakh [conflict] has never been discussed during the
negotiations with Turks. The expansion of relations between Armenia
and Turkey would probably have a positive influence on solution of
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, but it cannot be a precondition.

[Correspondent] The president also touched on circulated reports
that the issuing of a joint statement [by Swiss, Armenian and Turkish
foreign ministries] in the run-up to the commemorative ceremony of the
genocide victims can affect the international process of recognition
of the genocide.

[Sargsyan] I do not think so. On the contrary, I think all those
who have carefully followed the international media should confirm
this. All leading international media started their news with this
topic and noted that the genocide has actually happened. They were
reporting that the Armenian president has repeatedly noted that the
establishment of relations does not mean rejection or questioning the
genocide. The establishment of relations with Turks will not affect
the international recognition of the genocide. The international
recognition of the genocide is the only way to prevent it from
happening in the future.