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‘Genocide’ row sparked delay in Armenia-Turkey deal: source

Agence France Presse
October 11, 2009 Sunday 9:14 AM GMT

‘Genocide’ row sparked delay in Armenia-Turkey deal: source

YEREVAN, Oct 11 2009

A delay in signing a historic deal between Armenia and Turkey was
sparked by Ankara’s intention of raising the dispute over whether
massacres of Armenians amounted to genocide, an Armenian diplomat said
Sunday.

"The objections from the Armenian side were in relation to
unacceptable formulations regarding the process of recognition of the
Armenian genocide that were in the Turkish statement," the senior
diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"After long and difficult negotiations, the Armenian side was able to
neutralise this text," the diplomat said.

Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian and his Turkish
counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on Saturday signed landmark pacts to
normalise their two countries’ relations and open their shared border.

The deals, which must still be ratified by the countries’ parliaments,
are a first step to reconciliation after nearly a century of
bitterness over World War I-era massacres of Armenians under Ottoman
rule.

But the signing, attended by top European and US officials, did not go
as smoothly as planned, with the ceremony delayed three hours.

It went ahead after last-minute diplomatic efforts by US and Swiss
mediators, but with the cancellation of statements planned during the
ceremony.

mkh-mm/ao/ss

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Emil Lazarian: “I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS
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