SOME QUOTES OF MINISTER NALBANDIAN ON GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

Aysor
Jan 18 2010
Armenia

Armenia’s government in its relations with Turkey isn’t going to resign
process of international recognition of Genocide, said in an interview
with the Radio Liberty Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

"This position was repeatedly voiced by Armenian President, Foreign
Ministry, and by me at the press conference in Istanbul. Armenia
doesn’t and won’t question Genocide and importance of the process of
recognition," said minister.

Minister Nalbandian said only bilateral-relation-related items were
discussed with Turkey’s government. "The agenda with Turkey doesn’t
include anything else. Armenian government doesn’t act behind people’s
back. We declare only real and actual things," he said.

"One clear thing is that Armenia and Turkey have reached an agreement
to hold talks without preconditions. Otherwise we wouldn’t involve in
negotiations. Prime Minister of Turkey as well confirms there were
not preconditions in Armenia-Turkey relations. But at the same time
he says that some preconditions may appear at the backstage. Russian,
the US, and French mediators responded to this.

"We’ve taken responsibility to ratify the protocols. However, if one
of the sides prevents the process, this just means that it will be
responsible for voting down the process.

"If Turkey steps back, this will be not only the violation of the
treaty with Armenia, but this will show Turkey’s slighting behavior
towards international community, so it will lose creditability,"
said minister Nalbandian.