PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA: WE MUST LOOK FORWARD BUT WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO FORGET OUR PAST

ArmInfo
2009-08-31 11:25:00

ArmInfo. We do not consider recognition of Genocide as precondition
to establishment of relations with Turkey, President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan says in an interview with BBC.

Asked if Armenia is ready for concessions in the issue of the
events of 1915 and their recognition by Turkey as Genocide, the
president said: "It is very important, indeed. It is important for
our nation, for Turkey and for the world. It is important to restore
historical justice. It is important for our nations to establish
normal relations. And after all it is important to prevent that in
future. Nevertheless, we do not consider recognition of the genocide
as a precondition to establishment of relations." In response to the
specifying question if a compromise is possible, S. Sargsyan said: "No.

It must not be considered as compromise. It is not the very case
for speaking of a compromise. We say the following: yes, there was
genocide and irrespective of whether Turkey recognizes that or not,
this fact is recognized by all the genocide specialists in the world
and by many-many countries. In the present condition, we do not
consider it as a precondition to establishing relations with Turks. "

In response to the following comparison that driving a car one must
follow the traffic not forgetting about the side mirror, S. Sargsyan
said: "Yes. I understand what this means. This means that we must
look forward but we have no right to forget our past."