SERZH SARGSYAN’S INTERVIEW WITH BBC

-sargsyan
03:01 pm | August 31, 2009

Politics

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.

BBC: Anyway, that problem is an obstacle to regulate ties with
Turkey. A man, with whom I have had a talk earlier in Yerevan,
recommended another solution: when you drive you should follow your
back side and look at the mirror showing the back of you but the
important thing is the way in front you. How well does this example
describe the current situation?

Serzh Sargsyan – Right, I can see quite well what the man wanted to
say. He wants to say that we should look into future, but we do not
have the right to forget the past.