ARMENIAN-TURKISH RECONCILIATION SHOULDN’T BE LINKED TO KARABAKH PROCESS -UNION

Interfax
May 25 2009
Russia

Efforts to sort out relations between Armenia and Turkey should not
depend on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said the
World Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians in Russia, which
also demanded the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

"The Armenian genocide is a sacred issue. It cannot be used as a
bargaining chip. It is a matter of our security," Ara Abraamyan,
president of the Union of Armenians in Russia and the World Armenian
Congress, told journalists on Monday.

"Moreover, steps to normalize Armenian-Turkish relations and the
Karabakh conflict settlement process cannot be linked," Abraamyan said.

Armenia’s dialogue with Turkey should proceed not only at the level
of the two countries’ presidents and foreign ministers, but also at
the cultural, social and business levels, he said.

"Our dialogue with Turkey should continue," he added.