Armenian president: Normalization of relations with Turkey not to impede international recognition of Armenian genocide
27.04.2009,
23:34
Normalization of the relations with Turkey is not an obstacle on the way of international recognition of the genocide of Armenians in Ottoman Empire, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said at the meeting in the country’s National Security Council Saturday
YEREVAN, April 27. /ARKA/. Normalization of the relations with Turkey is not an obstacle on the way of international recognition of the genocide of Armenians in Ottoman Empire, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said at the meeting in the country’s National Security Council Saturday.
He pointed out the frequent statements made today saying that the joint statement of the foreign ministries of Armenia, Turkey and Switzerland on normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations on the eve of April 24, Memorial Day of the Armenian genocide, may impede the process of international acknowledgement of the genocide.
Foreign ministries of Armenia and Turkey, together with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs made a joint statement about normalization of the relations on the night of April 23. The statement reads that the parties reached an agreement on a wide-ranged settlement of bilateral relations. The sides also agreed on establishing a “road map” for normalization of the relations.
According to the President, on the contrary, the genocide topic became a subject of a more intense coverage this time than ever.
All leading world mass media outlets were starting their news with this topic pointing out that there has been a genocide and saying that the President of Armenia repeatedly stated that settlement of relations with Turkey does not imply renunciation of the genocide or doubting the fact of the genocide, Sargsyan said as quoted by the presidential press service.
“Establishing relations with Turks does not impede the international acknowledgement of the genocide. International recognition of the genocide is the only way to prevent genocides,” President said.
The fact that the statement was made on the eve of April 24 proves that Turkey acknowledges the meaning of the day, he said.
According to Sargsyan, the signing of the statement by the Swiss Department for Foreign Affairs and the positive response of the U.S. Department of State followed by the telephone talk with the U.S. Vice-President Josef Biden, confirmed the readiness of the world community, the USA and Switzerland in particular, to consistently assist in the process and to somehow stand surety for the agreements reached.
“Our approaches to the cause-effect relations around the historical facts, our national ideas and problems have not changed. But we should realize that a step needs to be made to cover the path. Nobody says it is easy or it would be easy but we should be ready to move in a correct direction and protect our interests,” the President said.
Armenian genocide was the first genocide committed in XX century. Turkey rejects the accusation of massacres and the killing of one and a half million Armenians during World War I.
The fact of the Armenian genocide is recognized by many countries, particularly by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, most of the U.S. states, as well as by the parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium, Wales, National Council of Switzerland, Common House of Canada, the Seym of Poland and lower house of Italian parliament. –0—
He pointed out the frequent statements made today saying that the joint statement of the foreign ministries of Armenia, Turkey and Switzerland on normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations on the eve of April 24, Memorial Day of the Armenian genocide, may impede the process of international acknowledgement of the genocide.
Foreign ministries of Armenia and Turkey, together with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs made a joint statement about normalization of the relations on the night of April 23. The statement reads that the parties reached an agreement on a wide-ranged settlement of bilateral relations. The sides also agreed on establishing a “road map” for normalization of the relations.
According to the President, on the contrary, the genocide topic became a subject of a more intense coverage this time than ever.
All leading world mass media outlets were starting their news with this topic pointing out that there has been a genocide and saying that the President of Armenia repeatedly stated that settlement of relations with Turkey does not imply renunciation of the genocide or doubting the fact of the genocide, Sargsyan said as quoted by the presidential press service.
“Establishing relations with Turks does not impede the international acknowledgement of the genocide. International recognition of the genocide is the only way to prevent genocides,” President said.
The fact that the statement was made on the eve of April 24 proves that Turkey acknowledges the meaning of the day, he said.
According to Sargsyan, the signing of the statement by the Swiss Department for Foreign Affairs and the positive response of the U.S. Department of State followed by the telephone talk with the U.S. Vice-President Josef Biden, confirmed the readiness of the world community, the USA and Switzerland in particular, to consistently assist in the process and to somehow stand surety for the agreements reached.
“Our approaches to the cause-effect relations around the historical facts, our national ideas and problems have not changed. But we should realize that a step needs to be made to cover the path. Nobody says it is easy or it would be easy but we should be ready to move in a correct direction and protect our interests,” the President said.
Armenian genocide was the first genocide committed in XX century. Turkey rejects the accusation of massacres and the killing of one and a half million Armenians during World War I.
The fact of the Armenian genocide is recognized by many countries, particularly by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, most of the U.S. states, as well as by the parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium, Wales, National Council of Switzerland, Common House of Canada, the Seym of Poland and lower house of Italian parliament. –0—
