ARMENIA IS PREPARED TO REGULATE ITS RELATIONS WITH TURKEY WITHOUT
PRECONDITIONS, SERGE SARGSIAN WRITES IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Turkey’s joining the European Union
may promote the long-awaited opportunity of establishing civilized
relations between Armenia and Turkey: Turkey’s becoming EU member
would make Turkey much more predictable, "and it is much easier to
deal with a predictable neighbor".
The Armenian Defence Minister Serge Sargsian expressed this opinion in
his article published in "The Wall Street Journal". According to the
minister, the Turkish-Armenian relations and the Armenian Genocide are
important factors, and "their discussion is undoubtedly needed during
negotiations on Turkey’s joining the EU." "We expect the EU to play a
greater role in finding ways for progress in relations between Armenia
and Turkey," Serge Sargsian wrote. "We would welcome the establishment
of normal diplomatic and other relations without preconditions,
including not linking the establishment of diplomatic relations
with the recognition of the Armenian Genocide." Moreover, in the
minister’s words, "we want to use such diplomatic relations as a means
of overcoming the problems burdening our relations." "Solutions will
appear only when we work hard to find them, starting with establishing
an open dialog," Serge Sargsian underlines, reminding that until today
Turkey has declined to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia,
keeps its border with Armenia closed, makes every effort to isolate
Armenia from international and regional transport programs and does
not play a constructive role in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
"I don’t say that Armenia should regulate its relations with Ankara
at any price. I say that Armenia is prepared to regulate its relations
with Turkey without preconditions," Serge Sargsian writes and addresses
Turkey: "So let’s proceed in the name of our future."