Armenian FM likely to attend diplomatic gathering in Turkish Antalya – Pashinyan says
YEREVAN, January 25. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told an online news conference late on Monday that Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan is likely to travel to Turkish Antalya to attend a diplomatic forum.
The invitation was sent by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The official Yerevan has not yet responded to the invitation, but according to Pashinyan, Armenia's participation is possible. In this context, Pashinyan recalled the maiden meeting in Moscow of Turkish and Armenian special envoys to negotiate normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey.
"If this dynamic continues, there is a high probability that Armenia will accept the invitation to participate in that forum. Everything depends on the situation, but after the first meeting of special envoys, the probability of accepting the invitation increased," he said.
According to him, if the Armenian side speaks about starting a dialogue with Turkey, it would be illogical to miss the opportunity to communicate with the opposite side.
"The whole international community helps Armenia and Turkey normalize their relations: Russia, EU, USA and regional countries," he believes.
Asked whether Armenian-Turkish diplomatic relations can be established already this year, Pashinyan said it depends not only on the Armenian side.
"The main problem, in my opinion, is the following: are both Armenia and Turkey genuinely interested in normalizing their relations without preconditions? I can say from our side that unequivocally yes, and I hope that such an opportunity exists and will be seized. I can confirm the sincerity of our government on this issue," he said.
"Dialogue is needed in order to try to manage the risks that may have a negative impact. The question is, do we really want to build diplomatic relations with Turkey without preconditions? Yes, and we are sincere in this political position and want the Armenian-Turkish border open," he said.
Pashinyan said also that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, promoted by the Armenian Diaspora, has never been part of Armenia’s foreign policy and Armenia itself has never questioned the Armenian-Turkish border. According to him, the current authorities of Armenia have not abandoned this policy either.
Touching upon Turkey's recognition of the Genocide, Pashinyan stressed that the Armenian Diaspora and its organizations have always been the driving force behind the Genocide recognition process. -0-
