Sargsyan invites Turkish president to Armenia to mark 100th anniversary of Armenian Genocide

YEREVAN, May 27. /ARKA/. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, has invited the future Turkish president to visit Armenia on April 24, 2015, when Armenians will mark the 100th anniversary of Armenian Genocide.  

Speaking Tuesday at the fourth session of the commission in charge of organization of the 100th anniversary events, he said that Ankara keeps insisting on establishment of a commission of historians and examination of archives.   

«It is known that Armenia's archives are always open for all those researchers who are interested in the scientific aspect of the matter,» he said. «All the files kept in research institutes and museums have always been open as well. But thing is that to come to terms with the truth about the Genocide no archive work is needed – it is quite enough to enter any Armenian home and ask any family and horrifying pieces of evidence will touch everybody to the heart.»

The president said it is enough to visit Tsitsernakaberd, the memorial of the victims of the Armenian Genocide to see what it means to every Armenian in Armenia and Armenian communities worldwide and it is enough to ask these communities' representatives how their ancestors appeared there. 

«If Turkish authorities are interested in finding truth, they should travel to Armenia and to stand next to Armenian people on April 24,» Sargsyan said. «I don't think they will want to see archives after that. On this occasion, I invite the president who will be elected this year to Armenia to see irrefutable evidence of the Armenian Genocide... However, we feel no hostility toward Turkish people. More than that – we are trying to create favorable environment for communication between Armenian and Turkish nations to find ways for reconciliation.»  

The president said that therefore, Armenia remains steadfast in its determination to improve its relations with Turkey and in seeking the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border though Turkey is only making statements expressing its willingness to open the border. 

Sargsyan stressed that if this willingness is sincere then Turkey knows very well how to pot it into practice. 

Armenian genocide was the first genocide committed in the 20th century. Turkey denies 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----