PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA: SOME TURKISH OFFICIALS TRYING TO MAKE PRECONDITIONS AFTER WE HAVE COORDINATED TWO DOCUMENTS WITH TURKEY

ArmInfo
2009-07-31 13:36:00

ArmInfo. "Despite historical problems – Genocide of Armenians,
Armenia has displayed good will and has done its best to normalize the
Armenian-Turkish relations. Armenia proved strong enough to propose
the Turkish authorities to establish diplomatic relations and open
borders without any preconditions and then study any issue we will
consider convenient," President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan told the
participants in the program "Return Home" organized by the Armenian
Diaspora Ministry on the Lake Sevan.

In response to the question by a participant from Turkey, the
president said: "We had been negotiating with Turkey in rather
pleasant atmosphere for the whole year. We have coordinated two
documents. Afterwards some Turkish officials tried to propose us
preconditions and link the Armenian-Turkish relations with the Karabakh
conflict and the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations," the president
said. He called any preconditions inadmissible to Armenia. "We are
well aware that Turkey is a big and powerful state and we are well
aware of Turkey’s role in our region and in the world.

Nevertheless, Turks should admit the fact that we are Armenians
and we are an independent country", Serzh Sargsyan said. Turks
should realize that speaking of preconditions in the 21st century
is inadmissible. "Any precondition or hardline approach leads to
counteraction", the president said.

In addition Serzh Sargsyan declared: "I am very glad to see that
the Armenians residing in Turkey have preserved their language and
identity. The stronger is the Republic of Armenia, the stronger is
the Armenian genius in other states. It is one of our goals."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress