PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN’S INTERVIEW WITH BBC

Yerkir
31.08.2009 14:04

BBC: Mr. Serzh Sargsyan will you attend the return match in Turkey?

Serzh Sargsyan: The question has two answers. The fist answer is
as follows.

It’s not important whether I’ll visit Turkey or not. I’d like to
say that my visit to Turley should not be linked to the relations
between the two countries. Do you understand me? Imagine at least two
options. Let’s assume that Armenia freezes the negotiation process with
Turkey and I leave for that country to watch the football match. The
second option is as follows: the two countries continue negotiating,
but I don’t attend the match. Which is more important? This is my
answer if you ask the question in the context of our talks with Turkey.

BBC: What signals is Armenia expecting from Turkey in order to defreeze
the talks?

Serzh Sargsyan: I have already announced and say once again that I
shall leave for Turkey only in case of opening of the border or at
the threshold of the event. We have an agreement with Turkey. I think
it’s normal and correct for the parties to commit to the agreement
reached earlier.

Unfortunately, so far I have not seen a great desire and aspiration to
implement those agreements. Our wish remains the same – to establish
relations without preconditions.

BBC: Is Armenia ready to make concessions as regards the events of
1915 and do you believe Turkey will call them genocide?

Serzh Sargsyan: "Of course, it’s very important for our people, for
Turkey and the whole world. It’s important that historical justice
be restored.

It’s important for our nations to be able to establish normal
relations. At last, it’s important that it never reoccurs in the
future. But we do not see the recognition of genocide as a precondition
for the establishment of relations.

BBC: Do you mean to say that there is an opportunity of compromise?

Serzh Sargsyan: "It cannot be called compromise. This is not the
case to speak about compromises. We say, yes, there was genocide,
and irrespective of the fact whether Turkey recognizes it or not,
there is a fact established by all genocide scholars in the world
and recognized by many countries of the world. However, today we do
not view it as a precondition for normalization of relations.

We should look into future, but we do not have the right to forget
the past.