Statement by Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Armenia
on the Letter by Former Secretaries of State to US Speaker of the House
Pelosi on House Resolution 106.
It is with dismay that I read the content of the letter signed by former US
Secretaries of State urging Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to derail H.
Res. 106.
It is quite unfortunate that eight experienced diplomats would buy into
Turkish manipulation. There is much to disagree with in that letter,
especially about the purported dangers of such a resolution. I will only
address the insincere claim that such a resolution would "damage efforts to
promote reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey."
I regret to say that there is no process in place to promote normalization
of relations between Armenia and Turkey. Expressing concern about damaging a
process that doesn’t exist is disingenuous.
Armenia has always been ready to have normal relations with its neighbor.
Yet, every initiative that would lead toward normalization has been rejected
by Turkey. Instead, it continues to place pre-conditions. Turkey makes
offers that are simply invitations for open-ended talk, without serious
commitment to arriving at minimal, ordinary relations between neighbors.
Even their call for a historical commission to discuss painful, historic
events is not serious, given their prohibitive penal consequences for open
speech and discussion and the adversarial environment Turkey has created by
maintaining closed borders with Armenia.
I have already written to Speaker Pelosi to express our deep concerns and to
dismiss as unfounded any implication that a resolution that addresses
matters of human rights and genocide could damage anyone’s bilateral
relations.-0-
Press and Information Department
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia
Tel. + 37410 544041. ext. 202
Fax. + 37410 565601
e-mail: [email protected]
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
