SPEAKER: GENOCIDE NOT MATTER FOR BARGAIN

Yerkir
04.05.2010 14:23
Yerevan

Yerevan (Yerkir) – Speaking at a European regional session of
Parliamentary Assembly of Francophonie, opened in Yerevan today,
Armenian Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan said that language skills
enrich people, noting that French can be considered a native tongue
for many descendents of Genocide.

He also also spoke of the political processes in Armenia, underlining
that the country is ready to establish relations with all neighbors
and had already made such a move seeking to hold dialogue with Turkey
without preconditions. "However, Ankara did not appraise Yerevan’s
stance and torpedoed the dialogue.

As a result Armenia suspended ratification process of the Protocols.

Though, it does not mean we walked out of the process, and expect
Turkey to display constructivism," he noted. He also stated that
aspiration to settle relations with Turkey might not push aside
Armenia’s national interests, turning Genocide issue into the matter
of bargain. "Armenia will henceforth be consecutive in international
recognition of Armenian Genocide perpetrated in Ottoman Empire,"
Abrahamyan said.

Speaking about Karabakh peace process, politician stressed that
Azerbaijan’s warlike statements destabilize situation in the region and
misinform international community. "Azerbaijan makes similar statements
fully realizing that its military capability cannot provide victory in
case hostility breaks out," he said. "Nagorno-Karabakh will never be
a part of Azerbaijan," Abrahamyan declared, pointing out that Karabakh
peace process is not linked with Armenia-Turkey reconciliation.