SERZH SARGSYAN: NO 100% GUARANTEE FOR RA-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT TO SUCCEED

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.09.2009 12:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Yerevan’s initiative to invite Turkish president
to Armenia and start negotiations for establishment of diplomatic
relation and opening borders with Turkey is not a pre-planned program
but an attempt to create an acceptable atmosphere, enabling a dialogue
between neighboring countries," RA President Serzh Sargsyan said in
an interview with Vesti TV channel.

"In the past, there were some unsuccessful attempts at normalizing
relations both on Turkey’s and Armenia’s side. Even now there’s
no 100% guarantee for RA-Turkish rapprochement to succeed," the
President stated. According to Serzh Sargsyan, both in Armenia and
Turkey there are some forces wishing to wreck the process. "Some third
parties also have such forces. Yet, as opposed to previous attempts
at rapprochement, current one is based on openness and publicity,"
he emphasized.

There’s a lot of mistrust and enmity between Armenian and
Turkish societies, resulting from Armenian Genocide in Ottoman
Empire. Normalization of ties requires political will of RA and
Turkish authorities, as well as people’s involvement in the process.

Serzh Sargsyan reminded that by the initial agreement between Yerevan
and Ankara, no preconditions should have been set.

"I believe, Armenian Genocide recognition can’t be a precondition
for RA-Turkish rapprochement. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have started the
process. Should negotiations be successful, leading to establishment
of relations and opening of borders, we’ll gain more support. If RA
and Turkey fail to agree, more criticism will follow. Still, whatever
I do, I do it with assurance, working in accord with my team," RA
President stated.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress