SERZH SARGSYAN: RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS AN ISSUE OF HISTORICAL JUSTICE

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 5, 2010 – 13:03 AMT 08:03 GMT

Turkish Prime Minister insists that Turks could not perpetrate the
Armenian Genocide, as the Turkish history is "transparent and bright,
like the sun."

"Turks refuse to acknowledge the 1915 events as Genocide but this is
not an issue for Ankara to decide," Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan
said in an interview with Der Spiegel. "Threats to exile illegal
Armenian migrants are not new; they awaken my nation’s bitter memories
about the Genocide. The international community – the US, Europe and
specifically Germany, all the countries involved in the process of
the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation – should publicly express their
position on the issue. Worldwide recognition of the Armenian Genocide
could prevent Turkish officials from making such statements.

Meanwhile, protest actions organized by youth representatives in
Turkey inspire with hope. A new generation is growing up there, and
the political leadership shall take into consideration its opinion,"
the RA President noted.

Mr. Sargsyan also said that a historical commission cannot work
impartially, if people are persecuted and condemned for the use of
term Genocide in Turkey. "It is important for Ankara to prolong the
process of decision-making. This way, when parliaments or governments
of other countries try to adopt Genocide resolutions, Turkey will be
able to say: ‘do not interfere, look, our historians are solving these
issues’. Creation of such commission would mean questioning the fact
of the Genocide perpetrated against our people. It is unacceptable for
us. The establishment of such a commission would have been reasonable,
if Turkey admitted its guilt. In such case, historians could jointly
study the reasons, which had resulted in this tragedy. Armenian
Genocide recognition is an issue of historical justice and our national
security. The best way to prevent repetition of this horrible crime
is its condemnation. At the same time, Turkey is scared by possible
territorial claims and indemnity obligations. Nobody can deprive us
of Ararat, which is in our hearts. You will definitely find a picture
of Ararat in the house of any Armenian living in any corner of the
world. I believe that the time will come when Ararat will not be a
symbol of separation but will embody mutual understanding between
the two peoples. However, I should specify the following: none of
Armenian officials has ever presented territorial claims to Turkey.

Turks themselves assign this to us, maybe due to acknowledgement
of the guilt. We do not correlate the Genocide recognition with
the opening of the border. And it is not our fault that the
reconciliation does not take place. Turks permanently want us
to yield, which is impossible. The execution of the NKR people’s
right to self-determination is a very important issue. If Azerbaijan
recognizes NKR independence, I think it will be possible to resolve
the issue within several hours. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan is still
thinking of regaining NKR, what, have no doubt, will result in total
eviction of Armenian from Karabakh during a short period of time,"
Mr. Sargsyan said.

He also reminded that the countries of former Yugoslavia managed to
get independence. "Then why can’t Karabakh exercise the same rights?

Is Azerbaijan’s oil and gas along with Turkey’s protection the only
reason for it? In our opinion, this is unfair," the Armenian President
concluded.