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SERZH SARGSYAN'S INTERVIEW TO BBC RUSSIAN DEPARTMENT
Aysor
Aug 31 2009
Armenia
Recently the journalist of Russian BBC service Gebriel Geythouse was
in Yerevan and in the interview with the President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan asked whether the RA President will attend the return match
in Turkey.
BBC: Mr. Serzh Sargsyan will you attend the return match in Turkey?
Serzh Sargsyan: You know this question has two answers. The fist
answer is as follows. It's not important whether I'll visit Turkey
or not. I'd like to say that my visit to Turkey should not be
linked to the relations between the two countries. Do you understand
me? Imagine at least two options. Let's assume that Armenia freezes
the negotiation process with Turkey and I leave for that country to
watch the football match. The second option is as follows: the two
countries continue negotiating, but I don't attend the match. Which
is more important? This is my answer if you ask the question in the
context of our talks with Turkey.
BBC: What signals is Armenia expecting from Turkey in order to defreeze
the talks?
Serzh Sargsyan: I have already announced and say once again that I
shall leave for Turkey only in case of opening of the border or at
the threshold of the event. We have an agreement with Turkey. I think
it's normal and correct for the parties to commit to the agreement
reached earlier. Unfortunately, so far I have not seen a great desire
and aspiration to implement those agreements. Our wish remains the
same - to establish relations without preconditions.
BBC: Is Armenia ready to make concessions as regards the events of
1915 and do you believe Turkey will call them genocide?
Serzh Sargsyan: "Of course, it's very important for our people, for
Turkey and the whole world. It's important that historical justice
be restored. It's important for our nations to be able to establish
normal relations. At last, it's important that it never reoccurs
in the future. But we do not see the recognition of genocide as a
precondition for the establishment of relations.
BBC: Do you mean to say that there is an opportunity of compromise?
Serzh Sargsyan: "It can't be called a compromise. This is not the
case to speak about compromises. We say, yes, there was genocide,
and irrespective of the fact whether Turkey recognizes it or not,
there is a fact established by all genocide scholars in the world
and recognized by many countries of the world. However, today we do
not view it as a precondition for normalization of relations.
BBC: Anyway it disturbs your relations with Turkey. One of my
interlocutors made the following comparison; when you drive a car
you should control what's going on the way behind you, that's why you
time by time look back through the mirror. But what is important is
the way in front of you. Is this the situation reflected?
Serzh Sargsyan: That's right. I understand what that person meant:
he wanted to say that we should look into future, but we do not have
the right to forget the past.
Aysor
Aug 31 2009
Armenia
Recently the journalist of Russian BBC service Gebriel Geythouse was
in Yerevan and in the interview with the President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan asked whether the RA President will attend the return match
in Turkey.
BBC: Mr. Serzh Sargsyan will you attend the return match in Turkey?
Serzh Sargsyan: You know this question has two answers. The fist
answer is as follows. It's not important whether I'll visit Turkey
or not. I'd like to say that my visit to Turkey should not be
linked to the relations between the two countries. Do you understand
me? Imagine at least two options. Let's assume that Armenia freezes
the negotiation process with Turkey and I leave for that country to
watch the football match. The second option is as follows: the two
countries continue negotiating, but I don't attend the match. Which
is more important? This is my answer if you ask the question in the
context of our talks with Turkey.
BBC: What signals is Armenia expecting from Turkey in order to defreeze
the talks?
Serzh Sargsyan: I have already announced and say once again that I
shall leave for Turkey only in case of opening of the border or at
the threshold of the event. We have an agreement with Turkey. I think
it's normal and correct for the parties to commit to the agreement
reached earlier. Unfortunately, so far I have not seen a great desire
and aspiration to implement those agreements. Our wish remains the
same - to establish relations without preconditions.
BBC: Is Armenia ready to make concessions as regards the events of
1915 and do you believe Turkey will call them genocide?
Serzh Sargsyan: "Of course, it's very important for our people, for
Turkey and the whole world. It's important that historical justice
be restored. It's important for our nations to be able to establish
normal relations. At last, it's important that it never reoccurs
in the future. But we do not see the recognition of genocide as a
precondition for the establishment of relations.
BBC: Do you mean to say that there is an opportunity of compromise?
Serzh Sargsyan: "It can't be called a compromise. This is not the
case to speak about compromises. We say, yes, there was genocide,
and irrespective of the fact whether Turkey recognizes it or not,
there is a fact established by all genocide scholars in the world
and recognized by many countries of the world. However, today we do
not view it as a precondition for normalization of relations.
BBC: Anyway it disturbs your relations with Turkey. One of my
interlocutors made the following comparison; when you drive a car
you should control what's going on the way behind you, that's why you
time by time look back through the mirror. But what is important is
the way in front of you. Is this the situation reflected?
Serzh Sargsyan: That's right. I understand what that person meant:
he wanted to say that we should look into future, but we do not have
the right to forget the past.